Several Similarities Between Gattaca And Pleasantville example essay topic

The Similarities and Differences Between Gattaca and Pleasantville It is very rare for films of different genres to share similar topics and ideology. Two films, Gattaca and Pleasantville, offer this rare occurrence of having several things in common that make both films similar yet vastly different while maintaining their uniqueness. Gattaca is a science fiction film that focuses on the future and how it will be impacted by human genetic engineering. It offers the basis that, one day we will be faced with the decisions to alter the pre-determined attributes of our existence and thus must deal with a new form of discrimination and segregation.

Instead of people being judged by their race, religion, social class, or sexual preference, they are judged by whether or not they are genetically perfect. Those who are imperfect genetically are treated as second-class citizens and are deprived of resources that their counterparts receive. Like Gattaca, Pleasantville is also a film based several important social issues, but instead of taking place in the future, it occurs in the late 1950's. The film is a creative fictional depiction of two siblings being trapped inside of a 1950's sitcom and their effects on the citizens they interact with. As the siblings began to share their ideals and beliefs with the people of Pleasantville, it causes an uproar between the citizens who's views they changed, and the citizens who retain their conservative ways of life. It ultimately leads to the people of Pleasantville judging each other by their differences, instead of their similarities.

There are several similarities between Gattaca and Pleasantville; some are more distinct than others. Though executed differently, both films emphasize the importance of family. In Pleasantville, David and Jennifer (brother and sister) help each other through their inhibitions which ultimately leads them to achieving their goals as well as becoming more well-rounded people. Without David's optimism and support, Jennifer may have never opened herself up to the awaiting experiences that Pleasantville had to offer. If not for Jennifer's savvy and experience, David may have never been able to overcome his obstacles with his communication barriers as well as expressing his emotions. In Gattaca, initially the family structure becomes heated due to the intense competition between Vincent and his brother Anton.

Anton, a genetically enhanced human, steers an inner drive inside Vincent that stays with him throughout adulthood. Like in Pleasantville, a sibling is an important force in Vincent achieving his goals and ambitions. Vincent also forms another family once he reaches adulthood. Though not a typical family, he forms a sort of pact between himself and his friends who know of his secret identity. His roommate Eugene (who's identity Vincent obtains) as well as his love interest, Irene; all are vital parts to Vincent reaching his goal of becoming an astronaut so he can reach the moon Titan. Eugene provides Vincent with vital blood and urine samples, dead skin cells, and also helpful insight.

Irene gives Vincent moral support as well as the love that he has been reaching out for his entire life. Without this "family" Vincent would succumb to the evils of discrimination that haunt many of the citizens of Gattaca. Another thing that both films have in common is that they both tackle the issue of discrimination -- though differently. Pleasantville compares white suburban ideals of the mid 1950's to a fantasy sitcom of the same era. A monochrome template is used as a metaphor for a white, perfect, utopia, and Technicolor is precisely depicted on people or things that contradict the norm.

When the monochrome citizens realize that other citizens look differently, they begin to judge and segregate from the citizens of color -- just like how it occurred throughout American history. The only solution to the problem was for the black and white citizens to accept the "colored" people as regular people instead of strange or second-class. These are some of the same revolutions that America had / has to face in order for progress among races to occur. Like Pleasantville, Gattaca deals with issues of discrimination -- but in a future setting. While Pleasantville focused on where our society once was with discrimination, Gattaca deals with where America is headed. The city of Gattaca was divided into two groups -- "valids" (genetically enhanced) and "invalids" (naturally born).

The society's view was that valids were superior than invalids and thus shall receive the top jobs and opportunities. Vincent, an invalid, is faced with either settling for a maintenance job or seeking his dream of becoming an astronaut. Unfortunately, only valids can hold positions of that status so Vincent has to do whatever possible to obtain his goal. Vincent is forced to fight the system by any means necessary to prove that he is worth of fair treatment. This leads to him working twice as hard to obtain the same privileges and opportunities that the valids have -- similar to what African-Americans have faced over the timespan of American history. Both films also focus on the predetermined limitations of its characters.

Before Jennifer and David entered the world of Pleasantville, the people there lived their lives with frequent monotony. Everyone possessed the same mannerisms, thought similarly, and never created any wrongdoing. The grass was always cut, the weather was perfect (it never rained), and dinner was always ready when the family arrived home. Everything appeared to be perfect in Pleasantville, but looks can be deceiving. By the daily lives of the citizens being set, there wasn't any room for individuality. Without any individuality in Pleasantville, the city lacked depth in its citizens as well as its history.

All of these factors lead to vast limitations that prevent the society from tapping its unlimited potential. Gattaca's predetermined limitations are set from a scientific standpoint. Through genetic manipulation, children's physical and mental attributes are set long before their birth. All genetic deficiencies are removed, thus creating an almost perfect human being.

The child's chances of mental illness, disease, and even their year of death are concluded as soon as the child is born. By the children's appearance, personality, and health being predetermined, it can become very hard for them to live their lives in any other fashion then what was given to them. They are simply depicting an image that others felt was "acceptable" or "perfect" and thus may make it difficult for the people to become individuals. The characters in both films struggle with identity issues. The Pleasantville people initially lack a sense of identity and don't find it until David and Jennifer come to grips with their own. As David and Jennifer learn more about themselves, they then realize that they have the knowledge and obligation to help the others around them.

Pleasantville slowly transforms from a cookie cutter suburb to a fluid culture of diversity. Gattaca's issues with identity center around Vincent and his determination towards preventing people from finding it. By Vincent using Eugene's identity to move up the corporate ladder at Gattaca Corp., he finds himself using just as much energy preventing anyone from knowing his true identity then he does using a false identity in the first place. In conclusion, Pleasantville and Gattaca, though vastly different films, have several similarities that link two well-executed movies.