Eco horror is a genre of horror that typically explores environmental and ecological themes, along with their consequences. Within the genre, nature is typically portrayed as vengeful against humanity and human actions.

The topic for this digital exhibition is the genetic engineering and monster subgenre of eco horror. Historically, genetic modification eco horror has existed in several capacities such as evolution, and breeding, both man made and natural throughout the past centuries. However, the subgenre rapidly adapted to human created genetic engineering when the technology was pioneered by American biochemists in 1973. As genetic engineering research has advanced, so has its applications, and with it the genre has further evolved. 

The evolution of both science, and the subgenre has led to many texts warning against feasible, or not too distant possibilities, which evolve genetic modification. With some of the most common topics being the genetic modification of animals, for human or personal gain. This has been deeply intertwined with actual society after the 2003 release of the GloFish, which was “the first genetically modified organism to be made available as a pet” (Perry) and has only grown in prominence. Another common topic is the genetic modifications of humans to try and achieve human ‘perfection’, something that is reflected within society of designer babies. Thus, letting the subgenre remind humanity that not all genetic modifications are good, and that they have a chance to result in extremely negative consequences due to an inability to predict reactions in the natural world, the modification of nature, along with the possible modifications to society that they might produce.

The use of genetic engineering in ecohorror reflects humanity’s growing fear of scientists’ ability to genetically modify animals, including humans. Within the works of the genre, a scientist (or group of scientists) tests the limits of science by genetically modifying an animal and tries to ‘play God’. These modifications often go horribly wrong and there are unintended effects when the modified animals are released into the environment, intentionally or not. In this way, works with genetic engineering often fall under the subcategory of monster ecohorror. The disastrous effects of the scientists’ experiments warn against the dangers of genetic engineering, and modern science in general, disrupting the balance of nature.

Our exhibit is focused on how the subgenre of genetic engineering/monster ecohorror has been influenced and changed by the aforementioned scientific and societal evolution. In doing so we will analyze 5 sources, 2 books and 3 movies, which are spread throughout an extended time period. The first source is the 1896 book, The Island of Dr. Moreau, this text was chosen because it warns against ‘playing God’ and demonstrates how nature fights back to restore balance. The second source is the 1972 film, Night of the Lepus, which was chosen due to its role as a warning against genetic modification and engineering of animals, the film demonstrates the consequences of tampering with the natural world and that nature will fight back. The third source is the 1997 film, Mimic, this was chosen because it addresses the catastrophic possibilities of creating genetically modified organisms even if their initial purpose is noble and important for humanity. The fourth is the 2015 film, Jurassic World, which was chosen to display the arrogance of humans when it comes to playing with the rules of nature for the benefit of their own entertainment. The final source is the 2017 Borne novel, which was chosen because it portrayed the environmental and societal consequences of a company using reckless genetic modification for profit.

Within these sources, we are seeking to find common themes within the subgenre that have stood the test of time, and themes that have evolved throughout the past two centuries, along with the traits that link the texts to eco horror and the genetic modification subgenre. Furthermore, we are looking to link the present themes to specific real-life events and actions that the sources might be warning against. The topics of playing God, capitalism, and genetic modification for human gain will be discussed. These topics have been present in classics like Frankenstein, where a human tests the rules of nature eventually causing problems for many people. Capitalism and corruption is discussed in many films suggesting that corporations and governments may be willing to exploit genetic modification for financial gain, even at the expense of public safety. These films often raise questions about the ethics and potential dangers of genetic modification, as well as the role of science and technology in shaping our world. Analyzing these films can provide insight into the complex issues surrounding genetic modification and the impact that it could have on our society.