1984
Brandon Johsnon
"War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength"
This quote is one of the slogans of the Ministry of Truth. It was first brought about in the book during the two minutes hate. This Quote was intended to weaken the minds of the people. To tell them that it is peaceful to be in war, you are free when you are enslaved, and that not having any knowledge makes you strong. The ideal person in this dystopian society believes all of these things. The Party believes that if you believe and live by these three quotes than you are the ideal example of a human being.
A dystopian
The world we live in has progressively turned dystopian. Even though as a people we a given certain freedoms, there is still a higher, overlooking power. For years, many people thought that we lived in a society where things were private and no one could find out certain things. Thanks to technology and well educated engineers, that feeling and right to privacy is slowly being taken away. “Americans were probably most shocked by the revelation that the U.S. government is collecting massive quantities of their digital signatures” (Zakaria). With citizens knowing that their information and lives are no longer private, it makes them uncomfortable. In a dystopian society the government (dictating society) has a say and control on almost everything that is done in normal life. The “Big Brother” concept is even starting to effect high school students across the nation. Many school districts in America are starting to monitor their student’s lives through social networking. They justify the use of this technology by saying “it’s just another avenue to open up a dialogue with parents about safety” (Wallace). This system that is being adopted by many different school districts not only brings safety, but also controversy. Unlike in a true dystopian society, people are allowed to speak out or go against the things the government is doing. In today’s world all it takes is the right person and the right tools to expose the government and turn its citizens against it. Even with things like this being illegal it doesn’t seem to stop people from committing civil disobedience. Dr. Martin Luther King once said “One who breaks an unjust law must do so openly, lovingly and with a willingness to accept the penalty.’ Being realistic and looking at past instances where this occurred, this philosophy isn’t always true. In the case of Edward Snowden he exposed the government and ran away from the consequences. Just like in a dystopian society the things Edward Snowden did are not acceptable; especially being the fact it exposed a governmental weakness. The whole idea of a dystopian society is to show that the leading power is indestructible and cannot be hurt in any way. Because of Snowden “Americans realized that the U.S. Government is collecting massive quantities of their digital signatures” (Zakaria) which doesn’t make any easier to become that ideal dystopian society. I personally think America is slowly moving in the direction of becoming the dominate dystopian society that is really only portrayed non-fictionally. If America does become more of a dystopian society, I think it will lose the respect of its people and many countries. With Cuba being the closest thing to a dystopian society right now, it’s the perfect example of what will happen to America I they tried that. It is not as well respect, liked, or appreciated as America and many other countries are. Dystopian societies are better left in books and movies, because that’s not the direction America should be going in. This is a country built off of the freedoms and opinions of its people, not just the central power.
Theme Song Connection
The song “If I Ruled the World” by Nas can relate to the book 1984 by George Orwell in several different ways. There are many similarities and parallels between this song and the book. This song talks about the struggles of life and the problems of the world. The song exaggerates the chaos and flaws in life. In the song it talks about a better life in which they dream of and they have been fighting for. Nas is a well-respected artist because of the fact he can send a message through his music and I believe that this song does that and it relates to the message in the book. In the first verse of the song the first couple of lines describe a better life then what people are currently living. This can relate to the book because people are living in a dystopia and some of the main characters dream of a better life than what they are currently living. The song describes a perfect life but it is really hinting all the imperfections of our society and making them stand out. In a dystopia they exaggerate the negatives of a society and that is exactly what the song does, just in a different way. This book can also relate to the song “If I Ruled the World” by Nas because both the book and the song end with a joy of their life. Meaning all the struggles and the things they hated before, they don’t hate those things anymore.
Chief Sosa
Wednesday, Dec 25, 2013, 09:00 PM
Chiraq present, Callan Avenue, Evanston, IL, United States
Trends
Work Cited for Paragraph
Wallace, Nancy. "How Social Networks Drive Black Unemployment." Opinionator How
Social Networks Drive Black Unemployment Comments. N.p., 5 May
2013. Web. 14Aug. 2013.
Zakaria. "Obama’s Remarks on Race Prompt Emotional Outpouring on Twitter." The
Lede Obamas Remarks on Race Prompt Emotional Outpouring on Twitter Comments.N.p.,
19 July 2013. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.
Stelter, Brian. "CNN Sets off Debate on Race and Technology." Www.nytimes.com. N.p., 11 Nov.
2011. Web. 14 Aug. 2013.