1) Could the World State exsist without soma?
Soma to the people of the world state represents instant gratification. In the novel the only reason that humans have essentially given up their humanity is for this reason: their desires are always met through the soma. Although one could make the arguement that it could exsist because of the genetic engineering, I still believe that without this drug, people wouldn't accept the state. They would want something deeper in their lives as is this the case with John.
2) Can people be truly happy living like the people in Brave New World?
I think that it is possible for most people living in the world state to be happy according to what they believe is happiness. They have never experienced anything but instant gratification. No true complex feelings like John has. Because of this, they are completely ignorant to people like John's (our) view of happiness and therefore, are as happy as they can be.
3) Both novels are of course portrayals of utopias turned dystopia but what are the purposes of the books really. Were they both warnings to humanity or more to point out the flaws of human ideology?
I think that 1984 was more of a warining to its audience than in Brave New World because of the stictness of its rule. The brutality seen in 1984 can be linked to brutality that was going on in the world at that time. Brave New World on the other hand I believe was more of a criticism of humanity, but still a warning of how absolute power is dangerous. In that novel, I believe it is more of a criticism of instant gratification and how humanity is slowly creeping towards that area of thought. Both books I would consider criticisms of humanity but only 1984 as a true, loud warning call.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Communist Utopia
It indicates that Communism is a government system that has complete control over its people with little freedom for the people. This is displayed through the eyes that are watching the man as he walks by.
It is a sinister practice because he paints such dismal, depressing colors yet calls the piece a communist's utopia or perfect place.
The title is "Communist Utopia" because the author believes that the ultimate form of communsim is one where there is no freedom whatsoever, which is expressed through the eyes.
It is a sinister practice because he paints such dismal, depressing colors yet calls the piece a communist's utopia or perfect place.
The title is "Communist Utopia" because the author believes that the ultimate form of communsim is one where there is no freedom whatsoever, which is expressed through the eyes.
Don't You Want Me
A man wants to be with a woman and she likes him but feels like it's time for her to move on.
The man sees himself in a better light and the girl is somewhat indifferent to him. This is displayed in the line "but even then I'd knew I'd find a much better place." So despite the man's pleas which are the chorus of the song, the woman doesn't feel as strongly for him as he does for her.
I have to side with the girl because she probably needs to move on if she doesn't love him like he loves her. I still feel sorry for the guy though.
The man sees himself in a better light and the girl is somewhat indifferent to him. This is displayed in the line "but even then I'd knew I'd find a much better place." So despite the man's pleas which are the chorus of the song, the woman doesn't feel as strongly for him as he does for her.
I have to side with the girl because she probably needs to move on if she doesn't love him like he loves her. I still feel sorry for the guy though.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Brave New World Post 2
What is the signifigance of the use of Shakespeare as the one work John receives?
Of all the pieces of literature that Huxley could have used for John to have read he chose the works of Shakespeare. This I believe stems from the fact that Shakespeare is a stark contrast to life that people live now compared to before Ford. When John quotes The Tempest at the end of chapter eight Bernard remarks, "You have a most peculiar way of talking sometimes," (Huxley 139). Thus I believe Shakespeare is used to emphasize the barrier between our world and one with the moral values of Brave New World.
Why have the moral values completely changed in the World State?
In the utopia that Huxley has created, the moral values seem to have taken a huge regression backwords. This is exemplified through how much sex the wemon of the utopia have. What fascinates me is that John, the one who is considered the savage, has more restraint than a person like Lenina. When John finds himself lusting over Lenina while she is passed out on soma he thinks ,"Detestable thought!He was ashamed of himself," (145). The idea of sex has become the idea of an act of pleasure and not intimacy that someone not apart of the society holds more values than someone apart of it. The only exlanation is people no longer need sex because of cloning so they accept it more than someone from our society.
Why do the words father and mother now take on a pornographic connotation?
Father and mother, people we think as caring, loving people have become nowhere short of scandelous in this world. While seeing the director for the first time John shouts out my father which is taken as a gross, smutty word which humiliates the director immensly (Huxley 151). It is understandable that the director would be embarressed for no one has children in this society, but what the author emphasizes is the use of the word father. In this case, being a father is an insult! The most plausible explanation for the negative connotation of this word is that fathers were only present in savage tribes and not "normal."
