Sunday, October 20, 2013
Dystopia
Orwell's 1984 is the classic example of dystopian literature. The Party and Big Brother in Oceania control the thoughts of people through mind control, sameness, and intimidation. People are made to dress the same, speak the same, and follow a strict code of laws. Using the notes lecture on dystopian literature from class last week, write about a book or movie you have seen that has some of the same dystopian characteristics as 1984. Or, write about examples of how the world today has some of those same characteristics. Shoot for 150 words. Remember to respond to the post of at least one of your classmates.
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The Matrix is a classic example of a dystopia. Inside the computer world of the Matrix the computer fabricates what you see, smell ,hear, taste, and touch. The computers are supposed to be bettering the lives of the people by controlling their senses. This is an example of mind control and the "bettering" of a society, a classic theme in dystopian literature. Whereas in 1984 wee see mind control through double think, through Newspeak etc. Also, another common theme between the Matrix and 1984 is that the world outside their society is post-apocalyptic and that is about all the citizens know. Also, another common theme is the impact of technology, how technology can shape a society for worse. Finally, the confusion between the people of the Matrix and the people of 1984 between what is reality and what is simply an allusion.
ReplyDeleteGreat comparison! I think people in book or people today don't really know the difference between being brainwashed or if something is an illusion. Usually people use tactics to get something they want in a trickery way.
DeleteI really like this example, you can almost call it mind control/manipulation, where the people are tricked to thinking that their lives are better as is rather than the truth where it isn't.
DeleteThis was an awesome comparison. Way to think harder and get a great/different example! The point on technology is a big factor.
DeleteThe Hunger Games is a good example of a dystopia because the capital has rules for the people to follow. For one day a year the capital takes a boy and a girl from each district to fight for "freedom" which they don't have anyway and the citizens who win the fights get more food. This book relates to the book 1984 by George Orwell because when the government/The Ministry of Plenty manages the chocolate rations for the public. The capital does the same thing with food for the citizens in the book, the Hunger Games, to the point where people are dying from lack of food. As capital tracks the people and tries to make the chosen people suffer and difficult to make the "show" more entertaining to its viewers. The districts can't run away or they will be killed, every year starting at a certain age people have to put their name into a drawing to be picked to fight other people in different districts, and if people are starving to death then they can put their name in more times for the drawing to get more food. It's a sick thing for the capital/government to do to their people.
ReplyDeleteI thought about the Hunger Games too, and how the capital made people fight and kill each other just so they could be entertained.
DeleteThe Hunger Games is a great example and really is kind of like 1984 in many ways. It is just a different kind of Dystopia. Looking at these posts I enjoyed many of the books and movies, dystopias make good stories.
DeleteI was thinking about the Hunger Games when I read this blog post too. Great comparison!
DeleteI also thought about the Hunger Games, and how the government thought they could keep in control by forcing every district to give tributes every year to fight to the death.
DeleteThis blog post comment is going to be kind of out there, mostly because I am going to talk about how our world today has some of the same dystopian characteristics as 1984. I do not think our world is a direct dystopia like 1984, but if you look at it from a different angle it has a few similarities. In America we aren't told how to dress by our government , it is more social, and if you want to be “socially accepted” you dress a certain way. The same goes with freedom of speech. We want to be “socially accepted” so we are careful about what we say to some extent. If you look at other countries however, especially communist controlled ones like China, you see more dystopian characteristics. The government there controls what you watch online, what you can buy from stores, and even how many children you can have. Dystopias are not fake, they exists in certain parts of the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree hugely with the socially acceptable thing. It really limits people into thinking a certain way.
DeleteI like how you included that dystopias exist in this world. A lot of people think that they are just a part of fiction books, but in reality people in other parts of the world are dealing with dystopian issues right at this moment.
DeleteI think you have a great point made here. Good comparison to 1984.
DeleteThis explains a lot of what I have to say to a T. Your points are key on and I agree completely. Society has it's limits and exceptions but what would we do without good 'ol trends.
DeleteI completely agree with the fact that dystopian societies exist today and I think what makes them so interesting to read about is the fact that they do exist, and even in our own Country
DeleteYou made many really good points that connected to 1984 and i found that i agreed with a lot of the things you said, especially socially acceptable things and the limits and expectations of society
DeleteI think you made really good points. I had not thought about our country from that view.
DeleteYou make a really great point. Dystopias a very much alive in todays world.
DeleteYou have a valid point about China being a very dystopian like place. Although, I would say that you have to get a lot more out of hand to be punished in the U.S. compared to in China
DeleteI really agree with you, I enjoyed writing a similar post about culture taking the place of government in a dystopia.
DeleteI totally agree with you. Instead of the government making us do certain things, it's social pressure to a certain extent. I never thought the real world could be a dystopia, but you make some interesting points.
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ReplyDeleteDivergent is an example of a dystopia. There are three "parties" like in 1984; the government, the factions, and the factionless. One faction becomes greedy and tries to gain the upper hand, which they manage to do with little notice. But as their power grows and they become even more greedy leaving nothing else but a revolution as an option. The only problem? They have worked their way into everything, including the weapons. This meaning that they have the upper hand. As every dystopian story needs there is one girl who begins to realize the faction's plan and tries to stop it, bringing everything they love into to danger. This book helps us realize that although dystopians seem like an idea for a story, they can be happening without us even realizing it. It also shows us how our ideas and what we believe to be right can end up being the start of a socialistic government.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's true. If a lot of people start believing in one thing, there could become a movement.
DeleteScary, but true. Very few people realize the predicament we are in.
DeleteMatched is an example of dystopia. The government controls what kind of job you'll have, what to believe, and who you are to marry. Just like 1984 they monitor your every movement. Especially your sleep, work, and exercise. It's even illiegal to write. They destroy all forms of writing that are not "useful". To communicate with each other they sort words on a computer. Everyone in this world that is set in the future believes that they live in a perfect society. The large governmental organization is the society. They have people called aberrations, who are people not to be matched with someone because the person or their family has committed an infraction, Aberrations are similar to proles in that they are secluded from society but they still have to follow most of the rules. The society is in war with the Outer Provinces which is made out to be like the US at the present time. There is one girl who slowly sees that the society is not completely perfect. Cassia sees that the society is hiding things from the citizens and plans to find a way to stop it.
ReplyDeleteAn example of a dystopian setting displayed in America would be a prep school. They usually wear some sort of uniform--mostly matching, if not the same. Everyone there talks with authority, using large vocabulary, and sometimes (mostly) having similar behaviors of on another. Being in an environment where everyone there is supposed to be the same could resolve a lot of problems that we have in Spring Lake; bullying being a main one. Everyone in a prep school is supposed to get along with each other and act like they can at least stand other people (even if it is kind of a fake liking), kind of like sorority girls do. A problem being in a school like that is that you are secluded from the outside world and aren't experiencing that everyone is different from one another, and that's what makes us unique!
ReplyDeleteThis is an unique connection to the present, but entirely true! Prep schools have a more concentrated control on students like the Party did in 1984.
DeleteI like the connection you made with prep schools and a dystopian society. It does seem like prep schools have a lot more power and control than some public schools.
DeleteThis is interesting because it makes me think about how I would feel if my school told me what to wear and how I could act. I might think it was normal because everyone else I would see would be doing the same thing.
DeleteThis is an intriguing metaphor. It makes me think a lot harder about the meaning of a dystopia by comparing it to a real world example, an aspect to OUR society. Way to think differently!
DeleteThe novel, "The Giver" written by Lois Lowry, is a great example of a dystopian society. The government in that book controls everything. They control food supply, were people live, and even which job everybody has. Families consist of one male and one female child. There are no choices for the people. The main character, Jonas, receives the "best job", which is to receive memories from the past. At first it goes well, Jonas sees the great things his government is doing. But after a few sessions, Jonas realizes that something is missing from everyday life. The government had taken choice and freedoms away from the people. In the beginning of the novel Jonas is in love with the government. And when people oppose it, he gets angry at those people. As Jonas learns of what is missing, he wants to escape this dystopian society. Lucky, Jonas does escape but we do not if anything changed because he never went back.
