Eugenics, Democracy, and Freedom

Posted by Osagie K. Obasogie March 22, 2007
Biopolitical Times
300 is arguably the most racially charged movie since D.W. Griffith's The Birth of a Nation. In true post 9/11 form, Brown becomes the new Black; the Battle of Thermopylae is dramatically recreated to depict Persians as bloodthirsty barbarians temporarily thwarted by a small contingent of chiseled White freedom fighters looking to preserve democracy at all costs. And, like Griffith's early 20th century cinematic screed, this mixture of race, racism, and violence has proven remarkably profitable: 300 grossed over $70 million in its opening weekend and remains atop at the box office.Karl Rove couldn't have done a better job putting together what some are calling a pro-West propaganda flick; its opening a few days before the Iraq War's four year anniversary is beyond ironic. But while race and racism are certainly dominant themes, another troubling aspect has gone largely unnoticed: its unrestrained glorification of eugenics.

Within the first few minutes, moviegoers are introduced to Spartan eugenics whereby every newborn is inspected; those showing defect or disability are abandoned to die. Initially shocking to the audience, they are quickly reassured that this is all for the greater good: nation, freedom, and democracy. 300's crafty narration and erotic imagery easily legitimates these practices. After all, Spartans are brave, noble, and beautiful. And did I mention they have great abs?

This pro-eugenics trope is only magnified by the film's dramatic climax which implausibly suggests that were not the Spartans betrayed by Ephialtes - a disabled Spartan whose parents hid from the authorities - the 300 eugenically engineered soldiers would have outlasted Xerxes' minions. Put differently, the taste left in viewers' mouths is that but for the failure of Spartan eugenics to catch Ephialtes at birth, King Leonidas may very well have led the outmanned and overmatched army to victory.

Health and reproductive choice are today's justifications for eugenic decision making. But, at what point will using reproductive technologies to create "better" humans be framed as a national security issue? DARPA is already looking at human enhancement to make better soldiers; starting from scratch may very well be around the corner. Tonight, we dine in hell, indeed.