Peter Gabriel on Humanoid Height

Human prejudice against being small is a complicated mix of biological and cultural reasons. In the 1972 dystopian song ‘Get them out by Friday’ by progressive rockband Genesis, small size is appropriated for the economic benefit of a greedy project developer. The 9 minute mini-opera envisions a world (in 2012!) in which people are genetically manipulated to be only 4 feet tall so they can fit more tenants into buildings.

The lyrics: This is an announcement from Genetic Control:”It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on humanoid height. ”  “I hear the directors of Genetic Control have been buying all the properties that have recently been sold, taking risks oh so bold. It’s said now that people will be shorter in height, they can fit twice as many in the same building site. (they say it’s alright)”

More space and the need for smaller homes would actually, probably, be one of the positive consequences of shrinking the human body, preferably as the outcome of a voluntary step towards smallness though.