ReplyDelete"The Giver" is what I think of when I think of dystopian societies, and Winston and Jonas do have many similarities. Both are disenchanted with their government, and both realize that the government stays in control by keeping the population ignorant.
DeleteI think in many ways this book can be related to 1984 not only by the topic of dystopia. They both seem to exploit socialism by sharing the evils underlying the government. In both people are removed from society, jobs are chosen by the government, and freedoms are stripped. The only ones to notice are Winston and Jonas who both know inside information that others do not.
DeleteYes Geoff, this is the one of the first dystopis that pops into my head as I read the promp. The main characters in 1984 and in The Giver are very similar in the fact that they both rebel. Jonas was much more successful because he didn't have an "O'brien" (a towel) try and stop him.
DeleteA great example of a dystopian work is the Batman Dark Knight series where the underlying goal is the destruction of Gotham due to its corruption, and crime that enveloped around the city. In the Dark Knight Rises, it really goes all out when the entire city is taken control by Bane, where he claims everyone is free and to do as they please when they are going to all wind up vaporized. He gave them a false sense of hope when there was none, and the new "courts" would only sentence people to death, all the criminals were released, the cops trapped underground, and Batman half way around the world, and miraculously made it back to Gotham without any explanation to how.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of dystopian literature my mind automatically jumps to The Giver, which we all read in 7th grade. In The Giver people are assigned jobs based on the skills the small group in charge believes they have, similar to the way people are examined at age 16 in 1984. Emotions are removed from both books, although 1984 is a society based in pain, while The Giver is a society that has eliminated pain and strife. In both societies the people are kept content through ignorance. Both Winston and Jonas realize this and try to break away from the control of the reigning group. Winston, however, is unsuccessful, and Jonas is successful.
ReplyDeletePeople have Apple products. People wear UGG boots. People complain amongst social media daily. The idea of a perfect world where crime is a myth, bullying doesn't exist, and trends are so last season describes the exact opposite of the society we live in today. We control each other within the confines of the internet where things are sprend aimlessly. Where you go to college is incredibly important for your well being. Learning that inner beauty out shines physical attraction when in fact no one can decide which they prefer. It's honestly just our daily lives that have created such a wide spread dystopia that not enough people recognize the true reason for why things are the way they are. Maybe I'm too hipster or maybe I have a big head. Is this among the things that honesty considers to be truthful?
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really good point. We are all controlled to some point, but we just don't realize it. We are happy with our conformity so we don't question it. I'm not sure we could ever have a real utopia with all of these things existing.
DeleteThe world is filled with dystopian type things that we read in books or watch in movies to an extent. There are weapons now that can destroy whole countries with not much more than a simple command. Other than the war factor I don't see much true dystopian things. There are surveillance cameras and surveillance people all around but they do it with intentions to stop crime, not keep the country's people in check. Sure there are going to be some exceptions but they are not nearly to the extreme of 1984. We also see advertising getting really accurate. With online advertisements the businesses are able to get an idea based on our searches and advertise accordingly, but they just want our money. Is it bad? It depends who you are. Some people don't like that but it is not like they are watching your every move. Other people may find it convenient that they can reach their target market so effectively.
ReplyDeleteI'm just thankful that we have it to that extent. We don't live under Oceania rule, or go through the hunger games, or suffer communists taking over the United States like in Red Dawn.
It scares me that we have weapons capable of destroying whole countries. And, your advertising point is interesting. I never thought of that. And, I don't think that is an invasion of privacy or bad.
DeleteI too never really thought about the advertisement part of it. Its strange that by what you search on other internet websites or what you are interested in on facebook can show up on a side bar. Not sure if its really that bad, but kind of weird.
DeleteThe Hunger Games is a perfect example of a Dystopia. The Inner Party would be very similar to all the people who live in the Capitol in the hunger games. They all have plenty of food, and high fashion things while the rest of the people are scraping by. The proles would be similar to those who live in District 13. (I think it's 13, it might be 12. I can't remember). The relationship between Peeta and Katnis is very similar to Winston and Julia. They are both against the capitol or party. The two novels also have an abundance of violence, although implemented in different ways. Reading about these two Dystopias makes me afraid for our future as a country. I don't believe we will ever become similar to either of these Dystopias, but I am still fearful! The difference between the two dystopias is that there are parts of the hunger games that I want to take part in, and I don't want to have anything to do with Oceania. In the hunger games they accomplish taking over a dystopia, or at least make progress. In 1984, Big Brother wins. Julia and Winston lose and don't accomplish anything.
ReplyDeleteThe Hunger Games is a great example, just like 1984, of the future dystopias being centered around catering to a very small group, like the Inner Party or the Capitol; they have all they luxuries and everyone else has minimal.
DeleteI didn't even think of the Hunger Games! That is an exception example of a dystopia. Everyone was afraid of the outside world, they had to wear specific clothing, and they had to follow many strict rules just like the Party members had to do in the book 1984. Peeta and Katnis are just like Winston and Julia, except what you said, the endings are way different.
DeleteI didn't make those two connections till now. Katnis and Peeta are the Hunger Games version of Winston and Julia. But, also the inner party and the Capital. It makes me wonder if the author of the Hunger Games ever read 1984, because the Hunger Games is like the modern version of it.
DeleteDystopian literature is the opposite of utopian literature. It is a incredibly unperfect world, where usually the government is controlling every decision of the general public. A prime example of dystopian literature is the book Hunger Games. In this book, there are 12 districts that are ruled by the capital. Almost each of the districts are in poverty, especially in the last few districts. District 1, 2 and 3 are all rich and given much more from the capital. In order to keep the districts in place and obedient to the capital there is a yearly brawl between children of 11-18. The fight to the death until there is one victor. The capital does this to instill the fact that they are in charge just like the party does in 1984 by torturing and making the party seem like this amazing place. False hope and false pretences
ReplyDeleteI like how you sum this all up as false hope and false pretenses. I think that is what a lot of these types of books are about; characters looking more closely at there society and finding there are many flaws
DeleteI remember reading "The Giver" in middle school. It tried to seem like the government control was for the best, but in reality, it was a bit overkill to say the least and from our point of view it was upsetting. In The Giver, each person was assigned a job and kids if they wanted them, but they weren't even their biological children. People were "released" when they got old which was actually killing. None of the people felt emotions. This seems extremely unlikely and we think "How could this ever be allowed to actually occur?" But, similarly to 1984, a group of government can get too much power, similar to Hitler as well, and completely change a society by eliminating anyone who rejects. The idea of government wanting to give everyone a better quality of life is pretty much apparent in every country. The idea behind dystopias is that the government tries to make it better for everyone, but in doing so, they are actually making it worse. The government thinks organization and control is utopian, while the people are actually suffering or just ignorant; the government simply turns a blind eye to this because they are blinded by their perception of perfection.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good example. I think it was interesting how you said "the government thinks organization and control is utopian" when really it's the complete opposite, and the government just wants to say they're right.
DeleteI really like this idea. I kind of forgot about it but it is all coming back. I think that when the government overkills on having control it is going to cause more chaos when the people of the country start getting angry and rebelling.
DeleteSome places where dystopian characteristics are taking place are in schools where all of the students have to wear a uniform. The students are not allowed to express themselves in any way through the clothes that they wear. Another example is we, the people of the United States of America, are under constant surveillance almost wherever we go. No matter what we are doing, good or bad, we are always being watched just like the people in the book 1984 were being watched. Many people in the world today are Christians. They worship God, a figurehead and/or a concept. This is just like all of the members of the Party who worshipped Big Brother. In this day and age, people in the United States of America aren’t necessarily deathly afraid of the outside world like the people in 1984 were, but it can be a little concerning since we don’t always know what other countries are doing. That is another example of a dystopian characteristic.
