Login

Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

March 19, 2024, 03:34:26 pm

Author Topic: Year 10 english essay marking!  (Read 2403 times)  Share 

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Weirdobtsarmy

  • Forum Regular
  • **
  • Posts: 90
  • Respect: 0
Year 10 english essay marking!
« on: September 25, 2021, 01:52:41 am »
0
Hello!!,
here is a partial (intro, bp1, bp2) comparative essay I wrote [changed from a full essay to partial because of covid19]. It would be great and very much appreciated if anyone could provide feedback [feel free to be as harsh as you want!!]

NOTE: This essay was written in 1 hour with a venn diagram of notes/quotes/essay plan and was initially hand-written.

"Compare how the texts 1984 by George Orwell and Pleasantville directed by Gray Ross explore conformity and individuality"

Spoiler
Set in strict, oppressive totalitarian societies in which individuality is forbidden. Both texts, 1984 by George Orwell and Pleasantville directed by Gary Ross carry the same ideology that to achieve the rejuvenation and individualism of humanity, the rejection of conformity needs to be enforced and boundaries need to be broken. However, the way in which the societies of both texts do this is fundamentally different. in Pleasantville, these boundaries are broken by an external source, being Jennifer and David, contrasting 1984 as the Party's control proves to overtake the efforts of Winston and Julia. Although Orwell examines how propaganda and restriction of thought empowered conformity, Ross explores the way restriction of knowledge powers conformative views in Pleasantville.

Both texts, Pleasantville and 1984 endorse the idea of restriction of through as a means to further repress individuality, hence empowering conformity in both societies. In 1984, propaganda is used to strictly oppress and fearmonger individuals. Posters that depict "Big Brother is watching you" are displayed throughout the city to remind the citizens that they are always being "watched". Additionally, with the use of telescreens and propaganda to induce fear, the Party forces its subjects to accept anything it decrees, even if it is entirely illogical. Furthermore, the Party introduces a new language called Newspeak in order to guarantee that no one will be able to conceptualise anything that might question the Party's absolute power. Syme explains that the "whole aim of newspeak is to narrow the range of thought...[and that] there will be words to express [ourselves]. This quote hence proves the motives of the party. The idea of restriction fo through is mirrored in Pleasantville, however is endorsed differently. Similarly to 1984, thoughts in individuals are forbidden and this is shown in the repetitive norms of Pleasantville. For example, when David/Bud conversates with Skip, Skip's reply only consists of "Hiya Bud" repetitively. Furthermore, restriction of knowledge plays a vital role in suppressing individuals, this is seen as no one knows "what is outside [the town] of Pleasantville" and in how "[all] the books are blank". However, Jennifer and David break through the limited society and start enforcing views of individuality. Diverging from this idea, Winston and Julia start making decisions such as engaging in a "forbidden sexual relationship" to build individuality and identity. Ultimately, Jennifer and David's presence encourages the change of colour. As the black and white colours express the oppressed views of Pleasantville, colours start to appear as the values and beliefs of the citizens change. Contrasting this, Winston and Julia surrender to the party as it completely destructs all aspects of their individualities. Thus, although both texts utilise restriction of thought to press individuals into strict conformity, only Pleasantville succeeds in overcoming it.

In Pleasantville and 1983, segregation and sexual repression are depicted as a means to further press and force individuals into conformity. This is represented in the hierarchical system of 1984 in which citizens are divided into Proletarians and Inner and Outer parties. The Party also undermines family structure by inducting children into an organisation called the Junior Spies which encourages "the children [to] systematically turn against their parents and spy on them". This idea of segregation is mirrored in Pleasantville as Big Bob calls a town meeting in order to "separate...things that are pleasant from...things that are unpleasant". The negative impacts of segregation are shown through this act as it separates the people into "coloureds [and] true citizens". Another common concept is the use of sexual repression in both texts. In 1984, this repression forces individuals to suppress their sexual desires, hence treating sex as merely a "duty to the Party" whose end is the creation of new Party members. Offering a similar idea, in Pleasantville sex is seen only as a means of reproduction, this is exemplified when Betty asks Jennifer, her biological daughter "what is sex?". Orwell utilises Julia's scarlet sash as a symbol of chastity that represents her devotion to the Party, however starkly contrasting this, the double bed in Pleasantville symbolises the hopeful possibility of "other ways to enjoy life". Thus, both texts use the action of segregation and sexual repression to eradicate a sense of individuality and therefore promote conformity.