Of all the pieces of literature that Huxley could have used for John to have read he chose the works of Shakespeare. This I believe stems from the fact that Shakespeare is a stark contrast to life that people live now compared to before Ford. When John quotes The Tempest at the end of chapter eight Bernard remarks, "You have a most peculiar way of talking sometimes," (Huxley 139). Thus I believe Shakespeare is used to emphasize the barrier between our world and one with the moral values of Brave New World.
Why have the moral values completely changed in the World State?
In the utopia that Huxley has created, the moral values seem to have taken a huge regression backwords. This is exemplified through how much sex the wemon of the utopia have. What fascinates me is that John, the one who is considered the savage, has more restraint than a person like Lenina. When John finds himself lusting over Lenina while she is passed out on soma he thinks ,"Detestable thought!He was ashamed of himself," (145). The idea of sex has become the idea of an act of pleasure and not intimacy that someone not apart of the society holds more values than someone apart of it. The only exlanation is people no longer need sex because of cloning so they accept it more than someone from our society.
Why do the words father and mother now take on a pornographic connotation?
Father and mother, people we think as caring, loving people have become nowhere short of scandelous in this world. While seeing the director for the first time John shouts out my father which is taken as a gross, smutty word which humiliates the director immensly (Huxley 151). It is understandable that the director would be embarressed for no one has children in this society, but what the author emphasizes is the use of the word father. In this case, being a father is an insult! The most plausible explanation for the negative connotation of this word is that fathers were only present in savage tribes and not "normal."
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Brave New World Post 1
They have created equality and confromity in several ways. Most importantly they have used cloning for three of the five classes so that equality and a collectivist attitude is promoted. Not only that but they genetically engineer people to be skilled for their future careers. They also utilize hypnopaedia which is drilling messages into children's brains as they sleep. This spreads the same messages and ideas into the minds of the youth which affects their mental processing and their individuality. Finally there is the soma which is a drug which is the perfect drug. Using this, the society ensures that people can always feel good and youthful, emphasizing how good their way of life is.
I would say through what I've read this is a utopia. Despite having many moral flaws in regards to our society, most people are content with this world and there seems to be little suffering meaning that this could be a "perfect world".
I would say through what I've read this is a utopia. Despite having many moral flaws in regards to our society, most people are content with this world and there seems to be little suffering meaning that this could be a "perfect world".
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Final 1984 blog
I believe that Big Brother has won because that would prove the point Orwell was trying to make when writing this book. If the party, which was representative of totalitarian rule and oppression, didn't win through in the end, the book would not send as clear a message as Orwell wanted to communicate. It would just be another phase of humanity.
I suppose if the state were to be brought down in would be from the way that the party gradually decreases rations, which could eventually provoke a rebellion. Even this is unlikely though because the party alters history so no one knows the rations lower dramatically.
As soon as he started loving Big Brother, it doesn't especially matter when he actually dies I think. The instant he gave into the party and its demands, his old self, the person that was a rebel and a freethinker, "died" and he became a puppet of the party like most of the population. Whether he lived on or was shot the next day doesn't make much of a difference seeing as how his ideas about resistence, life, and all other things not relating to the party were crushed.
I suppose if the state were to be brought down in would be from the way that the party gradually decreases rations, which could eventually provoke a rebellion. Even this is unlikely though because the party alters history so no one knows the rations lower dramatically.
As soon as he started loving Big Brother, it doesn't especially matter when he actually dies I think. The instant he gave into the party and its demands, his old self, the person that was a rebel and a freethinker, "died" and he became a puppet of the party like most of the population. Whether he lived on or was shot the next day doesn't make much of a difference seeing as how his ideas about resistence, life, and all other things not relating to the party were crushed.
Sign Language Video
The girl can hear, but she either can't hear him because of her headphones or is ignoring him.
Yes, the culture of the Deaf and the culture of the people that can hear.
The man trying to get the girl's attention.
The man's decision to stay in the relationship despite the fact that they are from two different cultures and it will be difficult.
The conflict was resolved because they were able to communicate.
Yes, the culture of the Deaf and the culture of the people that can hear.
The man trying to get the girl's attention.
The man's decision to stay in the relationship despite the fact that they are from two different cultures and it will be difficult.
The conflict was resolved because they were able to communicate.
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