ReplyDeleteToday there are certain aspects of our society that seem to resemble that of the dystopian setting in 1984. One of the most evident examples of people being forced to dress the same, speak the same, and follow strict rules is the prison/jail environment. The outside world has many freedoms, including the ability to dress how one wants and say what one believes. But, as soon as crimes are committed and/or laws are broken, these freedoms disappear. We use the dystopian tactic in an attempt to cure those who have made mistakes with the law and to help them realize not only the consequences of their mistakes, but also the reason why their mistakes were wrong. For some people this works, and others it doesn't. I think it's amazing to see how people change their way of thinking and who they are as a result of the situation they are forced into.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! Is there a single girl who have not owned a pair of UGGS is their life? I think in our school that is a big similarity between girls. Also, during spirit week, there are always the few kids who choose not to dress up. Doesn't that show a little bit of Winston in them? They want to not follow everyone else, like how Winston didn't want to follow the party.
DeleteI think that's a really interesting comparison you made between jail and a dystopian society. Really, it's quite true. Your identity is stripped away when you go to jail.
DeleteWhen I think of a movie with a dystopian setting like 1984 the first idea that comes to my mind is the movie iRobot with Will Smith. I just think about all the robots making the exact same same look and wear the same thing and are all in rhythm and do not seem to be conscious or have there own thoughts. I also think of ways today that the world is a dystopia and my first thought is private schools with uniforms. I know it is so nothing distracts from learning but I think that it takes away from a persons ability to display there personality and express there style. I think that would be so scary to live in a world like 1984. I would be so scared to have my thoughts monitored and I think that a world like that would make everyone depressed.
ReplyDeleteI love "I, Robot". The way the people are so blindly reliant on the robots and completely of ignorant of their alarmingly increasing capabilities, as well as the corruption of the industry--it's pretty cheesy, but brilliant nonetheless. It's also tough to watch the one who knows what's going to happen be shut down by everyone else. I get frustrated just watching it.
DeleteThe first movie i think of when i think of a dystopia that is similar to the book 1984 i think of The Hunger Games. The inner party in the book 1984 is like capitol 1 in The Hunger Games because they both get the advantages and they get treated better. The middle class pretty is just like all the other capitols in the hunger games were they have to work harder and live in rougher conditions. The Relationship between Winston and Julia is similar to that of Katniss and Peeta. They both hate the government and are secretly against it. I dont think we will ever reach a dystopia in the sense of this movie and book because i feel these are extreme cases.
ReplyDeleteGood connection about capital 1 and the inner party. I didn't think of that one. The relationship being similar is a good comparison!
DeleteSince no other books or movies come to mind, I'll have to rely on Brave New World, which I started just this week. Fortunately, the three or four chapters I've read are filled with dystopian ideas. First is the fact that all babies are made and raised by the government, not families; citizens can't even imagine what having a mother and father would be like. Since this is the case, sex is merely used as a pastime, especially by children (I know, it's weird). This man-made-men process is extremely efficient, some fertilized eggs being duplicated as many times as possible, producing thousands of identical individuals. The creepiest thing to me, though, is the way these embryos are treated as they mature. There is a distinct caste system, and each person is assigned a class from the moment he or she is "conceived". During development, those assigned lower classes are tampered with in a way that will leave them physically and/or mentally disabled throughout their lives. Last, then, once the children are "born", they are instructed in their sleep, a main goal being to get them to despise the lower classes and respect the higher. I'm not even that far in, and all this has already been revealed. It should be a fun one.
ReplyDeleteI tried reading Brave New World, but there was too many big words. I find it interesting that in both 1984 and BNW there's a desensitizing of sex.
DeleteOur world has similar characteristics to the dystopia of 1984. One main example that we have been talking about is privacy. Over the past couple of years, technology has allowed the government to monitor people more and more. Different computer programs are allowing them to watch a lot of what is going on, much like the telescreen allows the party to watch all of its citizens. In addition, outside of America, there are a lot of nations that rule under communism and dictatorships. They may not have the same laws, but they possess the same power. Every person under these governments is ruled by a power with complete control of their lives. They have to conform to what the government wants or else they will be punished. It is easier to find examples of dystopias than utopias because its hard to figure out what the perfect place might be. Utopias can end up being dystopias because there will always be problems, whether they are hidden or not.
ReplyDeleteMeghan Leete
I totally agree with you. They possess lots of power of technology that intervenes into our privacy. I also agree with you that the utopias can end up being dystopias because nothing can be perfect.
DeleteToday there are many things that control how we talk and what we buy. The fashion industry has some control over what is made available to us, but ultimately it is our choices that decide what we will dressed like. That is effected by fads and trends that we decide to stick to or not. We are influenced by everything around us. We talk in a certain way because other people do. We pick up words and phrases because we hear them used around us. We are limited by what we expose ourselves to. So in some ways it is not the government or some party that controls us but the human mind that controls what we do. It is the need to fit in or stand apart from our peers that ultimately runs how we are. Many people dressed the same way not just because that is what is made available to them but because it has become part of a trend or a fade. Even if people chose to make their own clothes there are only so many different choices of materials and eventually something would catch and be more popular.
ReplyDeleteI think you are completely right. If people didn't follow what others were wearing, there'd be no trends or fads at all. But of course we have them, and the government isn't telling us to wear them, we are telling ourselves.
DeleteThis is a trending example, however, it is the only example of mine that closely relates to 1984. This example is the movie, The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games has a plot almost exactly similar to 1984. There are the oppressed people of the Districts who want to lash against the government (the Capitol). Those people come out to be Katniss and Peeta, who revolt against the Capitol and start a war when they tricked the government while playing the games in the arena. This is like Winston from 1984, who proclaims his life to "The Brotherhood" in hopes of crushing the Party. Sadly, for Winston, he surrenders his life to the Party while Katniss and Peeta really changed things for the better of the lives of the oppressed people. This connection really stuck out to me.
ReplyDeleteI like how these two show the possible different endings to dystopian books.
DeleteYeah I like how happy this ending is instead. I wonder what life would be like in 1984 if O'Brien and Charrington hadn't been undercover.
DeleteA dystopian book that I've read recently was a book called Across the Universe. Across the Universe takes place 300 years in the future on a spaceship named Godspeed which is traveling through space looking for a new planet to inhabit named Centauri-Earth. The people on the ship are ruled by a leader named Eldest. Like 1984 and a lot of other dystopian books, the people are sorted into certain jobs and there are levels of the ship that only certain people with higher level jobs are allowed on. To keep the people unaware of what's really going on with Eldest and the government, they use these things called phydus patches, which keep the people ignorant and keeps them from asking questions because there are multiple secrets going on behind the scenes. Another similarity between this book and 1984 is that everyone dresses the same. From what I remember, most of the population wears brown clothes which seem to be close relatives to brown wool sacks.
ReplyDeleteThat book does seem similar to 1984. Especially when you mentioned all of the secrets going on behind the scenes.
DeleteI've read some of this book. I didn't think about it until now but it is very similar to 1984! Very controlled society.
DeleteI cannot think of any movies or books that shows dystopia, besides the ones stated above. What I do think that shows dystopia as a whole, is the entertainment industry. The entertainment industry reminds me of the inner party members. The actors, and actresses influence on us on what we wear, what technology we should use, and how we should act. We see a Star using the Iphone in a TV series and we automatically want one. We see UGG boots and leather jackets in a magazine, and then we want to wear them too. Some people have decided to even follow the political values. Society today laughs at people who have their own unique style. If somebody decides to wear blue and purple together, they may get ridiculed because that is not the "norm". If you decided to have tri color hair, and it looks "weird" then you are not in the "norm". We try to fit in so we have success with others. Unlike Winston, the majority of us follow what is in, and what will make us blend in. I think Winston is the model for the people who want to be different, and stand out more then others do.
