An essay that focuses on personal responsibility as it relates to the treatment of “aliens”, interpreted broadly to mean outsiders such as immigrants and refugees. Your essay should focus on either Dawn or District 9, and should reference Cohen’s “Monster Theory,” but may draw on additional relevant course materials.

QUESTION

An essay that focuses on personal responsibility as it relates to the treatment of “aliens”, interpreted broadly to mean outsiders such as immigrants and refugees. Your essay should focus on either Dawn or District 9, and should reference Cohen’s “Monster Theory,” but may draw on additional relevant course materials.

This paper offers an opportunity to consider the ways in which narratives of alien invasion impact our moral perspective and personal sense of responsibility, potentially inspiring fear and prejudice or, on the contrary, ethical thinking and action. In this essay, you should explain in-depth, with detailed textual support, how Dawn or District 9 challenges readers or viewers to analyze the representation of the alien as monstrous, critique the treatment of (human) aliens in our own society, and consider our own personal responsibility towards cultural outsiders. Your essay should explore an ethical dilemma raised by the chosen work in which core values (such as freedom, privacy, family, etc.) come into conflict. You should then take a stand on how you would resolve this ethical dilemma, supporting your argument logically with reference to your own values and cultural background. Additionally, you should justify how you would apply this ethical perspective to a real-life situation.

The essays should be approximately 6 pages long, double-spaced with a standard 12 point font and margin. It should include detailed textual analysis, quotations, and citations. Furthermore, it should be well organized and edited to ensure clarity of communication and to eliminate distracting errors.

The essay should be submitted online in duplicate both here and in the TurnItIn dropbox below as well, in a docx or pdf attachment, by midnight on the due date. Because final grades for all UHD courses are due shortly thereafter, papers must be received by this deadline to allow adequate time for grading. Students who fail to turn in a passing paper by the deadline will fail the paper and the course. No incompletes will be given without documentation of a serious, extended emergency (such as hospitalization).

Essays will be evaluated for argumentation (thesis construction, logic, persuasiveness), ethical reasoning (explanation of ethical dilemma, justification of ethical choices), support (evidence and citation), and communication (organization, clarity, grammar, mechanics, and style). See sample papers for examples of how to analyze, compare, and contrast literary works, but understand that students from previous semesters had different instructions and were not required to write about ethical responsibility.

Students must produce individual interpretations of the texts under consideration and should not research the topic or make use of outside sources such as the internet without pre-approval from the instructor; use of words, ideas, information, or other materials from unacknowledged sources constitutes plagiarism and will result in failure of the course. Citations should follow MLA format. See the OWL website for help with the citation of books, electronic books, films, etc.

As stated in the course syllabus, students must receive a passing grade on this paper to pass the course.

ANSWER

 Personal Responsibility and the Treatment of “Aliens”: A Moral Examination of District 9

Introduction

The portrayal of aliens in literature and film often serves as a lens through which we can analyze our own treatment of outsiders, including immigrants and refugees. This essay explores the themes of personal responsibility and the treatment of aliens, focusing on the film “District 9.” Drawing on Cohen’s “Monster Theory” and additional course materials, we will delve into how “District 9” challenges viewers to examine the representation of aliens as monstrous, critique the treatment of human aliens in our society, and consider our personal responsibilities towards cultural outsiders. Furthermore, we will analyze an ethical dilemma in the film, where core values clash, and present our own ethical resolution (Villa, 2021). This perspective will be applied to a real-life situation to demonstrate the relevance and applicability of the chosen ethical standpoint.

Body

Challenging Alien Representation as Monstrous

“District 9” presents aliens as disadvantaged and marginalized beings

The film challenges viewer prejudices and stereotypes through empathetic storytelling

Cohen’s “Monster Theory” highlights how “District 9” blurs the line between monstrous and human

Critiquing the Treatment of Human Aliens in Society

Parallels between alien segregation in the film and real-life treatment of immigrants and refugees (UNHCR US -, n.d.)

Examination of the dehumanization and discrimination experienced by human aliens

The film prompts reflection on our own attitudes and actions towards cultural outsiders

Personal Responsibility towards Cultural Outsiders

The film emphasizes the moral obligation to respect the rights and dignity of others

Analyzing the significance of compassion, empathy, and understanding in fostering inclusive societies

The importance of challenging institutionalized discrimination and advocating for change

Ethical Dilemma: Balancing Security and Humanity

The ethical conflict between maintaining security and protecting the rights of human aliens

The clash of values: freedom, equality, and empathy versus fear, prejudice, and self-preservation

Justifying the resolution: prioritizing empathy, inclusivity, and collaboration as a foundation for a just society

Application to Real-Life Situations: Immigration Policie

Applying the ethical perspective to current immigration policies (Can Immigration Solve the Demographic Dilemma? – IMF F&D, 2020

Advocating for inclusive immigration practices that prioritize human dignity and rights

Addressing potential counterarguments and reinforcing the ethical standpoint

Conclusion

“District 9” challenges viewers to critically examine their attitudes towards outsiders and confront the treatment of aliens as monstrous or subhuman. Through an exploration of personal responsibility, the film encourages empathy, understanding, and the dismantling of discriminatory systems. By resolving the ethical dilemma presented in the film with a commitment to compassion, inclusivity, and collaboration, we can apply these principles to real-life situations, such as immigration policies. It is through these efforts that we can cultivate a more just and compassionate society that upholds the rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of their alien status.

References

Can Immigration Solve the Demographic Dilemma? – IMF F&D. (2020, March 1). IMF. https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2020/03/can-immigration-solve-the-demographic-dilemma-peri 

UNHCR US -. (n.d.). OHCHR Discussion Paper: Expulsion of aliens in international human rights law | UNHCR US. UNHCR US. https://www.unhcr.org/us/media/29517 

Villa, I. (2021). Humans and Non-Humans: Representation of Diversity and Exclusionary Practices in Twenty-First Century British Science Fiction TV Series. Unimi. https://www.academia.edu/50301079/Humans_and_Non_Humans_Representation_of_Diversity_and_Exclusionary_Practices_in_Twenty_First_Century_British_Science_Fiction_TV_Series