Brave New World
An apocalypse of psychological manipulation
"Alpha children wear grey. They work much harder than we do, because they're so frightfully clever. I'm really awfully glad I'm a Beta, because I don't work too hard. And then we are much better than the Gammas and Deltas. Gammas are stupid. They all wear green, and Delta children wear khaki. Oh no, I don't want to play with Delta children. And Epsilons are still worse. They're too stupid to be able..." (Page 35)
Modern Dystopian Society
Obesity has the potential to be considered a part of a dystopian, rather than ideal, society because it involves numerous health risks. The number one health issue that obesity causes is type 2 diabetes. Statistics show that as your body weight increases, the risk of developing diabetes also increases, which can impact your internal organs severely in the long run. Another health risk associated with obesity is high blood pressure. Increased body weight leads to increased blood pressure, which in turn can eventually lead to heart attacks, strokes, or brain hemorrhages. In addition to high blood pressure, overweight individuals can develop Gout. Gout is a medical complication that causes arthritis. It can affect "toes, ankles, and other joints."
Along with obesity, factory work is often described as "nightmarish" to society. It is considered a barbaric way to earn money because humans are often treated like machines; they are automated to complete the same task hour after hour, and day after day. Not only are factory workers underpaid, but they are also overworked and burned out. In many developed countries, factories prefer to hire the least amount of workers possible to complete a task. The reason for this is that hiring less labor saves them money. However, as a consequence, the underpaid workers are taken advantage of and exploited, often becoming physically overwhelmed to the point of their health suffering.
Religion has become a decaying factor in modern society because it directly contradicts with the technologically and scientifically advanced world of today. Though many would argue that a scientifically advanced world is proof of our society becoming flawless, this theory strays far from the truth when morality is questioned. In the past years, religion had remained a strong force in society. It not only taught individuals right from wrong, but also served as an incentive for them to think through the consequences of their actions before committing them. Citizens chose to take the moral high ground, which derived from either their fear or assurance of God. In contradiction, as modern society breaks away from religion, it also breaks away from a moral code. Thus, a godless society would be categorized as a dystopia because many would refer to the perishing moral values as a "social and spiritual" disaster.
The Scientist by Coldplay
In my opinion, the song relates to this specific theme because it discusses logic versus impulse. The purpose of the song is to explain that reason and logic are not necessary for someone to feel fulfilled and content. On the contrary, it is entirely possible for contentment to derive from emotions you cannot explain. The song is about a guy who decides to end a relationship because, logically seeing, it is not working out. He mentions "Running in circles; chasing tails; heads on a science apart." By this, he means that the problematic situation continues to be played over and over again, clearly spelling out incompatibility in a rational sense. However, he soon realizes that logic is not enough for him to feel satisfied. He still very much loves her, and though he understands that logically they are unsuitable, his feelings for her are too strong for him to let her go. In comparison to the novel, the anecdote in the song is quite ironic. The novel stresses that in order to maximize happiness, logical thinking and a strong control on emotions is necessary. However, in the song, that same logical thinking is making the guy miserable. Instead, what maximizes his happiness is his enduring feelings for the girl.
"A good kissing carrion." - Shakespeare
Genetically Modified Persons
Medically, GMP's can benefit the society by reckoning cures to generally incurable diseases. Cancer is widely known as a disease that has yet to have a cure. By being able to genetically modify a person, scientists could upgrade one's immune system to a degree that it could develop the strength to destroy cancer cells. Another example of an incurable disease is Aids, which is gradually beginning to affect more populations world wide. Aids is a sexually transmitted disease in which the body severely loses its cellular immunity by lowering the resistance to infection. Although the medical field has yet to find a cure for Aids, there are still "sub-cures" available. However, patients prefer not to use these "sub-cures" because not only do they deal with dangerous chemicals, but the treatments are all too costly. The only way to find a real cure for Aids is through genetic modification. Genetic Modification of one's cells can recover immunity to people suffering from Aids. In addition to curing cancers and Aids, GMP can also play an important role in weight control and the health and social welfare that can come from that. Reprogramming your body can burn the excess fat to create condensed muscle tissue. Weight loss, in turn, can also lead to less people being diagnosed by diabetes.
Professionally, GMP's are able to benefit society by providing society with more body types that are considered fit for enduring sports. Sports, such as, soccer, football, hockey, and baseball, require strength and speed. Genetically modifying individuals to fit into these categories could create a professional society that thrives on sports. In addition to sports, many actors, actresses, and performers often get plastic surgery to reach physical perfection in their personal lives and careers. Genetic modification can provide them with a natural way to grasp physical perfection, which could be risk free and steer away from the complications that arise by withstanding surgery.
Socially, GMP's can benefit society by equating citizens further. Being able to reproduce is a universal need in our world. However, not everyone is capable. Homosexual couples living together often do not have the same rights and opportunities as heterosexual couples when it comes to procreating. The answer to this dilemma is cloning. Cloning requires creating an organism that is genetically identical to the one from which it derives. Cloning is in the betterment of society because it can create likeness between people, that may not be currently present.
Dystopian Hero in Today's World
Works Cited
"Coldplay - The Scientist." YouTube. YouTube, 27 May 2011. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
"Genetically-Engineered Human Have Already Been Born." Disinformation. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
Huxley, Aldous. Brave New World. New York: Harper & Bros., 1946. Print.
"Obesity Facts." 10 Reasons Why Obesity Is a Bad Problem. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.
"Pros and Cons of Human Cloning." HealthRF. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.
Raluca, Dana. ""The Scientist" Lyrics." COLDPLAY LYRICS. N.p., n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.
"Savaswriter.ExpertsColumn.ComPowered By ExpertsColumn.com." The Disadvantages of Working in a Factory-savaswriter.ExpertsColumn.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Mar. 2014.
SparkNotes. SparkNotes, n.d. Web. 07 Mar. 2014.