ReplyDeleteThat is actually a great perspective from the entertainment life. About how they are like party member and how they use stars to use an iPhone to make us want it. Thats is totally true.
DeleteHunger games is a good example of a dystopia. The character have no freedom. They are under strict law from the government. The government tries to limit their knowledge to keep them ignorant. Most of the people are starving as a way for the government to keep control over them. They are being watched all the time. They can't leave their district. They try to leave through a fence but most of the time the fence is turned on to electrocute anybody trying to get through. The government makes them do things they don't want to do, like competing in the hunger games. Kids are brutally killed on tv and the people in the districts are forced to watch it. The hunger games is a good example of dystopian literature.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with this. The citizens of the 12 districts only know poverty and starvation and are sheltered from better lives like the people who live in the city where the hunger games takes place ( I forgot what that was called).
DeleteBattle Royale is a novel by Japanese writer Koushun Takami that focuses on a dystopian world in Japan. It has a similar concept to the Hunger Games in which a group of students from a single class are isolated and are required to fight the other members of their class to the death on a deserted island. Officially a military research project that was created to terrorize the population and to create enough paranoia to make organized insurgency impossible. The book represents how complete control of a group of people creates not only a corrupt government, but a corrupt group of people. Many of the students in the book were driven to insanity. They were fed propaganda as well as death threats that forced them to do things they could never have done in their lives. There are many characters in the book, but in the end, it somewhat focuses on small group of students who try to go against the system and escape. This act of going against the system, shows a rebellious nature that Winston showed in the 1984 and the "brain washing" of the students shows a similar concept the idea of how Big Brother used doublethink to control the people.
ReplyDeleteWhen I thought of a dystopia similar to 1984, I thought of the novel, Speak. I feel as if the telescreens are similar to those inner microchips in the humans in speak. You are always being watched and forced to think a certain way. It is where we do not have any privacy or freedom within our own minds. I remember reading Speak and how one of the characters was really dying from the inside out; and that is how Winston was dying. Not only was he being tortured but he was being forced to think completely different than what he believes. Both of Speak and 1984's ruler, they have a leader that is not necessarily one singular person but maybe just a thing; not a real living human being. Both of their worlds are under totalitarian rule that they seem like they cannot get out of. And it seems like in the end, the bad guys always win.
ReplyDeleteThe movie I am Legend is a takes place in a dystopia. After the population is told that the cure for cancer has been found almost everyone gets infected with a disease similar to rabies except for a handful of people. The diseased are ugly creatures with super-strength and a killing instinct. The main character lives healthy with his dog in an abandoned world. They drive around in the middle of a city where cars are deserted and the business sector vacant. He has to stay clear of all of those who are infected. The whole movie it is presumed that once the man passes away that it will be the end to human race as we know it. He captures one of the diseased and cures her. Later on he finds a mom and child uninfected and keeps them safe until the infected start to attack. Then when they do he sacrifices his own life so that the mother and son stay alive. Before he dies he gives the woman the cure. She later finds a living civilization and the movie ends with the inference that humanity will survive and be restored.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about what movie is like 1984, I think about V for Vendetta. My brothers made me watch it when it first came out, and it instantly became my favorite. Both of them are predictions of the future. 1984 and V for Vendetta are alike in many ways. Both societies are run by totalitarian rules- in 1984 'Big Brother' and in V for Vendetta 'Leader.' Also in both of them there are secret police who turn in the citizens that are secretly against the government. The police in 1984 and V for Vendetta come at night to capture the people. Both of these stories take place after a war had broken out and there is one person who is trying to stand up against the government. Both stories are very thought provoking and interesting to read or watch. Both are excellent.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of works similar to 1984, I think of the movie The Book of Eli. The Book of Eli takes place in a post apocalyptic world where all resources are scarce and bandits line the few roads that are left. The town Eli arrives in is controlled by one man and a group of his thugs. They represent Big Brother and the Party as the all powerful government. Everything in the town is owned by the dictator, so it can all be rationed off unfairly. Unlike Winston, Eli is a stranger to all of this. He walks in on the dystopia lived by the town's citizens. The reason that the dictator is interested in Eli is because he has the last ever Bible. This represents something similar to what Winston thought that Goldstein's book could be. There is also the element of how dystopian works always resolve themselves, but I won't get in to that to avoid ruining the movie.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great example! I didn't even think about how that movie is so much like a dystopia place. I won't give away who the Brotherhood could be but it is like how the Brotherhood is in the book.
DeleteI would agree, the Book Of Eli is a great example of dystopian literature.
DeleteAfter reading a post above a began to think that the fashion industry and how it controls a lot who we are kind of forming a dystopia. As humans we always want to be in the "in crowd" so to speak, especially in the way we dress. The fashion industry has control over the "in" things are, limiting the amount of unique things. Kind of creating a dystopia on the things we wear. If you walk through the halls of Spring Lake High School in the winter I bet you would find majority of the girls wearing Uggs or a boot similar to it. You could say they had a choice to buy them, which they did, but if you think about it the industry made them a trend, making girls want them. The industry is kind of making a "uniform" for teenage girls. Hopefully, that makes sense.
ReplyDeleteI totally get what you are saying, the fashion industry creates what's "in" and so therefore we like it and wear it.
DeleteI completely agree! It feels like people don't actually express themselves in what they wear, they just wear different versions of what is trending in the fashion world.
DeleteWhat comes to my mind when I think of a dystopian society is the Walking Dead. In that case it isn't a evil government that is controlling the people, but it is a less than perfect society. They are fighting for a lack of resources and have no laws to stop them from doing anything they want. This is a post-apocalyptic dystopia, and no one is happy in it. The mind control is different from that of 1984 because they were brain washed, and in the Walking Dead they loose their minds from a disease. I wouldn't want to be forced to live in either one of these societies though.
ReplyDeleteWhat comes to my mind when I think of dystopia is the book series called the Uglies. Its about a society where the government controls everything and and the brain wash the people. When a person turns 16 they undergo a surgery that will make them "pretty." All the people want is to pretty and look like the
ReplyDelete'pretties", which don't look that human at all. The government forces all the citizens to wear a ring that tracks their every movement. There also is a rebellion known as smoke, who is trying to overthrow the government. They also have an organization called the specials and the members of the specials undergo another surgery that makes them stronger, have night vision ect. The specials are very similar to the thought police in 1984.
I was thinking of that too!!!! I read that entire series! :)
DeleteI read some of those books a long time ago and I agree with everything you said. In the Uglies, everyone was brainwashed when they turn pretty and a few groups figured out ways to stay mentally themselves. That reminds me of Winston writing in his diary, it was sort of his way of staying connected to his true thoughts.
DeleteThe dystopian features of todays world are that our every actions over the internet are being watched, monitored, and tracked down. Even as I type this blog entry if they really wanted to they could see what I type in. This is probably the most common response of most of the bloggers this week. The government in a way also makes us think what is wrong and what is right sometimes instead of us using our own morals.
ReplyDeleteA dystopian book I think of is "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" by John Boyne. It may not be exactly dystopian, but rather just a cruel world. There are many aspects where he is enclosed in a certain place, has restrictions of what he can and can't do, and is treated poorly. It reminds me a lot of "1984" because of all of the freedoms that are taken away from the people. They are forced to do things they don't want to do and believe things they truly don't want to. In both books the main characters and other background characters want to discover what lies outside of their normal boundries. They both are told they cannot do something and find a way to do it. Both show a examples of dystopian qualities.
