...Gattaca is a movie directed by Andrew Niccol and the film is set in the "not too distant future." Andrew Niccol's perception of the future isn't what most people expect, but once thought about carefully it seems quite believable. This movie presents us with a new method in which society strives for perfection and it also makes us wonder if genetic engineering is morally correct. Your place in society in Gattaca is based on your genetic makeup and the way you were born. People born the way we know as natural are "in-valids". On the other hand people born with the aid of genetic engineering are "valids." An "in-valid" has his future set out to be a cleaner or other insignificant job in society which doesn't require an education. A new form of prejudice has been recently debated about, which is the idea of having greater or second-rate genes. Within the movie, the natural method of birth is genetic engineering, which is unlike what our society perceives to be natural. Genetic engineering leads to genetic selection from the parents who choose to eliminate any defects, diseases or genetic illnesses. Some parents may want to leave several genetic traits to chance rather then selecting the attributes of their son or daughter. To what extent is this process of conception morally right, if even right at all? Morally speaking, genetic engineering in any conception should only be used in extreme circumstances. If the natural method of conception isn't possible in the parents then genetic...
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...Gattaca is a science fiction film where the society is portrayed to have their needs and desires of humans met, but not as well as they should be. The story takes place in a society where technology has been drastically progressed in areas of genetics and biology, in which your DNA determines where you belong in life. But with these progressions comes discrimination of those who are not genetically perfect, repressed individuality and loss of personal freedom. The moral of this movie is ‘there is no gene for the human spirit’. Though one can be genetically modified before birth to become perfect as the society expects, that does not apply for the human spirit where modifications are not an option. This film is a perfect example where perfection stands before happiness, where if you didn’t have the right blood, you would not become successful. Vincent is a ‘normal’ child who later on in his life takes the identity of Jerome, an athlete who has genes that allows him to travel in space, but despite this advantage, he is not satisfied with his life. Reasons being: he was the one least favored by his parents, he was not able to accomplish his dream mainly due to his heart condition, and the only future he could have would be to become a sanitary engineer. Perfection is what society expects, and if you are a ‘defect’, then you are discriminated against. Conformity is also an issue in this movie. It is proved by his parents as they decide to follow the society’s footsteps by attempting...
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...Introduction Tips for writing essays 2 3 15 Essay 1: ‘Vincent’s fulfilment of his dream seems to be the triumph of individualism but really rests on the support and cooperation of other people.’ Discuss. 17 Essay 2: ‘The characters in Gattaca are too caught up in private dreams and personal ambitions for genuine relationships to be possible.’ Discuss. Essay 3: “That’s how I did it, Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back.” ‘Vincent defies and transcends his destiny and, in doing this, inspires others.’ Discuss. Essay 4: ‘Gattaca shows that categorising people into a hierarchy of castes, into ‘superior’ and ‘imperfect/inferior’, is both false and dangerous.’ How? Essay 5: ‘Gattaca shows that the rights of a person surpass the need for control within a society.’ Discuss. Essay 6: ‘Gattaca’s director, Andrew Niccol, said: “I would hate for anyone to look at my film and think it is advocating that you never tamper with genes, because there … will be many positive things to come out of this … science in terms of curing diseases”.‘ So what is Gattaca condemning? Essay 7: ‘Gattaca presents a world destroyed by the pursuit of perfection.’ Do you agree? Essay 8: ‘The society of Gattaca works to repress rather than to enhance the potential of human beings.’ Discuss. 22 27 31 36 40 45 50 Essay 9: “I belong to a new underclass, no longer determined by social status or the colour of your skin. No, we now have discrimination down to a science.” Does Gattaca show discrimination to...
