A comparison of two texts can result in a heightened understanding of the value, significance and context of each through the differing perspectives they present on the same thematic concerns. [Q] Fritz Lang’s 1927 expressionist film Metropolis portrays the loss of human autonomy through the lens of the rise of industrialisation in Weimar Germany and conveys the message of the importance of mediation. Contrastingly, George Orwell’s 1948 dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984) explores the loss of human autonomy, influenced by totalitarian regimes of the 1930’s and prevention of a revolution. Metropolis and 1984 present differing views on human autonomy and revolution thus results in a heightened understanding of their contexts.
Metropolis …show more content…
Lang’s message was that in order for Weimar Germany to provide peace for it’s citizens, unity was essential. The allegory of the Tower of Babel is introduced by Maria who is a symbol of hope for the oppressed workers. The enlightening non-diegetic music is immediately juxtaposed with the smooth transition to loud and urgent non-diegetic music, suggesting the nuanced nature of the Tower of Babel. The dreary and monotonous non-diegetic sounds accompanies the high angle shot of half-naked workers trudging towards the screen with their heads down. Lang portrays this in order for the audience to empathise with the humiliation and shame the workers corresponding to the social atmosphere after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles after World War 1 as Germany was forced to admit defeat and pay reparations. . The lighting and costuming of Maria and Freder in white verses the workers in black emphasises their opposition, which Lang uses to highlight the importance of mediation in 1920’s Weimar Germany due to the political polarisation after it’s failed attempt at democracy. The emphasis on the “head, heart and hands” shows Lang’s encouragement of the mediation between the left and right wing extremists in Germany at the …show more content…
This mirrors the special police force and the infamous 1933 book burnings in Germany. The symbolism of the coral in Winston’s paperweight being “Julia’s life and his (Winston’s) own” is then smashed which is then described by Winston, “How small…how small it always was!”, the juxtaposition of their lives being small expresses the insignificance of their struggles with Big Brother and the Inner Party. The Thought Police in 1984 represent Stalin’s communist regime, specifically the KGB whose role was to report individuals that were a threat – those that held dissent- to the state. This is further seen in lack of books in the entire novel, “Whenever books are burned, human beings are destined to be burned too”, Orwell incorporates Heinrish Heine’s (poet) quote into 1984 in order to convey the message that it will be too late, even for a revolution when all knowledge is gone. The lack of books emphasises the futility of revolution as the Outer Party does not have the knowledge to resist, this can be seen through the connotations of “intended”, showing that any knowledge had been eliminated in order to prevent any revolts ”…there was shallow alcove, had probably been intended to hold book-shelves.”. This is reminiscent of the 1933 book burnings in Germany by the Nazis to
Metropolis …show more content…
Lang’s message was that in order for Weimar Germany to provide peace for it’s citizens, unity was essential. The allegory of the Tower of Babel is introduced by Maria who is a symbol of hope for the oppressed workers. The enlightening non-diegetic music is immediately juxtaposed with the smooth transition to loud and urgent non-diegetic music, suggesting the nuanced nature of the Tower of Babel. The dreary and monotonous non-diegetic sounds accompanies the high angle shot of half-naked workers trudging towards the screen with their heads down. Lang portrays this in order for the audience to empathise with the humiliation and shame the workers corresponding to the social atmosphere after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles after World War 1 as Germany was forced to admit defeat and pay reparations. . The lighting and costuming of Maria and Freder in white verses the workers in black emphasises their opposition, which Lang uses to highlight the importance of mediation in 1920’s Weimar Germany due to the political polarisation after it’s failed attempt at democracy. The emphasis on the “head, heart and hands” shows Lang’s encouragement of the mediation between the left and right wing extremists in Germany at the …show more content…
This mirrors the special police force and the infamous 1933 book burnings in Germany. The symbolism of the coral in Winston’s paperweight being “Julia’s life and his (Winston’s) own” is then smashed which is then described by Winston, “How small…how small it always was!”, the juxtaposition of their lives being small expresses the insignificance of their struggles with Big Brother and the Inner Party. The Thought Police in 1984 represent Stalin’s communist regime, specifically the KGB whose role was to report individuals that were a threat – those that held dissent- to the state. This is further seen in lack of books in the entire novel, “Whenever books are burned, human beings are destined to be burned too”, Orwell incorporates Heinrish Heine’s (poet) quote into 1984 in order to convey the message that it will be too late, even for a revolution when all knowledge is gone. The lack of books emphasises the futility of revolution as the Outer Party does not have the knowledge to resist, this can be seen through the connotations of “intended”, showing that any knowledge had been eliminated in order to prevent any revolts ”…there was shallow alcove, had probably been intended to hold book-shelves.”. This is reminiscent of the 1933 book burnings in Germany by the Nazis to