The Marginalized Unknown: The True Victims in Daybreakers and Rise of the Planet of the Apes
The films Daybreakers and Rise of the Planet of the Apes pose serious questions regarding race and human value. In Daybreakers, the protagonist Edward must decide whether to embrace his newfound nature as a Vampire, or to join forces with the few humans in search of a cure for Vampirism. The film Rise of the Planet of the Apes demonstrates the inhumanities of animal testing, and the ethical implications of putting the health of human race before the life and dignity of other creatures, such as apes. While both of these films attempt to diagnose and treat the disease of racism, they both openly and without question marginalize specific groups that are …show more content…
In Daybreakers, Vampires hunt humans for food, and humans hunt Vampires to protect themselves and the human race. At the end of the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the genetically modified apes take revenge on humans who treated them with cruelty. Both films take a utilitarian approach to the existence of other beings that do not fit into either category. In Daybreakers, a group of “devolved” Vampires are called “Sub-siders,” which are monster-like creatures in whom all hope of humanity is lost. Humans and Vampires alike fear, ignore and often exterminate Sub-siders without question. Similarly, in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, humans see apes as disposable objects of study that can be used for chemical testing. Even Caesar, the supposed “saviour of the apes,” looks down on his ignorant brethren as too slow and unevolved to defend themselves from human atrocities. Caesar eventually forces upon the imprisoned apes the same genetic “treatment” that he himself has been subjected to in the womb. The actions of Caesar sends the clear message that in order to find justice, he must build an intelligent master race of apes; a worldview in which “ordinary” apes are not welcome. In both Daybreakers and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, certain groups are excluded, taken advantage of and forced to change—all to suit the dominant competing
The films Daybreakers and Rise of the Planet of the Apes pose serious questions regarding race and human value. In Daybreakers, the protagonist Edward must decide whether to embrace his newfound nature as a Vampire, or to join forces with the few humans in search of a cure for Vampirism. The film Rise of the Planet of the Apes demonstrates the inhumanities of animal testing, and the ethical implications of putting the health of human race before the life and dignity of other creatures, such as apes. While both of these films attempt to diagnose and treat the disease of racism, they both openly and without question marginalize specific groups that are …show more content…
In Daybreakers, Vampires hunt humans for food, and humans hunt Vampires to protect themselves and the human race. At the end of the film Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the genetically modified apes take revenge on humans who treated them with cruelty. Both films take a utilitarian approach to the existence of other beings that do not fit into either category. In Daybreakers, a group of “devolved” Vampires are called “Sub-siders,” which are monster-like creatures in whom all hope of humanity is lost. Humans and Vampires alike fear, ignore and often exterminate Sub-siders without question. Similarly, in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, humans see apes as disposable objects of study that can be used for chemical testing. Even Caesar, the supposed “saviour of the apes,” looks down on his ignorant brethren as too slow and unevolved to defend themselves from human atrocities. Caesar eventually forces upon the imprisoned apes the same genetic “treatment” that he himself has been subjected to in the womb. The actions of Caesar sends the clear message that in order to find justice, he must build an intelligent master race of apes; a worldview in which “ordinary” apes are not welcome. In both Daybreakers and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, certain groups are excluded, taken advantage of and forced to change—all to suit the dominant competing