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...“Inappropriate genetic testing can threaten individual autonomy, privacy, and confidentiality and lead to various types of genetic stigmatization and discrimination without any commensurate benefit for the individual tested,” (Brandt; Rauf, 2004). When Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway (BNSF) tested their employees without the employees knowing about it, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) stepped in and cited that BNSF violated the employee’s equal rights through discrimination and the employee’s rights of privacy. These actions “raise serious concerns that such testing could pose a significant threat to workers' privacy, autonomy, and dignity. Thus, defining the ethically, legally, and socially appropriate and inappropriate uses of genetic testing in the workplace,” (DEHS, 2001) presents a major breach in a workers legal right to privacy. One hundred and twenty-five BNSF employees filed on-the-job injury claims citing carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) for “years of repetitive activity such as wielding a wrench or operating a jackhammer,” (Lehrer, 2001; UNK, 2001). While investigating these claims, BNSF medical doctor required further testing of 20 employees (UNK, 2001). The medical company pulled blood for genetic testing without telling the BNSF employees what kind of test that they were performing, (Mahanna, 2001; Schafer, 2001; BNSF, 2002; Lehrer, 2001; Lewin, 2002). One employee refused to submit to the tests and BNSF threatened to terminate his job (Lewin;...
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...Gattaca and Lord of the Flies Comparison Essay By: Lauren Cody Gattaca and The Lord of the Flies have many overlapping themes like the loss of individuality or the abuse of power. The loss of individuality is shown through Jack and his tribe wearing their masks and hiding behind them when they hunt and run wild throughout the island. In Gattaca individuality is taken from people because their parents choose their children's genes before they are even born and individuals are grouped into genetically modified and invalids. The abuse of power is shown through Jacks power hungry nature while taking over island. In relation to Gattaca, business owners, the police, and the government all feel that they have the right to see your genes and judge...
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...In the study of Gattaca, directed by Andrew Niccol and Animal Farm composed by George Orwell, conformity versus individualism is a key concern for both composers. Although both contextually different, both texts promote a warning for their respective societies that apparent utopian ideals can lead to the corruption and destruction of values such as individuality, caring and compassion, being replaced by deceit and manipulation to gain control and power. Both texts, written at different times historically, share many significant lessons. In the sterile society of Gattaca, life is genetically controlled right from the beginning so that everyone gets the “best possible start”. The sterile setting metaphorically captures a tyrannical and authoritarian atmosphere that prizes genetic perfection above all else. It is a world that blocks human aspiration. This becomes evident through the robotic-type characters that inhabit Gattaca. In the film Vincent says: “Engineered like the rest of us” this puts an emphasis on that everyone is the same and individual characteristics such as personality, beliefs and values are irrelevant. Identity is seen in this world as being entirely defined by your status as a valid or in-valid. Beyond this, nothing else is important. The first scenes in Gattaca set an atmosphere of controlled bodily perfection. Vincent is seen shaving and washing. There are extreme close-ups of body matter: blood, skin, hair, eyelashes, urine and fingernails. The use of such...
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...Academic essay on Annie Proulx's "Job Story" Choices are something we all make. Not necessarily important choices, but there will always be a time to make them. It's not always good choices, but they have to be made. There will always be consequences, whether it's bad or good. Throughout the story, Leeland Lee has to make a lot of choices. Where to live, where to work and when to work. All the different choices he made, put him in the position he is now. Leeland Lee is an awkward-looking young boy. His face is heavily boned, which he has gotten from his mom, his neck is quite thick and he has red-gold hair. His eyes are as pouchy as a middle-aged alcoholic. His nose is broad and lays close to his face. Lori Bovee is Leeland Lee's wife. She has an undistinguished oval face, and hair of medium length. Leeland Lee is the protagonist of the story, because he is the main character. I would say Leeland is a flat and static character as he is an endless optimist. He doesn't give up when it comes to finding a new job, and despite his wife dying he still gets a job at Unique Eats. The reason he is a static character is because he doesn't change at all. After getting several different jobs he doesn't change anything, after his mom and wife dies he doesn't change one single thing except the fact he isn't listening to the radio anymore, but since that have been an important factor of the story all along, it can also show a lot about how he has changed. The story starts November...
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...Essay on “Job History” written by Annie Proulx In the short story “Job History” written by Annie Proulx, we follow Leeland Lee from the time of his birth, until he is about fifty years old. In the short story we follow Leeland through his harsh life, with ups and downs, in the form of thoughts, feelings, incidents, etc. Leeland is born in a ranch in Wyoming, and lives there with his wife Lori. Leeland does not look particularly good, in fact he is a very unattractive man; (page 91, line 12)“Leeland’s face shows heavy bones from his mother’s side. His neck is thick and his red-gold hair plastered down in bangs. Even as a child his eyes are as pouchy as those of a middle-age alcoholic, the brows rod-straight above wandering out-of-line eyes. His nose lies broad and close to his face, his mouth seems to have been cut with a single chisel blow into easy flesh” And in the top of that, we see how Leeland through his life, tries to find a successful career, but fails consistently. He moves various times from place to place, too seek occupation and good business. But it is hard when you’re a high school dropout, without a career. Leeland have to changes his job constantly, because of his lack of luck, and since he can’t get along white his bosses. He is never able to stay at one job or place for long, which lead to problems in the family. He has a hard time supporting his wife, and their children financially. Throughout the story the author, Annie Proulx manages...
