From Eugenics to the 'New' Genetics: 'The Play's the Thing'

28 Pages Posted: 13 Nov 2010 Last revised: 19 Dec 2010

See all articles by Karen H. Rothenberg

Karen H. Rothenberg

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law

Date Written: 2010

Abstract

Genetics occupies a place in the public imagination with which few areas of science can compete. It is popularly understood to be the "science of life," concerned with the essence of humanity: a subject that generates both awe and fear. These divergent emotions are encapsulated in the "promise versus peril" debate: the promise of an end to human disease is countered by the peril embodied in the discriminatory capacity of genetic essentialism. This debate has become ingrained in popular culture, and its dramatic potential has been effectively realized in theatre.

Plays have always been written and performed as expressions of social and cultural concerns. Drama is uniquely able to address salient issues and to manipulate the way they are perceived through characters with whom the audience identifies and sympathizes. In this way, theatre engages in a dialogue with public opinion and social policy. Plays are vehicles for exploring connections and parallels between eugenics and the "new" genetics, especially with respect to the role of women and their accountability for future generations.

To illustrate this view, this article is structured in the format of a play. Act I explores how eugenic ideals influenced women protagonists within early twentieth century dramas. The intermission sets the stage for the convergence of the promise of emerging genetic technologies and the proliferation of civil rights movements. Act II then examines society’s embrace of the "new genetics" and how the promise and perils of this science have influenced society, especially the role of women. In analyzing these plays, this article aims to highlight the power of theatre to enhance our understanding of the complexities of the ethical, legal, and social implications of genetics.

Keywords: genetics, emerging technologies, role of women, society, heredity

Suggested Citation

Rothenberg, Karen H., From Eugenics to the 'New' Genetics: 'The Play's the Thing' (2010). Fordham Law Review, Vol. 79, p. 407, 2010, U of Maryland Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2010-58, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1707656

Karen H. Rothenberg (Contact Author)

University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law ( email )

500 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201-1786
United States

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
165
Abstract Views
1,112
Rank
358,874
PlumX Metrics