Hi everyone, I'm new here so hopefully this works
(crossing my fingers)
This year I have an extended response essay assignment for Grade 12 using George Orwell's '1984' as a set text. So basically, you get to choose a dystopian film of your choice and analyse the ways in which
power + control are established and maintained and their relevance to contemporary audiences. You had to focus your analyses on one of the four topics given and I chose 'human as the enemy'.
The problem is that I'm finding that idea really hard to conceptualise but I have linked it to dehumanisation . Would you mind havinng a look at my ideas for this 1000-1500 word paper?
Thank you soo so much!!!
Intro:
Central to dystopian literature is the obstacle of humanity to the autocracy. In these paradoxical societies, often headed by a hegemonic body, humans are problematic, as the inborn humanity causes humans to inconveniently attempts to free oneself from their state of captivity by the system of control. In both ‘1984’ and ‘The Matrix’, absolute power is established and maintained entirely on the precept that ‘humans are the enemy’; hence, they should be dehumanized in order for the superior body to possess absolute power over an ignorant and credulous mass. This is obtained through the control of one’s perception of reality, conscious and subconscious, and the manipulation of the physical body, revealed through literary and stylistic devices, so that humans are unable and unwilling to dissent.
‘The Matrix’, a 1999 film written by the Wachowskis to question the authenticity of virtual realities, describes a world in which reality as perceived by humans is rather, a ‘computer-generated dream world’ built to subdue the human body politic while their electrical energy is harvested for the perpetuation of sentient machines. By regulating every aspect of their lives, including their biological processes and conditioning them to the delusion of their reality, obedience is instinctive and even voluntary and the human potential is successfully perverted. Similarly, written in 1949 by Orwell as an indictment of the totalitarian regimes of the 20th century, ‘1984’ demonstrates that “power is power over human beings, over the body – but above all, over the mind,” (277) through the subjugation of the outer party member like Winston physically, but more importantly, mentally. Undoubtedly, both texts offer a timely warning, particularly in this new decade with the... (I need to finish this sentence
)
Ideas for body:
I decided to break point 1 into a few concepts Point 1: Looking at aspects of how reality is controlled which distorts how a person views the world - an effective method of control
- This is done through the removal of history
○ In 1984, the past is alterable. They are not allowed to know a world different to theirs so that they are unable to compare their state of living to something better and therefore, do not dissent.
* Pg.267
* Pg.272
○ In the Matrix, the people don't see that they're world is a tinge of green because they've never experienced anything different
- This is also done through the manipulation of subconscious reality - dreams and memory
○ In 1984, The Party does not like dreams as they create an understanding of Winston's past and his deepest emotions manifested. All the instances with his mother and sister, the golden country, and the dark haired girl reveal a past or imagined world that is better than his - this cannot be allowed. O'Brien twists these dreams and ensures Winston believes they are false - use quote at end of the book.
○ In the Matrix, one never really knows if they are in a dream. For instance, there is one scene where Neo continually wakes up to a dream a few times. There is also that scene when the agents place a bug in his bellybutton and he wakes up thinking it is a dream but it is in fact reality, The AI do a better job at creating reality and humans.
- This is also done through doublethink
○ It is a play on thought and used to justify binary opposites like war and peace
○ It is extremely difficult to decipher between truth and lies which makes it so scary. In Oceania, individuals are (find quote) not anchored but floating around living an entirely subjective world. Reality is whatever the party says it is.
○ Unlike 1984 which uses a known tool, the Matrix itself contains rules that are subconsciously followed. For instance, gravity can be bent but when one falls, the human brain thinks it is real. In the same way, taste of food is a code and is really artificial unlike how the mind conceives it. Neo is only able to beat Agent Smith when he learns to subvert the implied rules (time, speed, gravity) in the Matrix.
Dehumanisation through biopower
- Mention sex and control of sexuality and how the party outlaws such expression of emotion
○ In the Matrix, mouse mentions that we cannot deny our impulses as it is a part of being a human.
- More importantly, the physical repression and disembodiment of the human. Humans are the enemy and must be dehumanised?
○ In 1984, Winston is disembodied, he is animalised and referred to as an empty cavity - denoting his humanity is gone and all that remains is a shell which is to be filled with the party. He becomes a stranger to himself.
○ In The Matrix, humans according to Agent Smith are like parasites and are hated by AI. They have become a source of biopower and in turn controlled by biopower. They are kept in sacs their whole life connected by electrical cords to the matrix and the source - they are utterly disposable.
Relevance to today:
- Today we are constantly under control - our lives becoming more and more dependent on technology especially in a time when physical connection is limited. Not only is this dangerous but when we become so reliant on technology - what happens if it suddenly crashes? (maybe not include)
- Additionally we are bombarded daily with fake news, clickbait and access to millions of information - how can we be judicious about what is truth and what is lies.
- Another idea central to the making of the matrix is how mutable our online profiles are - how can we tell if others are real or lies.
- Are we becoming inextricably tied to the online reality (of social media, gaming worlds)?
Really would appreciate any help
Thanks