What does “disabled” mean when a man with no legs can run faster than many Olympic sprinters? With prenatal screening able to predict hundreds of probable conditions, who should determine what kind of people get to be born? If you could augment your body’s abilities in any way imaginable what would you do? From pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to neural implants and bionic limbs, researchers around the world are hard at work developing a myriad of technologies to fix or enhance the human body, but what does it mean to design “better humans” and do we want to?
Welcome to the companion site for FIXED, a documentary that explores disability, ableism, eugenics and transhumanism in the context of emerging human enhancement technologies.
Our goal with this project — both the film and website — is to challenge entrenched notions of “normal” by supporting new ways of thinking about disability, ability and difference, as well as to examine how cultural values get embedded in our technology. We look at the long history of eugenics in this country and beyond, and then question human enhancement technologies in light of this history while still encouraging creativity and imagination to flourish. Finally, and most importantly, we aim to stimulate public involvement in the direction and application of emerging human enhancement technologies. Who will benefit from these technologies? At what cost?
We will be posting related articles periodically, as well as posting video excerpts from interviews done for the film. Please explore the site, leave a comment, introduce yourself and be a part of building this online community!
Make a tax-deductible donation today to help finish the film.