ReplyDeleteThat book was so sad! I agree it has a lot of dystopian characteristics
DeleteI know that mostly everyone has, or will say Hunger Games because it's the most well known to us. But honestly I think it is the best comparison to the Dystopia in 1984. The main city that controls all in The Hunger Games is like the Inner Party. Both are very wealthy and control all others with strict force. 1984 is much more strict with the thought police and all but show they're power by intimidating and vaporizing. And in Hunger Games they control people but also pick at random to put two kids from each sector into a battle to the death. Other than these minor difference the Dystopias are very similar and controlling. Lets just say I wouldn't want to live in either.
ReplyDeleteThe first example of a dystopian society is the Hunger Games. Like 1984, the Government will go to extremes to brainwash everybody into thinking that Government is everything. They have the elite "inner society" which is the capital, and they live happy, wealthy lives. Unlike the capital citizens, the social classes that is equal to the proles are the districts, minus 1,2, and 4. These poor citizens fight hunger and coldness throughout their lives, and every district must make a sacrifice to the government every year. Of course, there are the few that want to make a change in the world, similar to Winston and Julia. However unlike Winston and Juila, the characters in the Hunger Games actually change their dystopia for the better.
ReplyDeleteOne example of dystopia is the Hunger Games. In the series, the Capitol has strict rules for everyone to follow. People are separated into districts, with some being far better off than others. There is a certain level of ignorance among some districts, and the Capitol is doing everything they can to cover up the existence of District 13. The coverup of District 13 is a lot like the Inner Party altering the past. In the Hunger Games, every year they show a video of the destroyed district, saying it is not fit to live in and it is a present danger. In reality, they show the exact same video clip every year, and District 13 is a very real thing.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of a Dystopia I think of The Hunger Games where everyone in the districts are ruled by a strict government in the capitol, much like the Big Brother and the inner parties in 1984. In the Hunger Games the people of the seams are starving much like the proles in 1984; which in both the government has the resources and money to give them the things and food they need, they just choose not to, to keep more power over them. They are both continuously watched by the Capitol or Big Brother and are seriously punished or killed if they disobey the rules of the government. They had a lot of violence towards their people that wasn’t necessary to have too. I do not want our country to go this far to keep its power over the citizens; I think it’s very extreme and cruel to brainwash and treat your people like that.
ReplyDeleteI think Suzanne Collin's got a lot of ideas from 1984 actually. There are a lot of similarities. I almost forgot about the seams. Good comparison.
DeleteI agree that it seems like Suzanne Collins got many ideas from this book. The comparison to how the Capitol has plenty of resources that could be rationed equally between the districts, but keeps them for the themselves is a great one to how the Ministry of Plenty sucks at rationing everything for the Party members.
DeletePanem from The Hunger Games is an example of a dystopian society. Each district must follow strict rules and produce certain products for the Capitol. Like the ministries in 1984, each district has a certain job. To continually keep the citizens occupied, they have an annual Hunger Games that focuses the people's attention on one horrific event. And yet, like the Inner Party members of 1984, some districts enjoy this event, even train children for the Hunger Games. Katniss wishes to escape her fate of dying in the Hunger Games, and she succeeds, outsmarting the government. This starts a revolution, and the rebels become more suspicious about the government cover-up of District 13. The government uses propaganda, and they keep certain districts in poverty in order to control them.
ReplyDeleteThe character, Effie Trinket, represents a typical Capitol citizen. She is donned in weird fashions, another distraction allowed by the government, and she is brainwashed to love the Hunger Games.
One of my favorite dystopian novels that I have read is The House of the Scorpion. The House of the Scorpion takes place in a county called Opium which is supposedly in between the United States and Aztlan (Mexico). The main character Matt grew up on an opium producing estate run by the 148 year old drug lord by the name of El Patron. Matt actually is a clone of El Patron and is supposed to give El Patron his organs when needed. Matt escapes into Aztlan and gets captured by the Keepers while running from the Farm Patrol. The take him to this sweatshop Plankton factory. If the kids went against the system they got punished through psychological torture and beatings. The plankton factory reminds me of Miniluv because of the torture and beatings. The Keepers were like the Thought Police. Also people in this book take laudanum which is from the opium which reminds me of the Party drinking the gin.
ReplyDeleteThat is a good book. Good example of a dystopian novel Collin.
DeleteThis book is a perfect example of dystopian literature. I like how you were the only one to think of this book and we all read it.
DeleteIn a Dystopian society conditions of life are terrible and are defined by poverty, oppression, war, violence, disease and many more. While keeping up the facade that is a Utopian society, much like in the movie Minority Report. In this movie corporations control society through advertising and the media. They use technology to arrest murderers before they even commit a crime. So basically if they think about killing someone but don't actually do it then there a chance that they could be arrested. A lot like in George Orwell's 1984, how they can commit "Thought Crime" or "Face Crime". In the movie its definitely looked at as a good thing, keeping murderers off the streets and all. But if we were talking along the lines of ethics, it probably would not be ethical. They are also under some pretty heavy surveillance. They have a facial recognition system that can find you, where ever you are.
ReplyDeleteI can't really think of any examples of dystopian society in books and movies, so I am going to talk about how there are some examples in our society. Now, our government doesn't really control the things we where or tell us what to do, but our society does make it hard to do some things. If you don't wear UGG boots or you don't have a Columbia jacket, hten you are made to feel uncool. People feel pressured by society to where certain things. So in a sense, nobody forces you to dress a certain way or do certain things, but the pressure can make people do it. In all reality, it is society that is like a dystopia, rather than the government. People can pressure you in person, through the internet, or over text.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with this in the sense that people do feel completely compelled to buy and wear a certain brand of clothing or items. This isn't neccessarily the government but it is the society that forms the dystopia
DeleteThe Hunger Games is a great book about a dystopian setting. For example, in 1984 the people are separated into classes. The same thing is in The Hunger Games. There are the few people that have all the money and the rest are underneath them. The majority of the people are poor and have to fight for food and other resources. They are also mislead to think about other things then about turning against the higher party. In the Hunger Games the people are distracted by the games and are shown what will happen if you go against them by showing the people district 13, which was destroyed for going against the higher party. In 1984, they have the Two minutes of Hate and Miniluv. The people are controlled by fear and resources in both books. Another example is war. In the Hunger Games there isn’t war between super countries but yet have the hunger games. This is always on the peoples mind like the war is in 1984.
ReplyDeleteA movie that comes to mind for me with a dystopian society is Gattaca. In Gattaca, a person's future and occupation is determined by their genes at birth. If a person has perfect genes and has no physical or mental disability, they will have a promising career and life as determined by the government. If a person has any sort of disability whether it be mental or physical, the person is destined for a life of poverty and hopelessness. This movie and 1984 have many similarities and one of the most obvious being that a person cannot move up or down in classes, they are permanently stuck there. The government controls every aspect of life and citizen's lives are unchangeable.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing that comes to mind about dystopian societies is the Hunger Games series, but I feel like a lot of people have already talked about that. There are many examples from our world of how we have similarities to dystopian societies. Like we talked about in last week's blog post, the way the government can have near surveillance over us if they wished is like in 1984 how the telescreens are constantly watching the Party members. The way private school students have to wear matching uniforms is like how the Party members all had to wear the overalls, and outer and inner party members had different colors to distinguish their status. Wearing uniforms in schools takes away a major way for students to express their individuality and personality.
ReplyDeleteInstead of talking about dystopia in a specific movie, i have an example from society. Uniform dress codes that can be found in many different schools or work environments keep people from looking different. This sameness does not allow any expression of your true self and restricts ones imagination. This is key for George Orwell in "1984" because the inner party wants everyone to feel the same which they think is equal. That is how sameness can be seen in society today.
