Jurassic Park - Now Our Reality
Chet Raymo's piece A Measure of Restraint speaks about the dangers within the scientific and even public community as we strive toward new discoveries. After reading the piece in class, I was left in awe at how beautifully the author presented the issue as well as the need for caution in our discoveries. While genetic engineering was not prominently discussed in the passage, I believe it is an issue needing greater notice.
Jurassic Park is a park with genetically engineered dinosaurs created from DNA found in a mosquito trapped in amber. As entertaining as Jurassic Park is, it teaches us a deeper lesson about our role in the environment and society. As seen in the movie, John Hammond discovers a life-changing genetic tool, which he markets as a fun family getaway. This quickly changes in plan when the park's power shuts down, leaving cages and reserves open. We discard our roles in society and decide to play God, disrupting every aspect of nature that we thought we knew. We view these discoveries as a "...secret of the stars..." when in reality, they will eventually wound and kill us (Raymo). And what happened in Jurassic Park? Lives were lost, humans and dinosaurs. The thought of dinosaurs coexisting with humans is highly unrealistic. But is it really? Scientists are currently working to revive Woolly Mammoths, perhaps even dinosaurs. How much time will it take before all morals are lost and we are left with only ourselves to modify? This isn't to say that our curiosity and striving for a better society is wrong, but it can be easily corrupted and manipulated if taken without proper restraints. Nature is unpredictable and placing it is a nicely kept prison doesn't make it any more tame. As Ian Malcolm said, "Life breaks free. Life expands to new territories. Painfully, perhaps even dangerously. But life finds a way."
I liked the rhetorical questions you added in your argument because they show how complicated this topic is and I think the example you used to show this fits very well with your position.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this was a very insightful connection, despite it being fictional. Additionally i thought your implementation of rhetorical questions really added to your argument.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how you connected the peice we read in class to the Jurrasic Park! I also liked how you used rhetorical questions throughout your passage, it enhanced your message and evoked thought. I also like how you end your blog post with a quote.
ReplyDelete-sukruta
I likehow you utilized rhetorical questions throughout your blog, as well as various references to the movies! overall, i love the way your blog flows so freely!
ReplyDeleteI love the connections you have made with both classes, the English piece and the science topics we are learning, this brings a lot more cohesion in your piece. Also, few of the this you mentioned/ questioned is what i was wondering too while watching the movie.
ReplyDeleteI love how you talked about the deeper lesson that the movie is trying to convey and how well you ties it back to "A Measure of Restraint". I think it was a really good example to showcase the abuse of science because of curiosity which is what the entire piece focuses on. I also love the quote at the end about life finding a way.
ReplyDelete