Alysha Frazier
English 1201
Professor Cassel
6 February 2014
“Moral Outrage over designer
babies”
Throughout the couple weeks while conducting my studies related
to my research topic “Genetic engineering in humans” I have come across the
subtopic of “Designer babies”several times and I’ve chosen to focus on it. I
believe that this image by Maria Guido is trying to convince the audience of the
dangers that come along with altering our children’s genes. For whatever reason
we may have for doing it, there is always the possibility of people going
overboard and to the extreme trying to play God and interfere with his cycle.
There is a fear that the pure naturalness of childbirth will be destroyed with
people simply going out shopping I might as well say for their babies
characteristics. The barcode on the infant’s wrist is what lead me to this
conclusion. Barcodes are what we stamp onto material things to declare their
worth. The fact that it’s on the baby’s wrist gives off the impression that the
child is just an item, maybe similar to a plastic baby doll. I believe that this
image is intended to appeal to a younger audience because we are the majority
having children and we are the ones growing up in a time where procedures such
as genetic engineering are even available. Everyone likes to shop and own nice
things and the image give’s off the notion that a baby can be another thing
added to your shopping cart. All of this can be categorized using pathos because
it appeals to the eye and mind. Hmmmm it’s tempting, some may
say.
As I look deeper into this image I see more than just simply what’s
there. To me it looks like this may possibly be the day the child was born and
maybe it’s his or hers first time holding onto their mommy. This Child is
everything their parents wanted and I mean literally, maybe custom made and they
are just full of joy. They paid the price. But, this is just my perception. This
image leaves a lot to the imagination.
When I look at the background I don’t see much. Something I do notice
though is that it’s white and pure. Babies are pure and sent from heaven in my
opinion. When I see white I think peace. This background contradicts the image
in my eyes because technically this baby isn’t pure considering the huge barcode
plastered on it wrist. The baby wasn’t conceived naturally or God’s way. Many
Christians are against procedures such as these for this very reason.
I think that the photographer choose this photo for publication because
it’s pretty much straight to the point. The plainness in the background prevents
distractions from the big picture. The image doesn’t even show the face of the
child and the other individual. When I saw this photo the first thing I noticed
was the barcode and I believed that was the editor’s intention. If there were
several people, beautiful designs, and then the baby in the mist of all that of
course I would notice those things too; Which could maybe cause me to overlook
something simple as the child’s wrist.
As I look into the original description/ analysis of the image I
found that it was actually pertaining to the process of parents simply looking
at the traits and conditions they may possibly pass onto their children being
patented, putting an end to curiosity and surprise. The health side of it is a
little more accepting than the aspects of physical appearance because people are
just more comfortable with the idea goings towards a more serious cause but I
look at it as kind of a double standard. Technically it’s still the same thing.
The writer assures that this patent is in no way intended as a way for parents
to specifically pick traits for their children, by all means avoiding the birth
of designer babies. Although there are many different views on this subjects
some people greatly appreciate technological advancements and take advantage of
them to the fullest extent.
Comparing my personal analysis of the image and the actual analysis I
found many differences but that’s the beauty of pictures. “A picture is worth a
thousand words” and it’s up to you to give it life no matter how you chose to
interpret it, who’s to say your wrong?
Work cited
A Patented Process Has Been Approved, Cue Moral Outrage Over
‘Designer Babies’. “Untitled Photograph”.Mommyish. Web. 5 October 2013.
<http://www.mommyish.com/2013/10/05/23andme-patent-may-open-door-for-designer-babies/>
English 1201
Professor Cassel
6 February 2014
“Moral Outrage over designer
babies”
Throughout the couple weeks while conducting my studies related
to my research topic “Genetic engineering in humans” I have come across the
subtopic of “Designer babies”several times and I’ve chosen to focus on it. I
believe that this image by Maria Guido is trying to convince the audience of the
dangers that come along with altering our children’s genes. For whatever reason
we may have for doing it, there is always the possibility of people going
overboard and to the extreme trying to play God and interfere with his cycle.
There is a fear that the pure naturalness of childbirth will be destroyed with
people simply going out shopping I might as well say for their babies
characteristics. The barcode on the infant’s wrist is what lead me to this
conclusion. Barcodes are what we stamp onto material things to declare their
worth. The fact that it’s on the baby’s wrist gives off the impression that the
child is just an item, maybe similar to a plastic baby doll. I believe that this
image is intended to appeal to a younger audience because we are the majority
having children and we are the ones growing up in a time where procedures such
as genetic engineering are even available. Everyone likes to shop and own nice
things and the image give’s off the notion that a baby can be another thing
added to your shopping cart. All of this can be categorized using pathos because
it appeals to the eye and mind. Hmmmm it’s tempting, some may
say.
As I look deeper into this image I see more than just simply what’s
there. To me it looks like this may possibly be the day the child was born and
maybe it’s his or hers first time holding onto their mommy. This Child is
everything their parents wanted and I mean literally, maybe custom made and they
are just full of joy. They paid the price. But, this is just my perception. This
image leaves a lot to the imagination.
When I look at the background I don’t see much. Something I do notice
though is that it’s white and pure. Babies are pure and sent from heaven in my
opinion. When I see white I think peace. This background contradicts the image
in my eyes because technically this baby isn’t pure considering the huge barcode
plastered on it wrist. The baby wasn’t conceived naturally or God’s way. Many
Christians are against procedures such as these for this very reason.
I think that the photographer choose this photo for publication because
it’s pretty much straight to the point. The plainness in the background prevents
distractions from the big picture. The image doesn’t even show the face of the
child and the other individual. When I saw this photo the first thing I noticed
was the barcode and I believed that was the editor’s intention. If there were
several people, beautiful designs, and then the baby in the mist of all that of
course I would notice those things too; Which could maybe cause me to overlook
something simple as the child’s wrist.
As I look into the original description/ analysis of the image I
found that it was actually pertaining to the process of parents simply looking
at the traits and conditions they may possibly pass onto their children being
patented, putting an end to curiosity and surprise. The health side of it is a
little more accepting than the aspects of physical appearance because people are
just more comfortable with the idea goings towards a more serious cause but I
look at it as kind of a double standard. Technically it’s still the same thing.
The writer assures that this patent is in no way intended as a way for parents
to specifically pick traits for their children, by all means avoiding the birth
of designer babies. Although there are many different views on this subjects
some people greatly appreciate technological advancements and take advantage of
them to the fullest extent.
Comparing my personal analysis of the image and the actual analysis I
found many differences but that’s the beauty of pictures. “A picture is worth a
thousand words” and it’s up to you to give it life no matter how you chose to
interpret it, who’s to say your wrong?
Work cited
A Patented Process Has Been Approved, Cue Moral Outrage Over
‘Designer Babies’. “Untitled Photograph”.Mommyish. Web. 5 October 2013.
<http://www.mommyish.com/2013/10/05/23andme-patent-may-open-door-for-designer-babies/>