ReplyDeleteThe United States today might not be similar to a dystopia, but other parts of the world share some characteristics. In many countries certain literature is banned because of governmental control and a type of "brain-washing" of its citizens. This is similar to the totalitarian government in 1984, not allowing its citizens to read or even to write. They only knew what their telescreens told them. This is similar to the book series "Uglies," where their government chose to change all of its citizens at a certain age to become "pretty" and powerful and perfect, but at the same time brainwashed them to give in to the government and be part of a "perfect society." It is different from 1984 because the government microchipped everyone when they got changed to be suseptible to government control, and 1984 deals with literal brainwashing of average human beings. Both these novels represent dystopian literature because the main character rebels against the government and sees what their society is really like.
ReplyDeleteI completely forgot about this series until I saw your post!!! The series is a great comparison to 1984
DeleteI know everyone else has also mentioned this movie as a connection, but the Hunger Games is very similar to 1984. Their society revolves around the capitol just like in 1984, their society revolves around the party. Just like in 1984, there is a love interest that just won't work out because the capitol/party won't allow it: Katniss and Gale can't be together because she has been entered into the games, and Julia and Winston because it is not allowed. In the Hunger Games, the games is what maintains order in their world and in 1984, miniluv keeps the entirety of their world in order. Both are examples of a dystopia. Both worlds are a form of dictatorship/totalitarianism government. Both of these worlds also contain a high, middle, and low society group.
ReplyDeleteSince everyone else did the Hunger Games, I'm going to say that The Purge has kind of a dystopian feel. Now, I haven't seen the Purge but from what people say about the movie and in the description it fits in the dystopian controlling. In the movie, everything in America is reborn. Unemployment is low and the crime is almost inexistent, because one day out of the year the government suspends all emergency services for 12 hours. This is dystopian because of the government letting all crime go unpunished for 12 hours, once a year. It is kinda of the opposite of 1984 in a sense that instead of the government controlling what you do, they are choosing not control what happens for one day. But, it is like 1984 because of the fact that the government is the power. Without the governments' approval to have this "Purge", it would never happen. It kinda depends on how you look at the movie but it collates with a dystopian society pretty well.
ReplyDeleteI saw it, and you couldn't be more right! I should have thought about this one! good one! I hated that movie, it was scary and the idea that you got to unleash whatever you wanted on anyone is just sick. Id feel so helpless.
DeleteI think you are right! I haven't seen it, but if the world ever came to something like that, I feel like it would be a 12 hour free for all. It's disgusting to think about
DeleteI don't actually have a book or movie in mind, but I there is a lot of dystopian factors in America today. For example, like Freed of Speech, I don't think we have the complete right over it, because of laws, is we say something wrong about something created by a riot or created in a professional way we can go the jail for going to jail or something. Other things like what you wear in school, the way for us to "fit" in is to dress a certain way and not look "weird" or "creative". Its like now and days you can't create your own style unless your kicked out of the group. The other thing is like the government or even the news is kind of "brain-washing" us in a way to totally believe even though we don't really know what they are doing with our taxes or any of our other money. So I think that dystopia is happening in the US and did in 1984
ReplyDeleteElysium is a fantastic example of a dystopia. It gives a hypothetical look into the year 2154 - one of overpopulation, disease, and lack of resources. The movie is centered on the city of Los Angeles, with aerial views making it appear as a city of dust. Most citizens don't work and spend their days scrounging in the dirt looking for food. Clean water is seen as a luxury. In this world, there is no Middle, rather just High and Low. The High class rules above from a spinning space station with lush greenery and mansions. The Low are controlled by programmed robots that monitor human behavior; ironically enough, the lower class is forced to make these robots. There is no regard for human life back on Earth; the higher class has no issue infringing the rights of citizens if they show behavior that will 'disturb the peace'. I would imagine that this kind of rule is similar of the Inner Party to the Proles. They are left to live like animals, just as in 1984.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen this movie, but your description makes me want to rent it tonight! The issues of overpopulation, disease, and lack of resources make me wonder if this dystopia will happen to us in the future.
DeleteToday, the blind lead the blind. The leaders are blinded by lust for power, and the followers are blinded by their sheep mentality. This imbalance forced a great rift against our societies. We live in a much fractured, dystopian society. Our physical may not be in uniform – but our thoughts are. Nothing is ever our fault; it is always something else. Not only this, but we are also better than everyone else. We group together in large numbers, and our group is always the best. The formation of sounds we are attracted to, both of artificial origins and of natural origins, are always the best.
ReplyDeleteWe are perfect creatures, bent on looking down upon the imperfect. We do not wish the imperfect to be like us, but rather they stay as they are. We don’t want our system to be better; we just want to be on top of it, and we always turn out to be that way. No matter the way others perceive it, we are always on top. This is our dystopia. It will not change any time soon.
Interesting opinion on the people involvement of dystopias. Not sure I agree, partly because I think that most people have honestly good intentions, and I think that the majority of people today are mature enough to disagree without looking down upon the other side
DeleteThe Hunger Games is a novel with a dystopian society like Oceania, except it is called Panem. The people in each district work to provide goods for the capitol just like in 1984 how the ministries have to. Everything revolves around Capitol and a small portion of people have all of the wealth. The majority of the population lives in poverty (at least the poor districts). If you go against the Capitol they find a way to get rid of you just like they tried to Katnis during the games when she was going to eat the berries. 1984 and The Hunger Games are similar in many ways.
ReplyDeleteA movie I think about with a dystopia is Les Miserables. Sure they weren't forced to wear the same things, but they didn't have much to dress with, so they all shared poverty together. The thrown had complete control over all the taxes and successes of the peasants, and chose not to help. I always think to the beginning when Hugh Jack man ( Jean Valjean) is being tortured by the soldiers for his crimes. It reminds me of 1984 when Winston had literally done nothing to us (modern day non-dystopian) but in the movie and book, what they had done was inexcusable. Jean merely stole a loaf of bread fro his dying family, and Winston merely had a love affair and hated big brother. Both seem like very acceptable things, but in their societies, they were not. In Les Miserables, Jean hates the government, but since he is in hiding(he ran away) he can't retaliate. This reminds me very much of Winston. they both don't want to openly fight against the government because if they do, the government will find them and capture them and punish them for their actions. in the end they both stand up for what they believe in, but both lose. (sort of) Winston doesn't really realize that he's given in, he just does,. And Jean doesn't get directly involved in the fighting but he saves his daughters lover and ends up dying too. I love Les miserables and found I may have actually loved 1984 too. Kind of scary how a world so full of hate could make you love it, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteOne dystopia that comes into my mind when I think about this topic is I am Legend. In that movie they find a vacine for cancer execpt in one side affect that leaves the vacionee foaming at the mouth, loosing their hair and finally unable to dwell in the sunlight. The side affects of the vacine evolve into a disease and is passed through direct concact with the infected. The main chacter Will Smith stays behind in the isolated city of Manhatton to find a cure for this new out break. Two kids hear him on the radio and find him. As they story comes to a close,he realises that the cure is in his and the two kids immune blood. As his home gets over run by infected he gives a vile of immune blood to the kids as he stays behind to finish off the infected and himself with a gernade. The two kids escape and find a human civilization in the moutnians where humanity will eentually thrive again.
ReplyDeleteDivergent is an example of a dystopia. Society is split up into the government, factions, and the factionless. Each faction has a different job, and the factionless are homeless.Once you reach the age of 16, you must pick what faction you want to belong to for the rest of your life. The main character starts out thinking that their way of life is flawless, but she begins to see all of the flaws and tries to stop it. It's a lot like 1984, but with a modern twist.
ReplyDeleteThere are plenty of dystopian books and movies, but all of them have one thing in common: they have a basis in present day society. All the dystopian stories I have heard of seem kind of like scare tactics to warn people about the dangers of conforming, government, excessive surgery, etcetera. For example, in 1984, all three classes have a distinct way of dressing which separates them from other classes. This is a little bit similar to how people nowadays judge other peoples' income level on the clothes he or she wears. There are the telescreens that show brainwashing messages that the citizens can't help but believe. The telescreens are reminiscent of popular modern advertising, in that ads are everywhere and have become very good at making people believe what the company wants them to.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good point. It's a little scary to think about, but really interesting.
