In dystopian society, technology, social manipulation, and control are all factors used to maintain oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society, even at the expense of universal human values. The film Metropolis by Fritz Lang and the novel 1984 by George Orwell offer a variety of social and political perspectives that allow the audience to gain insight into the oppression of freedom, truth and love within their context. Both address loss of these values within society through control and oppression, but they differ in perspective, due to the contrasting views of each composer. Lang made Metropolis during the era of the Weimar Republic. This was the country's first attempt at creating a democracy in the very difficult years following the first world war, as he tapped into Germany's power struggles, issues of poverty and conflict.
The play was written in 1944 which was a period of ideological conflict due to the emergence of extreme ideologies during WWII. The oppression from fascist Nazi Germany and the power of communist Soviet Russia was displayed during the war exposing the world to both extremes of the political spectrum. Consequently, nations tried to maintain a distance from being associated with extreme political ideologies in fear of recent events. In his exile in 1933, when Adolf Hitler became chancellor of Germany, Brecht witnessed the social structures of communist, Liberal and democratic nations (Sweden, Finland and America respectively) in his travels. This informed his political alignment and hence his socialist stance presented in The Caucasian Chalk
The Weimar Republic was established in 1919 and was a democratic state to replace imperialism because the Treaty of Versailles stated that Germany had to become a democratic country. The Weimar Republic was significantly weak due to hyperinflation, the economic collapse, the Treaty of Versailles, and other issues that were present during that time. The Weimar Republic faced chaos and violence with the Communist uprising and the Kapp Putsch. The Kapp Putsch, which took place in March 1920, was a threat to the new government and was assisted by General Luttwitz who led a group of Freikorps men (Kapp Putsch). They were against Friedrich Ebert’s beliefs about the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles.
With diverse ethnicities, occupations, and ideologies, individuality is an innate part of humanity. Independent thought and reasoning is encouraged as means to a smarter and safer society. However, in the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell, the ruling government strives to alienate humanity’s individuality in an attempt to consolidate power. Orwell depicts an oppressive society ruled by the ruling class called the Party, where Winston, an individual, struggles against the totalitarian government. By the end of the novel, Winston is destroyed and the Party continues to dictate conformity among the masses.
When people read a work of literature many expect it to be a literary masterpiece. What makes a work of literature great is not through the approval of society, but by the author pushing his point out to the audience without regarding the disapproval from society he might receive. Although it is a controversial topic of whether Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn needs republishing due to the use of the word “nigger”, the novel teaches many lessons and reveals many truths that the world should know. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not have been republished because, simply put, it is not a racist novel. Adding on, Twain’s original publishing of his book promotes historical accuracy and legitimacy which would be not communicated
Is a perfect society possible, or is it just the seed of a corrupt governments rise to total control, masquerading the truth from its community. In The Giver, by Lois Lowry, the protagonist named Jonas just happens to be one of the government’s pawns at the time. Throughout the book, Jonas learns that the ‘perfect’ society he’s been living in his life isn’t a utopia after all. It actually turns out to be a dystopian society, where there is no freedom to do the things that people take for granted in modern society. The dystopian society written about in The Giver has many distinct differences and some similarities whilst being held up to the light with modern society today.
The Philosophical Control in North Korea In the year 1903, English novelist, journalist and author Eric Arthur Blair was born, though better known today by his pen name, George Orwell. Orwell may be best known for his piece, 1984, written in the year 1949 and about the possible struggles that man will face through the current trends in time. 1984 was heavily influenced by the events of World War II, and the political and military figureheads such as Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, along with groups and events like the Hitler youth or the Stalin purges. Those were some connections to the real world prior to the writing of 1984, but what about after the publication of the novel? Can dystopian themes and connections to 1984 be found in the modern
Lack Of Empathy Leads To An Imbalance Of Power: Former president Barack Obama once stated, “It’s the lack of empathy that makes it very easy for us to plunge into wars.” Obama infers that when people lose empathy for others, they lose the ability to understand others, which is a key emotion that helps people to interact with others. Furthermore, his quote connects to Marxism, a literary theory involving an imbalance of power. In the story “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee, the characters’ experiences prove to the reader the significance that a lack of empathy can cause to the balance of power. An application of Marxism reveals that an imbalance of authoritative power is caused by a lack of empathy. Harper Lee creates Boo Radley as one of the symbols in the story to represent an archetype of a kind soul who is neglected by society.
" Internet Surveillance to Information Manipulation When people hear the words “internet surveillance,” most seem to assume the worst possible scenario. Visions from the dystopian novel 1984, where George Orwell creates an allegorical reflection of the totalitarianism in Stalinist Russia immediately come to mind. By comparing the novel to internet surveillance today, it becomes clear that the benefits that could come from governmental internet surveillance are outweighed by the potential dangers; however in a virtual world that holds the keys to the lives of millions across not only the United States, but the whole planet, the opportunity to use surveillance to prevent terrorism, crime, and even bullying seems too hard to pass up. In order
Victory Over Collectivism “I”, one of the only one-letter words in the English language. Yet its power and meaning do not match its quantitative value. In the collectivist dictatorship found the in the novel Anthem by Ayn Rand, this word has disappeared and consequently, society has fallen into a dark age, all because of the loss of a single-lettered word. However, the hero of this time, Equality 7-2521, breaks down the barrier of the collectivist society and allows him to make advances that show him the power of the word “I” and the idea of individualism in government and in society. Although the word “I” has vanished from society, Equality is able to free himself from the collectivist government through the use of science and free thought, while attempting to increase the movement of society towards an age of scientific and governmental advancement.