Art that examines the Human Spirit

Gattaca examines the human soul without limits and Audrey the De-Gene-Rate shows you what one can accomplish with an unyielding heart.

Gattaca examines the human spirit and determines that we needn’t provide barriers—our beginnings; our ailments or weaknesses; our predisposed faults— the power to alter our potential or stifle our heart’s desires. We need only decide on what we want and use every fiber of our being to reach that potential.

"gattaca" is a Film That Speaks to My Soul.

Films have always been a part of my dna. When I was a little girl my father used to send me three vhs tapes a week with three different movies on each tape. I consumed nine new movies each week and we had a collection that matched no other child I knew.

I share this because when asked my favorite film, I always stumble; not knowing how to answer. That being said, one movie always comes rushing forward in my mind. It’s a simple movie that some would probably not rate as high as I do, but #Gattaca has always spoken to my soul. I love everything about that film.

There’s a scene where the #degenerate (an invalid that buys the genes of a valid person in society) blows smoke into a tumbler to demonstrate what Titan the moon looks like.

The other day I rewatched this amazing film and said, “I’m going to turn my Audrey into that single frame somehow.” I turned that frame into art that examines the human spirit. I turned it into Audrey the De-Gene-Rate.

And this is how Audrey the de-gene-rate was born. She borrowed the “superior” genes of another and shows is that there is no gene that accounts for the human spirit.

Painting Video Love Letter

Title | Audrey the De-Gene-Rate

Painter: Your Travel Artist

Music | Gattaca: The Departure

Artist | Michael Nyman and Valentina Lisitsa

Moral of Audrey the De-Gene-Rate's Story.

We can do and be whatever we want. We needn’t allow— our beginnings; our ailments or weaknesses; our predisposed faults —alter our potential or stifle our heart’s desires. We need only decide on what we want and use every fiber of our being to reach our potential… even if we have to borrow someone’s spiral ladder to reach it, we can reach it with enough heart. 🪜❤️

More to come. If you’re digging these vibes, let me know. I am looking for you.

P.S. A scene that --no matter where I am or what I am doing-- I can mentally press play, pause and rewind on.

Michael Nyman's score lifts me up to the heavens by having me feel the fight and then feel the sun shining on my face as I ascend higher and higher. And that's when Ethan Hawk delivers the epic line, "You wanna know how I did it? This is how I did it, Anton. I never saved anything for the swim back." Cue goosebumps... errie time.

P.S.S. While we are discussing the marriage of crescendos and Ethan Hawk delivering amazing writing... please allow me to share another epic scene that plays on repeat in my mind.

Patrick Doyle delivered an epic score for 1998's film adaptation of, "Great Expectations." Ethan Hawk is clearly one of my favorite performers.

"I did it! I did it! I am a wild success!

I sold them all! All my paintings.

You don't have to be embarrassed by me anymore. I'm rich! Isn't that what you wanted? Isn't it great? Are we happy now?

Don't you understand that everything I do, I do it for you? Anything that might be special in me is you."

P.S.S. Okay, my tangent is nearly over. I now ask you to share an epic scene with me (I'm constantly on the hunt for emotionally charged and meaningful moments in cinema that define the human experience).

Shoot me a message with the link or film you're thinking of when it comes to masterful writing and monumental scores that set the viewer's heart on fire. I'm excited to receive a recommendation in my inbox.