DeleteAnother common example of a dystopian book is The Hunger Games. These three books take place in futuristic times. The government has many controlling powers outside of the power of the government of our country today. The Hunger Games' government can decide to kill anyone for any reason big or small. They can alter rules at the drop of a hat. The world of The Hunger Games is divided up into districts. The government separates people into these districts based on the work that is present there. Because the separation of districts goes by the type of work, it also separates the people be their money. All of the poor people live among the poor living an ignorant life not knowing how well off the higher districts live.
ReplyDeleteV for Vendetta (A movie as well as a graphic novel) a perfect example of a dystopia. It has so many parallels to 1984 it's weird. A dictator ruled England is heavily controlled by the police and government. T.V. shows, art, sexual orientation, curfew, music, clothing, and a bunch of other stuff are all controlled by the government. If anyone deviates from the norm they are taken in the night and killed. It shows people like winston who question authority, people who are running the government and want power, and the people who blindly accept their lives. It's basically1984 but with hope.
ReplyDeleteYou've got to love V for Vendetta! I'd say it is definitely a lot like 1984 but in a way much "easier", since even though the main hero dies and Natalie Portman goes through a lot of crap, they have ( more or less) definitively succeeded at changing something. Another very political series.
DeleteGreat movie! I loved it and I agree that it did have a better ending, while having most of the same ideas about society and totalitarianism .
Deleteanother similarity would be the extreme amount of propaganda and sillyness the governments in both these stories pump out of the media in an effort to keep the masses misinformed and content with what the government has claimed to accomplish. fantastic movie. classy
DeleteAn easy example would be my personal favorite dystopian novel- Brave New World. Easy, because it's literally one of the extra credit opportunities, but still worth getting into. Brave New World definitely digs into that classic dystopia theme with the toltalianarian government creating a caste system populated with individuals who literally all are the same, to a point, and color-coded too. All individuals are also given the same hypnotic sleep conditioning, making it so that they all have the same thoughts and the same desires. The final binding act is that of course, easy pleasure is doled out in drugs and "feelies" and with a cultural stigma against monogamy- "Everyone belongs to everyone else" it is this complete stability and stupor that makes the earth of Brave New World a true dystopia.
ReplyDeleteOne example of dystopian society in modern day society, to me, is all of the different cliques and styles. If you aren't a kid who wears the same brand as everyone else, you are being viewed as inferior or not as cool. Another example would be laws in general today. If you are doing anything illegal to our government, they can seize you and make you pay for what you've done, of course not to the extent in 1984. Our government watches us just like The Party watched Winston. If we step out of hand at all, the government can read through all of our private messages, emails, phone calls, and mail. There is nothing we can do to escape the law either, although the punishments in our society are much less harmful and abusive than in Oceania's.
ReplyDeleteWhen I think about dystopian societies I think back to middle school, reading "The Giver." Reflecting upon "The Giver" and "1984" I realize that both are quite similar. They are similar in aspects that in both societies the government controls all: what the people wear, what the people do for a job, what the people can make as money, and many other aspects of life. In addition, both books had an understatement of death or killing: "The Giver" had people released, while in "1984" people were vaporized. I think that the books are similar and it is important that we evaluate the situation to make sure that we do not live like so.
ReplyDeleteMadisen Semmens
I love this book. There are many similarities between The Giver and 1984, but The Giver is definitely still my favorite.
DeleteI think that the shadow children series provides a look into a futuristic dystopian U.S. It adapts the child law from China, but you can have two children. No more. The government controls your food growth, clothes buying, and even outlawed junk food. They only give you the basics, and you have to live off what they give you. The fortunate kids that are allowed to attend an educated school have to blend in as one of the students. They have to dress the same, act the same, never speak in the hallways, etc.
ReplyDeleteA good example of a dystopian society is from the book Fahrenheit 451. The "firefighters" are actually paid to burn books, which are now illegal. They have something similar to a telescreen, but instead takes up a whole room where they sit and talk to other people that they have never met outside of their living room. They become enveloped in their own little world, but one man sees what is wrong. He is a "firefighter" and stashes books. He soon realizes the emptiness of his life, and rebels, going on the run. Like the ending of 1984, he does not succeed in his escape. The book ends depressingly.
ReplyDeleteWell that sucks. Oh well, if you want to make a point, you got to have an ending that'll cause the inner critic to rebel. But I have to note that I did enjoy 1984 and its ending, so maybe I'll try this depressing book, too.
DeleteThis world that Orwell creates where the government-in this case, totalitarian- watches every step of every citizen and can judge upon them with extreme prejudice and have no reprocussions from the mindless masses is not far from what possibilities are created by...lets say...modern American legislation. Right now, the government can use whatever means necassary to unearth evidence on foreigners who live in the states and/or can throw a black bag over their head, bring them to a government interrogation site (miniluv) and do what they please. This idea/bill was brought to life after 9/11 hastily so that we might prevent anything like it from ever happening again. This whole process of bugging phones, using security footage, and abducting members of our country who werent born here is all legal and accounted for. 'Whew', some may think, 'good thing im a citizen and was born here.' Well, recently, the law has been expanded to anyone they might suspect as a terrorist, no matter how arbitrary the reasoning may be. American -born and raised- citizens are now free to scrutinize and murder without warning and without trial if U.S government declares you a terrorist. Not only that, no report must ever be published of the 'arrest' and may never be mentioned outside the walls of our own miniluvs around the country. This isnt to say it happens, but it could; And it would be legal. Orwell, i believe, would have quivered in his boots to hear this would happen by 2013 in the "free-est country on earth."
ReplyDeleteA prime example of a dystopia society is in the movie Elysium. This movie is about a society that lives on a decaying Earth. The planet is being extremely over populated and poorly governed. Due to the decaying planet, a space station named Elysium is engineered for the higher powers of the human race to live. These higher powers are wealthy business people, or government leaders. When compared to the book 1984 these people would be the inner party members. These members get better living conditions. The proles live on planet Earth in the crowed slums. Life on Elysium is near perfect. The entire world would love to live on Elysium, but there is no where near the space for the entire human race. Only the privileged get to live there. On the planet's streets robot police men patrol keeping the slums in line. These robots could easily be compared to the thought police.
ReplyDeleteI remember a few years back of a movie called I Am Legend, which I think is based on a book, about the supposed last man on Earth post-apocalyptic virus. I know that people would normally focus on the person or group of people who still had their humanity, but if they were to look at the side on the other end of the spectrum, wouldn't it be the same to say they live in their own dystopia? In the movie, there were these humanistic creatures that spawned from an airborne virus, at first contracted by scientists for the health of the world, but instead turning out to be its poison.
ReplyDeleteThose 'zombies', as I'll refer to them, needed to eat those immune to survive on their own, drastically depleting the population to, eventually, just one sane in New York. If someone were to see it from their perspective, they'd understand they are living in hell as much as that one man. They are forbidden from sunlight and have to remain hidden indoors until the nighttime. They have no vistage of their former lives and are little more than animals. They look but cannot see anything to be shrouded in darkness forever. It is the definition of a perfect dystopian society, and until the end of the movie, there is little hope of change.
Everyday, in this world we live in, we are brainwashed. We don't really notice it but we are. With technology these days we are brainwashed to think the way they want us to think. Media tells us whats in style and whats not. What type of girls and guys are attract of and which are not. And we all follow it. Because we are brainwashed. The media tells us one thing and we might think another, but we go along with it because that's what is accepted. So it's like the idea of Doublethink. We are brainwashed everyday to be thinking and viewing the world the way someone else wants us to, and we do because we want to fit in and we believe that's the only way we can, and that is to follow what the media or the majority of the society agrees upon.
