364 RüdigerKunow
the flip side of this brave new biotech coin is that the "primary
responsibility for successful ageing [is assigned] to the individual who
can be blamed for failing to comply [with recommended enhancement
procedures or products]" (Hodgetts et al. 419).^60 In overall perspective,
it is certainly difficult to assess the long-term impact of such critical
visions; they may just be seen as entertaining variations on a dominant
culturaltheme.Whatdoesseemreasonablyclearisthatthequickfixof
genomic interventions, the transformation of bodies, "largely through
sooner-rather-than-later technoscientific interventions not only for
treatment but also increasingly for enhancement" (Clarke et al.,
"TheoreticalandSubstantiveIntroduction"2)hasgainedafirm hold on
the vernacular conversations of Americans, their imagination, their
hopes (but also their fears). A while ago already,New York Times
journalist Sherwin Nuland noted a "Rush to Enhancement" (n. pag.)
while Collins et al. in their status report "A Vision for the Future of
GenomicsResearch"acknowledgethat"thepublicishighlyinterestedin
theconceptthatpersonalgeneticinformationmightguidethemtobetter
health, but is deeply concerned about potential misuses of that
information" (15). Because of enhancement's redemptive promise, the
promise of producing bodies that are "better than well," genomics and
biotechnology have for all practical purposes become "one of the key
sitesforthefabricationofthecontemporaryself"(NovasandRose490),
regardlessofwhetherornotpeopleapproveof"SurvivaloftheFairest"
(Keane) principle. Meanwhile, the discretionary space (real or
imaginary)thatisopenedbyenhancementisneveraroomofone'sown
in the sense of Virginia Woolf's famous statement; many others are
intervening into Woolf's "room," guiding choices, defining what is
possible or desirable. Such interventions are coming not only from
family and friends, there is also big business and big government. A
wholeeconomyofhopehas formed in the wide open spaces created by
biotechnological (re-)engineering, an economy where people can buy
and sell and where profits are being made. Especially against the
background or neoliberalism and its ideological commitment to self-
(^60) AsAlanPetersonsummarizesafrequentlymadeobservation:"Moreandmore
inthehealthcarearena,theconceptoftheactiveconsumer,hascometoreplace
thenotionofthepassivepatient"(Peterson193).