My sister, after hearing about us reading about 1984, showed me this comic:
http://www.recombinantrecords.net/docs/2009-05-Amusing-Ourselves-to-Death.html
It's by Stuart McMillen, comparing 1984 with another novel, "A Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley, which seems to be another dystopia-ish novel about controlling people. You don't actually have to read the book to understand the comic. It states very clearly the point of both Huxley's and Orwell's books. It gives me a creepy feeling, at the end, to know that both can be true.
Just thought I would show this.
Hi Adrienne!
ReplyDeleteIt is quite funny you post this to your blog because a friend also send me this link to me a couple of weeks ago.
Although I haven't read 'A Brave New World', it is very interesting to see the comparison the artist has made between the two novels, and how each of them are able to create destruction with either 'the things we hate' or 'the things we love'.
Do you have any further comments on how you believe each situation can be able to destroy us?
Well, from what I got on the comic, "A Brave New World" comments on how if you give someone all of their wants, and all they could ever need and more (video games, movies, internet sites), then people stop wanting and they stop asking questions. They become lazy, and can be controlled that way- after all, someone who has everything they've ever wanted doesn't really have a reason to rebel, do they?
ReplyDeleteThis is in direct contrast to Orwell's opinion that with fear and power people can be controlled. What is especially interesting is that Huxley's prediction that the things we love will destroy us is partially coming true. Right now, kids go on the internet almost 24-7, and with all of these distractions and random stuff online, they stop working and lack innovation.
This reminds me of what people think school will be like in the future- where there are holograms, and there is no contact. Just information implanted in your brain. I do not think education could carry on like this, for students will not interact with each other and will lack social, creative, and questioning skills.
I think this in a way destroys humanity- not physically, but mentally. Destruction of humankind can be accomplished with the things we hate or love, by limiting our capacity to question and inquire. I think that is partly what humanity is about. That we have an innate curiosity- and if that is destroyed, so are humans as we know them.