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...An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal[->0] point of view[->1]. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism[->2], political manifestos[->3], learned arguments[->4], observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition of an essay is vague, overlapping with those of an article[->5] and a short story[->6]. Almost all modern essays are written in prose[->7], but works in verse[->8] have been dubbed essays (e.g. Alexander Pope[->9]'s An Essay on Criticism[->10] and An Essay on Man[->11]). While brevity usually defines an essay, voluminous works like John Locke[->12]'s An Essay Concerning Human Understanding[->13] and Thomas Malthus[->14]'s An Essay on the Principle of Population[->15] are counterexamples. In some countries (e.g., the United States and Canada), essays have become a major part of formal education[->16]. Secondary students are taught structured essay formats to improve their writing skills, and admission essays[->17] are often used by universities[->18] in selecting applicants and, in the humanities and social sciences, as a way of assessing the performance of students during final exams. The concept of an "essay" has been extended to other mediums beyond writing. A film essay is a movie that often incorporates documentary film making styles and which focuses more on the evolution of a theme or an idea. A photographic essay[->19] is an attempt to cover a topic...
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...We all know love. We have all loved in some kind of way. We love our parents, significant others and even our friends. But we can also love other things like animals or material things. But what is the difference between loving and liking? And is it better not to love and feel pain or to love and be hurt in the progress? Jonathan Franzen seeks to answer these questions in his essay “Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts”. The essay “Liking Is for Cowards. Go for What Hurts” is, as mentioned, written by Jonathan Franzen and published in The New York Times, May 28, 2011. Jonathan Franzen is born in 1959, and he is an acclaimed American novelist and essayist. The essay is based on the commencement speech he delivered at Kenyon College in Ohio, USA. “Our technology has become extremely adept in creating products that correspond to our fantasy ideal of an erotic relationship, in which the beloved object asks for nothing and gives everything, instantly. (…)” As Franzen claims in his essay, many people can feel like they love their technological object. It gives them a satisfaction, which human interaction maybe wouldn’t. Franzen however thinks, that people in general don’t love material things: they like them. There is a major difference between loving and liking – even though it might appear small. “Liking, in general, is commercial culture’s substitute for loving.” Products are made to be likeable, but if that concept in transferred to a person, you would instantly see...
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...Reaction – “Salvation” The nonfiction short essay “Salvation” written by Langston Hughes in 1940, presents a theme on the literal and often manipulated perception of children. Hughes narrates the essay as he recounts his disappointing attempt at salvation. Hughes aunt told him that when she was saved by Jesus she saw a light, and felt something happen within herself. As children will do, Hughes took her story literally and was heartbroken as he sat in front of the church and watched other children “saved” while he was not. He believed that Jesus must not want him because he did not see or feel anything. In the end, Hughes is forced to lie about accepting Jesus and in turn rejects the Christian faith all together. I related to Hughes story on many accounts. I am a mother of three young children who perceive everything in life literally, and as a young girl I was raised in a very religious environment. I could visualize and almost feel Hughes devastation as he sat at the front of the church crushed by the thoughts of God not wanting him. “Still I kept waiting to see Jesus” (Barnet, Cain, & Burto, 2011, pp. 351). One of the churches that my family attended for a short time during my childhood practiced speaking in tongs. I specifically remember feeling just like Hughes during a service when other children were speaking in unnatural languages perceived to be sent from God himself. I could not understand why I was not chosen to talk for God and intern was hurt and...
