In George Orwell’s satiric novel 1984 (1948) & Fritz Lang’s metropolis (1927) both composers demonstrate similar ideas which can be linked to their contexts, despite the time gaps, condemning physical control of people and society. Fritz Lang warns of the consequences of rapid tech expansion on human lives through the machine age, closely followed in 1984 George Orwell cautions against totalitarian regimes, surveillance and the role of technology within this. Fritz Lang’s epic German expressionist silent film ‘Metropolis’(1927) raises ideas in its post-world war 1 context such as loss of identity, and the redefining of society after Germany lost the war. “They felt embarrassed that they started the war and lost it” this quote demonstrates
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The totalitarian government is ruled by a dictator and society has very little freedom. Some of the methods that government used to gain control in 1984 are, the 2 minute hate sessions, group exercises every morning and the constant surveillance through tele screens and microphones. Orwell shows the influence that Stalin had on physical control before the war and post war and the effects this had on society using propaganda and Big brother as a friend. This idea is evident in 1984 through the tele screens, monitoring individual freedom and the running stream of thoughtless propaganda. Orwell hints that this effectively brainwashed society into thinking they are unable to recognise the evil nature of the totalitarian party. Orwell represents that the tele screen acts as a window for the government to literally watch every individual eliminating any sense of privacy. Physical control is also illustrated through the character of Winston who can’t face the tele screen in his own home without putting on a fake optimistic expression. Sexual desires have been abolished to an extent, participation any sexual act only permissible to reproduce more children to make the party thrive and exist for more generations to come. Orwell successfully portrays the government as one that has total …show more content…
Through 1984, technology is conveyed through the use of tele screens and microphones that are hidden within the city, to enable the party to monitor its members at all times. Oceania, a fictional society based on post-war London cannot expect privacy at work, in the comfort of their own house or even in the streets, this is an example of totalitarian control. Orwell uses big brother as a symbol to demonstrate through the use of the technology, “That he is always watching you”, technology is an extremely important tool that is used by the party to maintain and control its citizens. Without tele screens, the thought police would not be as effective, and propaganda would not be widespread. The citizens in 1984 effectively feel imprisoned in the world of Oceania “There is only power for powers sake”. Orwell successfully communicates the use of technology through the developments in his dystopian society, when linking this back to metropolis without the “Hands” none of the futuristic technology would exist such as the tele screens. Both composers make similar points in relation to the idea of technology warning that we need to consider the effect on society brought about by rapid industrialisation and misuse of
The totalitarian government is ruled by a dictator and society has very little freedom. Some of the methods that government used to gain control in 1984 are, the 2 minute hate sessions, group exercises every morning and the constant surveillance through tele screens and microphones. Orwell shows the influence that Stalin had on physical control before the war and post war and the effects this had on society using propaganda and Big brother as a friend. This idea is evident in 1984 through the tele screens, monitoring individual freedom and the running stream of thoughtless propaganda. Orwell hints that this effectively brainwashed society into thinking they are unable to recognise the evil nature of the totalitarian party. Orwell represents that the tele screen acts as a window for the government to literally watch every individual eliminating any sense of privacy. Physical control is also illustrated through the character of Winston who can’t face the tele screen in his own home without putting on a fake optimistic expression. Sexual desires have been abolished to an extent, participation any sexual act only permissible to reproduce more children to make the party thrive and exist for more generations to come. Orwell successfully portrays the government as one that has total …show more content…
Through 1984, technology is conveyed through the use of tele screens and microphones that are hidden within the city, to enable the party to monitor its members at all times. Oceania, a fictional society based on post-war London cannot expect privacy at work, in the comfort of their own house or even in the streets, this is an example of totalitarian control. Orwell uses big brother as a symbol to demonstrate through the use of the technology, “That he is always watching you”, technology is an extremely important tool that is used by the party to maintain and control its citizens. Without tele screens, the thought police would not be as effective, and propaganda would not be widespread. The citizens in 1984 effectively feel imprisoned in the world of Oceania “There is only power for powers sake”. Orwell successfully communicates the use of technology through the developments in his dystopian society, when linking this back to metropolis without the “Hands” none of the futuristic technology would exist such as the tele screens. Both composers make similar points in relation to the idea of technology warning that we need to consider the effect on society brought about by rapid industrialisation and misuse of