Topic > Comparison of Control and Power in Shaffer's "Equus" and Niccol's "Gattaca"

Equus and Gattaca correspond in their development of similar ideas surrounding the social and behavioral connections between power and control, although Shaffer and Niccol differ in their approach to these concepts through cinematographic and theatrical techniques. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayBoth Gattaca and Equus explore the influence and control of higher divine powers through the use of sonic motifs. In the work, the noise of Equus becomes a prevalent auditory feature produced by the choric effect of humming, thumping and stomping as it serves to indicate the presence of "Equus the God". These acoustic devices emphasize the deity's power to an eerie and provocative effect, increasing in intensity as his influence on Alan increases. Similarly, the Gattaca organization in Niccol's film demonstrates the god-like powers granted to scientists, with a presence that looms over the characters like an ever-watching god. The constant background announcements over Gattaca's public address system serve to remind the audience of this dictatorial authority, reinforcing the company's influence and involvement in the robot-like employees' actions. Alternatively, Shaffer draws on allusions to equine dominance for further information. strengthen the concept of transcendent power. This is especially evident when Dora refers to horses in a religious context by directly quoting the Bible with “The glory of his nostrils is terrible!” as Alan imitates "Swallows the ground with ferocity and anger!" These references illustrate the horse as a powerful being, an idea that grows and metastasizes to form a god in Alan's mind as he seeks to harness this power. Shaffer also uses selective language to emphasize Equus as a symbol of pure strength, as Alan's descriptions focus on physical strength with words like "big" and "huge" in association with his focus on powerful body parts like "hooves." , "hip" and "neck". Instead, Niccol uses angled shots to convey which characters possess power in specific situations. This can be seen during the opening flashback scene; a high-angle shot of Vincent as a child on the floor depicts the character as weak and vulnerable, ironically due to his DNA being reflected by the double helix model he is happily playing with, while the next mid-shot conveys the scientist as a ruling authority looking down on Vincent with the god-like ability to manipulate genetics. As the protagonists of both texts face the domination of these divine authorities, Shaffer and Niccol simultaneously use character development to examine the complex shifts of power in relation to gaining or losing it. the hands of another. In the dystopian world of Gattaca, having the perfect genetic identity guarantees success; in this way Eugenio symbolically transfers his power to Vincent by detaching himself from his first name and insisting that Vincent call him “Eugene” rather than “Girolamo”. This signifies the moment when Vincent takes control of his destiny, claiming the power that Eugene offers, with the composition of the shot conveying this transfer as the height differences highlight how Vincent is immediately superior to “Eugene”. In contrast, Shaffer establishes a connection based on sexual dominance between Alan and Equus, which explores how power can be gained from the act of control. Horseback riding is described as a sexualized experience as Alan mentions intricate details that.