Clones: A Hated Other?
October 4th 2006 01:38
Clones are a frightening characteristic of recent science fiction. Since the cloning of “Dolly” the sheep the idea of cloning may no longer be simply an aspect of science fiction. What is frightening about clones is that while they look exactly the same as the “real” individual they are also a complete “other”. By “other” I mean one who is the exact opposite of what is the accepted definition of humanity. However science fiction is starting to argue for the clone, stating that they have as much a right to live as the rest of us. In The Island the main characters who we sympathise or perhaps even empathise with are both clones. In fact Lincoln-six-echo’s sponsor, Tom Lincoln is despised by the audience as he attempts to kill his clone.
At the “facility” in which Lincoln-six-echo and Jordan-two-Delta are originally held prisoner the clones are considered less than human. Even Lincoln’s friend who helps them doesn’t consider them fully human. They are treated as mere “products” that are mass produced for profit. The film however, portrays this view as inhumane. So what then? Has Hollywood accepted the clone?
Not necessarily. In the film Aeon Flux most of the human race has been wiped out due to a fatal disease. The cure to this disease however causes infertility and thus the government is forced to clone the people of the city in order to maintain its population. The man who discovered the cure, Trevor, faithfully searches for a solution to this problem so that the cloning may no longer be necessary. His brother however, prefers the cloning for it means eternal life for the individual. As Trevor’s brother is the villain his viewpoint is considered evil by the audience. Therefore the natural way of things is considered better than the unnatural method of cloning. Hollywood has a double mind about cloning which reinforces the idea that while the clone has a human appearance they are still an “other” to be feared.
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