Be More Like Violet, Not Titus

I have one big problem with the feed. I believe that the reason the feed is so flawed is because of how constant the stream of information is. At all times of the day, the feed is blasting advertisements or new messages from friends through your brain. New products, the memories of your loved ones and ways for you to feel better are something that people should be interested in, but there needs to be a break from that for personal reflection. In today's world, we are constantly surrounded by technology, but it is much easier for a person to get away from it and relax without all the buzzes and beeps. While the feed does bring happiness and I understand that, I believe that it takes away from a person's privacy.

I think the idea of the Feed is great. It's convenient and allows people to stay connected, but people can do that in today's society if they really want to. How hard is it to go online and look at new clothes or text your friend. We all have our phones on us anyways and the great thing about that is that we have the ability to put those away if we don't need them. The feed is implanted in a person's head and it becomes a part of who he or she is. Corporations have taken advantage of this and started to abuse the feed by never letting a person think without seeing the feed in front of them. The free will to stop all the technology and go outside has been lost in this society and that is why I would resist the feed.

Syme and Newspeak

                One issue that really stood out to me in 1984 was the idea that words were being eliminated from the language. This event came up when Winston sits down for lunch and Syme enthusiastically explains that he was helping to delete word, including descriptive adjectives, from Newspeak. His logic behind this action is that it will render thoughtcrime impossible. Replacing words like “great” with “plus good” and “wonderful” with “doubleplus good” will make rebelling impossible as people aren’t capable of displaying their beliefs. I found this very interesting and concerning because a future without the ability to express one’s emotions is scary. Literature is based on how people form their sentences, what tones the use and what words they choose to utilize. The fact that the government is trying to eliminate this is one of the biggest forms of oppression.

                I found an article written earlier this month in The Guardian that relates to this topic. Back in 2007, the editors of the Oxford Junior Dictionary decided to delete a list of word and then replace them. What was interesting was that all the words removed had to do with nature (acorn, adder, ash, heron, mistletoe, newt, otter) and the words that were added had to do with technology (broadband, bullet point, blog, chatroom, cut-and-paste). This has come up recently because writes are gathering to campaign to get these words back in the dictionary. They are explaining that even if these words are seldom used anymore, which studies show they are, they should still be available.

                This is similar to 1984 because this company is deleting words that are more associated with the past and replacing them with more current language.  In my opinion, even these small changes are a little concerning because language and writing are one of the main ways we hold onto the past. In 1984, the past has been corrupted and this has had unhealthy consequences on the people of Oceania. Obviously, our society should strive to not become like Big Brother and so we can’t be deleting words.

 

Link to Article: http://www.theguardian.com/science/the-lay-scientist/2015/mar/03/why-the-oed-are-right-to-purge-nature-from-the-dictionary

 

False Realities and Big Brother

                In both 1984 and the Truman Show, this idea that there is no privacy is prevalent. In the Truman Show, there is literally no privacy. Truman lives with a camera on him 24/7. Even while he sleeps, showers, etc. In 1984, Winston lives in a house that has a camera to track his every moment and facial expressions. Thought police, neighbors, and employees are constantly suspicious of each other and are willing to turn each other in for any type of rebellion. The simple idea of having a private thought is difficult for both of them, and that is why they fight back. Truman is sick of having is life predetermined and Winston is sick of being restricted from living the life he wants.

                Another similarity between the two works is the lack of real relationships they have with other people. In Truman’s world, everyone around him is an actor and none of them truly care for him. His wife leaves him not for any real reason, but just because she can’t handle the stress and conditions under which she can act. His best friend, Marlon, always comforts Truman when he is upset or seems to be catching on to the deception, but Marlon only does this to keep the show going and reassure that Truman believes that his world is real. In Winston’s world, relationships between husband and wife are different than today. They are not as close as they should be. Winston and his wife, Katharine, do not actually love each other. Katharine sees marriage and sex as her duty in this society and she and Winston share no sort of affection towards each other. Parents and children have a similar issue. As we can tell from the Parsons family, the children are taught early in their lives to love Big Brother and report any suspicious activity to the thought police. This means that children are always watching their parents and will report them without hesitation. Therefore, parents are seen to be afraid of their children and so their bond is much less strong.

                Finally, I have found that in both stories, the message in both is that love can make a person open their eyes and rebel against something they see is wrong. In 1984, Winston meets a young girl named Julie and their start a secret relationship. They meet in secret to be with each other and talk about the faults of Big Brother. Julie opens Winston’s eyes to life without constant government surveillance and he is actively participates in their discussions about life without Big Brother. In Truman’s situation, he falls in love with a girl on the show. They run into each other and she attempts to explain how his life is a lie and that he is living a false reality. She’s the person that ignites his suspicions about the world he lives in, and eventually he is able to free himself from Christof. Love is a powerful emotional that was highly influential in both of these situations.