Discovery is a multi-faceted concept – it is almost impossible to separate our discoveries about ourselves, others and the world because the really profound discoveries we make are always based on those existential concerns that reflect upon our purpose in life, our place in the scheme of things and our relationships with others. I want to discuss two texts that I believe reflect these universal concerns and which encapsulate the spirit of the HSC Area of Discovery module – the poetry of Robert Frost and a film called Gattaca directed by Andrew Nichols in 1999.
There are two key ideas developed in Frost’s poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.’ The first is that everybody, at some point, questions their purpose in life and he second is that everybody, at some point, discovers what it is that they are meant to do. The atmosphere of the poem is at once eerie and tranquil – the repetition of soft, sibilant ‘s’ sounds such as those in the title ‘stopping by woods on a snowy evening’ and in the images of ‘only other sound’s the sweep of easy wind’ evokes a mood of contemplation but also tension as the persona pauses ‘between the woods and frozen lake’ on ‘the darkest evening of the year’. There is a sense of anticipation – of a decision that is being made tht is rimportant enough to halt the journey despite the confusion of the horse who ‘must think it queer.’ The woods offer enticement and respite ‘lovely’ but are also dangerous and unknown ‘dark and deep’ and we wait, along with the persona, to see what his decision will be. The repetition of ‘But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep’ reveals the discovery that our place in the world is to continue on with our responsibilities and that the resilience of the human spirit can overcome the momentary desire to rest, or abandon or purpose in life.
The protagonist in Gattaca also undergoes a period of doubt and hesitation in his desire to be accepted into a space program that, in the futuristic setting of the film, is limited to genetically engineered ‘perfect’ human specimens. As the product of ‘natural’ birth, Vincent’s physical defects preclude his participation in all but the most menial occupations and this is made clear by the dialogue ‘The only way you’ll see the inside of a space ship is if you are cleaning it,’ and for a time, Vincent accepts his fate, gazinging longingly into the sky that has become a symbol for all his desires and ambitions. However, his determination to fulfil his goals is demonstrated in the montage of images that depict the sacrifices he is willing to make – showing skin being scrubbed, fingertips shaved, legs broken and extended, all in order to be able to transcend his pre-ordained destiny. He discovers his capacity for suffering and compromise, for determination and deception and, like in Frost’s poem, he too has ‘miles to go’ before his journey is complete. The audience discovers that the same power of the human spirit that drives Frost’s persona and that knowing one’s purpose and place in life is essential if the journey is to have any meaning.
Discovery is also very much about relationships with others. Humans don’t exist in a vacuum – the ties with other people help to define us – relationships allow us to discover things about ourselves and the world that would otherwise remain unexplored. Frost’s poem ‘Mending Wall’ epitomises such discoveries….
There are two key ideas developed in Frost’s poem ‘Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.’ The first is that everybody, at some point, questions their purpose in life and he second is that everybody, at some point, discovers what it is that they are meant to do. The atmosphere of the poem is at once eerie and tranquil – the repetition of soft, sibilant ‘s’ sounds such as those in the title ‘stopping by woods on a snowy evening’ and in the images of ‘only other sound’s the sweep of easy wind’ evokes a mood of contemplation but also tension as the persona pauses ‘between the woods and frozen lake’ on ‘the darkest evening of the year’. There is a sense of anticipation – of a decision that is being made tht is rimportant enough to halt the journey despite the confusion of the horse who ‘must think it queer.’ The woods offer enticement and respite ‘lovely’ but are also dangerous and unknown ‘dark and deep’ and we wait, along with the persona, to see what his decision will be. The repetition of ‘But I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep’ reveals the discovery that our place in the world is to continue on with our responsibilities and that the resilience of the human spirit can overcome the momentary desire to rest, or abandon or purpose in life.
The protagonist in Gattaca also undergoes a period of doubt and hesitation in his desire to be accepted into a space program that, in the futuristic setting of the film, is limited to genetically engineered ‘perfect’ human specimens. As the product of ‘natural’ birth, Vincent’s physical defects preclude his participation in all but the most menial occupations and this is made clear by the dialogue ‘The only way you’ll see the inside of a space ship is if you are cleaning it,’ and for a time, Vincent accepts his fate, gazinging longingly into the sky that has become a symbol for all his desires and ambitions. However, his determination to fulfil his goals is demonstrated in the montage of images that depict the sacrifices he is willing to make – showing skin being scrubbed, fingertips shaved, legs broken and extended, all in order to be able to transcend his pre-ordained destiny. He discovers his capacity for suffering and compromise, for determination and deception and, like in Frost’s poem, he too has ‘miles to go’ before his journey is complete. The audience discovers that the same power of the human spirit that drives Frost’s persona and that knowing one’s purpose and place in life is essential if the journey is to have any meaning.
Discovery is also very much about relationships with others. Humans don’t exist in a vacuum – the ties with other people help to define us – relationships allow us to discover things about ourselves and the world that would otherwise remain unexplored. Frost’s poem ‘Mending Wall’ epitomises such discoveries….