‘Discovering connections between texts enhances our understanding of how context influences values’ Discuss this statement in relation to the texts you have studied in class this term

As explorations of their particular contexts, Bradbury’s short story Sound of Thunder, Vonnegut’s

Shortstory ‘Harison Bergeron’ and the film ‘Gattaca’ by Niccols explore the controversial eithics of

integrating sophisticated technology into society, and the ramifications of social engineering on

individual identity. Whilst Bradbury and Vonegut’s texts were influenced by the political and

economic paradigms of the USA post WWII. Niccols reflects on the social and ethical concerns

surrounding the development of genetic engineering in his 1990’s context.

Ray Bradbury in “sound of thunder” (1958) warns against the entrepreneurial exploitation of science

a venture bearing societal consequences beyond human comprehension. At a time when the

relentless pursuit of knowledge foreshadows a world inevitably dictated by science, Bradbury

explores the societal implications of the commercial misuse of science. A client Eckles departs on a

journey back in time with safari operators Travis and Lesperance to hunt dinosaurs, inadvertently

changing the course of history. The metaphor “The time was a film run backward. Suns fled and ten

million moons fled after them” emphasises the perception of the phenomenal power of science at

the time. Travis’s hyperbole “for want of a lion, all manner of insects, vultures, infinite billions of

lifeforms are thrown into chaos and destruction” emphasises that the ramifications of commercial

scientific negligence are born by the entirety of nature. The metaphor “and the caveman,… is an

entire future nation” infers the consequences of commercial scientific endeavour that are

shouldered by subsequent generations. The biblical allusion “Destroy this one man and you destroy

a race, a people, an entire history of life, it is comparable to slaying one of Adam’s grandchildren”

emphasis the detrimental impact of the commercial pursuit of science on society. Hence, Bradbury

communicates the perils of the negligent exploitation of science on society

In the film Gattaca 1997, Nicholls similarly conveys the notion that the unethical exploitation of

science would have severe ramifications on society. Influenced by the controversial human gene

project of the 1990s, Niccols suggests that a society based on the pursuit of artificial perfection

would lose touch with human empathy and compassion. Diagnosed with a 99% chance of heart

failure amongst other complications, Vincent freeman embarks on a quest to fulfil his dreams of

travelling into space in a dystopic society revolving around ones genetics. The dangers of abusing

science are conveyed in the opening biblical verse “consider the work of god, for who can straighten

what he hath made crooked” (ecclasiates 7:13) inplying that man has no right to tamper with Gods

creations. When Vincent enters the corridors of the Gattaca Academy, the sepiea mise-enscene with

extensive artificial lighting creates a cold calculating atmosphere reflecting the sterile environment

void of normal human interaction. Vincent states “no matter how much I lied in my resume, the real

resume was in my cells,” the metaphor reveals the lack of value for an individuals’ merit. Thus

Nicolls, has brought to light the consequences of the exploitation of science.

In Harrison Berger on 1961 Vonegut expresses his scepticism at the notion that the abolition of

individual differences enables the establishment of a utopia. A reflecting the propaganda filled

concerns over communism in 1965 USA Vonnegut implies that any attempt to create an egalitarian

society through government legislation would diminish individuality. A Harrison Berger Ron details a

segment of the lives of a George Hazel and Harrison, civilians whose rights are pressed in an attempt

to conform individuals to a societal standard to create equality. “True equality was due to the 211th,

212, and the 213 amendments to the Constitution” ironically suggests that inequality is possible only

through diminishing individual rights and freedom. The simile “a buzzer sounded in Georges head.

His thoughts fled in panic, like bandits from a burglar alarm.” reflects the press of measures taken by

governments to create uniform societies by abolishing freedom of thought. The auditory imagery

"she began again making her voice absolutely uncompetitive” highlights the fact that society can

never be equal due to discrepancies. Hence Vonnegut has revealed through the depiction of a

utopian society that any attempts to create an egalitarian society would diminish individuality.

Andrew Nicols's in Gattaca similarly casts doubt upon the prospect of engineering and egalitarian

society through the devaluation of differences. Amid concerns regarding the ethics of gene

technology following the completion of the human genome project, Nicholls explores the

implications of the societal pursuit of artificial perfection on human identity. The opening montage

displays a singing of close-up shots depicting Vincent vigorously rubbing his skin as he tries

eliminates his natural' invalid' genetic signature. The depiction of employees of identical height and

style of dress entering Gattaca alludes to the lifeless uniformity in a society created by the artificial

conception of individuals. The palate of the interior of Gattaca consists mainly of sepia and greyscale

tones, reflecting the sterile atmosphere which suggests that the' perfect society' has all humanity

expelled. The oxymoron “they are the healthy ill. They don’t actually have anything, yet they may

never…” reveals the effect of social engineering in creating societal divisions created by genetic

inheritance rather than personal identity. Nicholls, through the depiction of a dystopic society, thus

warns of the dangers of social engineering on individuality.

The exploration of issues in Sound of Thunder, Harrison Bergeron and Gattaca facilitate our

understanding of connections between texts hence enhancing our interpretation of each authors

stance on the integration of science into society. The importance of discovering connections

between texts thus becomes apparent in these texts, which convey similar ideas despite being

created at various instances throughout the 20th century