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...write an essay on drugs for this topic. Drugs are very harmful and keep the capability of dragging an individual towards death and destruction. People all over the world want to eradicate the adverse situation of drug addiction from this world and this is the reason why they are busy in writing essays on drugs. Essays on drugs are of many types such as war on drugs essay, essay on performance enhancing drugs in sports, essay on drug abuse, essay on illegal drugs, essay on drug addiction, essay on drug use, essay on drugs and alcohol and essay on drug testing, etc. The essays on drugs should be initiated by bringing in the information related to the topic of the essay on drug. You should know what drugs are. In an essay on drugs, you will have to write about drugs, their affects and the reasons due to which people use them, you have to include the information about why the drugs are so famous and how harmful are they. A persuasive essay on drugs will be one, which will be according to the topic of the essay on drugs. It should have a full-fledged introduction, which should introduce the topic completely. The introduction should also have a thesis statement that should be the main idea of the essay on drugs. A thesis statement should be based on the essay question to which your essay on drugs is an answer. A thesis statement of an essay on drugs can be one sentence or more than one sentence but it is suggested that it should be only one sentence. Essays on drug abuse or essays on drug...
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...Dog Food Fried, Flipped and Devoured Eating dog food may not be seen as the easiest thing to stomach because the smell, texture and by-products found within the mixture are thought of as awful and revolting. In Ann Hodgman’s “No Wonder They Call Me a Bitch”, although the title may suggest otherwise, different types of dog food are discussed. In this essay, Hodgman aims to inform her readers about the inequality in different types of dog food, as well as to entertain and amuse. Hodgman is writing to a broad audience, one of dog lovers and owners, as well as those that may be curious as to what is really in dog food, or more generally the packaging and processing of mass-produced food of any kind. Language, description and humor are techniques Hodgman skillfully uses to create a strong, convincing essay. Within this essay, Hodgman continually uses diction and syntax that a diverse audience can understand and relate to. In the beginning, the reader feels repulsed by what is written. However, through a light tone of voice and sentence structure, the levity of the experiences and feelings occurring throughout the experiment is conveyed. The personal anecdotes and thoughts make the tone feel less formal and much more story-like. In this way, Hodgman produces a piece that connects the information and readers Shortly after capturing interest through stating questions, Hodgman begins using large amounts of description. Each type of dog food is explained and illustrated so well that...
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...Business Essay Format and its Structure What Makes Business Essay Format? Those students, who study different business courses, for example management, marketing, have to write many different business essays. This type of essay as well as the others (argumentative essay, classification essay, cause and effect essay, persuasive essay, comparative essay, etc) has peculiar features that should be observed carefully in order to produce an essay in conformity with all instructions of research paper writing. One of these features to be observed at writing is business essay format as there is no doubt that format of the essay plays the same important role as the content of business essay. When student has made comprehensive research of the object and has found interesting ideas and sources to support hisher position, it does not mean that heshe has coped with a writing task. The writer should make the next step that is to organize hisher research paper writing in a proper way. It means that attention should be paid to the business essay format. In general, there are different formats of research paper – ChicagoTurabian, Harvard, APA, AMA, MLA format paper; which of them suits you the most depends on the business essay topic, subject, requirements set by the professor. When the student has chosen the format of the business essay it is very important to follow it and not use any elements of the other essay format. In case when you do not get any instruction as for the business...
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...is comprised of two parts: Part A has six questions; you are to answer four (4) questions only. Each question is worth 8 marks (total of 32 marks). Each answer should be approximately half to one page long. Part B has two essay questions; you are to answer one (1) question only. This question is worth 18 marks. Each answer should be two to three pages long. It will be a closed book examination- NO MATERIAL (other than Foreign Language Dictionaries) shall be allowed inside the Exam Venue. You may wish to take a calculator into the exam if you wish. This Exam provides you with an opportunity to demonstrate knowledge application. Although diagrams, analytical modelling and calculations may help to support your answer, this will not be a key focus of the questions. PART A For Part A – Short Answer Questions - while all topics are examinable you should focus on the following themes/chapters: * Operations Management, Performance and Strategy * The Nature of Planning and Control * Capacity Planning * ERP * People, Jobs and Organisation * Lean Synchronisation * Operations Improvement Each answer should be approximately half to one page long. Using relevant examples will help support your answer. PART B For Part B – Essay Question This question will enable you to use the themes listed in Part A and additional material that you have learnt in the course more broadly to write a comprehensive answer to the question. Each answer should be approximately...
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