ReplyDeleteI do not think we have a dystopia, especially compared to what George Orwell imagined life would be like in 1984, but i do think we have some similarities in how our culture controls us, not as much our government. It has always been this way though, there have always been expectable clothing, behavior and beliefs, an anything that contradicts those accepted behaviors is wrong. Pretty much culture plays the role of government. They tell us what to were, what to say, almost what to think. I wouldn't say that this is anything as bad as Oceania, or any other dystopia, but i think it is an issue that should be looked at.
ReplyDeleteWell this is a little late, but an example of a dystopian book I’ve read is the Giver by Lois Lowry. The characteristics of dystopia that are prevalent in the book are similar to those in 1984. The government has complete control like in 1984. They made it so people don’t even have the freedom to see colors. They also pick all the jobs for everyone, you don’t have a say in what you want to do. If a citizen is misbehaving, then they will “release” them, which is the same as kill them. This is very similar to 1984 where people get vaporized or torchered when they commit thought crime. In the Giver, all of the citizens wear the same clothes, much like all the Outer Party members wear the same overalls in 1984. Citizens in the Giver are also constantly monitored by the government like in 1984.
ReplyDeleteI hate to be the person that takes the in-between route, but I'm going to be that person. Not many movies and novels portray a complete dystopia besides the ones listed above. I think many of them today have both utopian and dystopian qualities, similar to life itself. You need one to know the other.
ReplyDeleteMany people have picked apart fashion as being a dystopian part of our society. I'm going to have to disagree. Yes, the world of couture puts forth what is "in" and markets it very well. However, no one is forcing you to wear anything specific. We are not wearing overalls or jumpsuits like in 1984 and others listed above. So much freedom is still available. There are stores that certainly don't follow the "rules" and I'm sure only 40% of kids my age know what's trending, with only 25% pursuing it. Without guidelines, fashion would be a lost art form. Everyone would have to create their own clothes. Creative people in this field are born to be designers and create awesome things for us to wear.
Privacy was given as an issue last blog post, which is more understandable as a dystopian quality. However, many countries across the globe have never been given this as a privilege. They aren't safe either, like our country promises as its reasoning. They don't even have the technology to keep secrets from anyone in the first place. We are fortunate to live in the country we do.
I like how you chose to talk about fashion as an example of what some consider dystopian, and others do not. I have to agree with you and say that fashion today is the opposite part of a dystopian society. Along with your other examples of things that would make our world more dystopian, you make a very good point.
DeleteI love your unique take on this idea. Fashion was a good idea!
DeleteI agree with the points you make here. I've always been one to follow the beat of my own drum when it comes to fashion, and every one picks clothes according to their own tastes. My eleven year old brother definitely has no idea what's "trending" in the fashion world. I'm lucky if he changes his shirt.
DeleteProps to you for taking that in-between route. someone had to do it, and you made very good points about how fashion is a dystopian aspect of our community.
DeleteA good example of a piece of literature that involves a dystopian society is The Hunger Games. In the series, the government is called the capital, and it functions very similarly to how the inner party does in 1984. The capital is in charge of the twelve districts and they choose kids from each one to participate in the annual hunger games. This sort of propaganda that goes along with these games is similar the examples of the government's form of propaganda in the novel. That is one of the many characteristics included in a dystopian society. Also, a lot of the people in The Hunger Games live in very impoverished areas and have many sacristies, just like in the book when they are low on rations such as sauce pans and razors. Each dystopian society is going to have many of these same characteristics, and The Hunger Games is a good example to show the similarities between the two different pieces of literature.
ReplyDeleteI do think we have some similarities to a dystopian type government, but we definitely don’t have the harsh conditions Oceania has. In the book, the party has no say in any matter. They are told what they can say and not say, even what they can think. Though some may think we are losing this right, but we have freedom of speech, especially what we think about. In Oceania, the people are told what to wear and what products to use, such as victory products for the outer party. Their outfits are jump suits and the products crumble in their hands. In our world, we have specific agencies that make it so our food, clothes, and other products are made correctly. Some similarities we do have are the septation of classes. There’s the Inner Party (which resembles the Upper class), the Outer Party (resembling the Middle class), and the Proles (resembling the lower class). Also how they government in the book tries and spy on the people, is like how our government tries to spy on us. It is a little different, because we still have a right of having our own views and we’re not arrested for though crime, but our government does watch us.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I don't watch many movies. So, when trying to think up a good example of dystopian literature, I found that one of my favorite book series fit the criteria: The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games follows the lives of two individuals who must fight for their lives in a war for survival This is an example of dystopia because they do not (normally) volunteer for this activity. Also, to the people watching, it's entertainment. It's thrilling and run, regardless that one's life is on the line. Like 1984, there is a "Big Brother" figure in the Hunger Games. The ruthless king of the districts picks favorites. Also, like 1984, most of society is in poverty. There is a measly amount of people who actually live comfortably and happily. Just like in 1984, the government are liars. They tell the people there is no district 13, when in reality, there is.
ReplyDeleteAn obscure example of dystopian society is located in the movie the Minority Report. While at first glance a utopia, with astoundingly low crime rates thanks to a police force that takes down criminals before they ever commit a crime thanks to the foresight if the Precogs, there is something darker beneath the surface. There is one fatal flaw in the system-- the minority report which shows the purported future criminals backing down from their crimes making their preemptive imprisonment wrong. This "flaw" has been covered up by a greedy entrepreneur who is willing to do anything to cover up that fatal secret--even kill. The technology that reads one's retinas to cater commercials to a single person specifically makes it hard for the protagonist to stay off the radar. It's a brilliant movie with chilling concepts to muse on.
ReplyDeleteFirst, thank you for bringing in Minority Report. You forgot the most important part though: the balls.
DeleteWell, I definitely can't do Hunger Games at this point, and Cailin just HAD to take Battle Royale. Even Minority Report?! Gimme somethin' here! ...I got it. The best dystopian movie EVER. Idiocracy. Luke Wilson, the most average man on earth, along with a hooker, is cryogenically frozen as an experiment. The test was supposed to be one year, but the program was shut down and their chambers ditched. A thousand years (or something) pass before the battery dies and Luke wakes up in some guys house after a garbage landslide. The world he enters is rife with morons. Only the foolish bred, because they didn't know any better. And they probably couldn't figure out how to use a condom. After a few zany mishaps, Luke discovers he is literally the smartest man in the world by a long shot. Society is broken. It's shoot first, then forget why you fired in the first place. A presidential cabinet seat was given away in a contest. The most popular movie is called Ass. Luke Wilson struggles to even make himself heard in a world that has long since stopped listening to anything.
ReplyDeleteToday, America has some aspects of a dystopia, but I'd say for the most part these characteristics are not present. There is no force "controlling" society to make it seem perfect. There is the government, but that does not have a head leader, it has the different branches balancing each other. There are also "competing" parties, preventing one leader or group making all the rules. Freedoms and independent thought are allowed, and it's written in the Constitution. I think that people are (for the most part) encouraged to take an interest in the world outside of America, and become familiar with other cultures, rather than being taught to fear them. The issue of surveillance was brought up last week, and I don't think this is a huge problem in America. I can go about my life not being afraid I am being watched, or if I am it is for safety purposes.
ReplyDeleteA perfect example of a dystopia would be China. China, being the communist country they are, have succumbed to most of the characteristics of a dystopian society. The government is the main reason for this because they constantly do things to try and control the lives of people living within their borders. Things such as blocking certain things on the internet to limiting the freedom of speech have really turned this country into a place where people are more like robots instead of actual human beings. They are so worried about people discovering how corrupt they are that they feel the need to do anything in their power to cover the bad stuff up, and replace it with lies that make it look like a fun, happy, problem free country.
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