Topic > General Sciences and GATTACA - 993

General Sciences is a study involving biology, chemistry, physics and environmental sciences. Students in grades 7 to 10 are introduced to these various disciplines to gain general knowledge about science and can later be developed into deeper concepts. Science isn't just big lab coats, Einstein equations, mixing chemicals, huge space shuttles, or peering through microscopes, it involves critical thinking, data analysis, and applying knowledge in the natural world to solve real problems. Science is an approach to learning what makes this world and how things worked decades ago, how they work today, and how they should work in the coming years. Some of the social justice issues hidden behind the science can cause important consequences. For example, low-income communities of color have experienced an oversupply of toxic substances and waste from industries that destroy nature and cause heavy pollution. GATTACA (1997) is a science fiction film in which a person's abilities are determined by their genes from birth. Vincent Freeman is displayed as the main character where he has to overcome his weaknesses through hard work and constant determination to achieve his goals at Gattaca Space Academy. Genetic alterations play an important role in the film where only those with perfect genes can achieve their dream career and "genoism" has become a new form of inequality. Society despises Vincent, including his parents, because he was born naturally with physical limitations known as an "invalid", while his younger brother Anton was genetically modified before his birth. Anton was born as "valid" and was appreciated by everyone due to his perfect genes chosen by his parents. Due to discrimination in up to... middle of paper... family, could genetic discrimination really affect our future? Why did Gerome ultimately commit suicide, was he able to find reasons to live for a society full of prejudices? Why did Gattaca only present white males as "invalid", how does this reflect stereotypes? Why didn't society have mercy on Vincent, where were the ethics and morals of society? to allow students to think critically about the social justice issues presented in the film. After class discussion, students can divide into groups of four. Each group of students can identify a particular issue that they find interesting, such as the new evolving type of discrimination of “genoism”, the ethics and morality of society, stereotypes, inequity between the two brothers, and also consider the effects of the discrimination of the characters. Students can present their chosen issues through role-playing or an oral presentation to their peers.