Similarities Between 1984 And Metropolis

1085 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Class system in 1984 by George Orwell

To what extent has your comparative study of George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis provided an inter-textual understanding of conformity as a means of survival? The extent to which George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty Four (1984) and Fritz Lang’s silent film Metropolis express an understanding of conformity as a means of survival is measured through their synergetic use of perspectives within the dominant and submissive classes to reflect the importance of social conditioning. This purpose of conformity is achieved through class subjugation as a pillar of the dystopic social structures enabled through the censorship of information and the influence of the protagonist’s perspective of totalitarian governments on …show more content…

Freders experience of conformity ultimately leads to his moral transformation as Maria, through the sermonistic elements to her message, is able to bring hope to the workers. Biblical allusion of the Virgin Mary is reinforced through the use of Christian iconography to highlight the spiritual catalyst to Freder’s exploration of conformity as a means of finding purpose in survival as the elite society lacks substance. Essentially the values and perspectives of the authors of 1984 and Metropolis dictate the outcome of conformity as a means of survival through social conditioning however the essence of this control evidently remains constant throughout history. A strong intertextual understanding of conformity in both Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Lang’s Metropolis is afforded through the perspectives of both the powerful and powerless to reflect the unchanging attitudes of humanity. The protagonists offer an appreciation of class subjugation and censorship to highlight the flaws in their dystopian worlds and to comment on the author’s social, cultural and historical contexts. Thus it is these unchanging attitudes that determine the extent as an interchangeable ideology of conformity as a means of

Show More
Related

  • Metropolis, And Fritz Lang's Autocratic Government In 1984 And 1984

    1117 Words  | 3 Pages

    This itself alludes to America’s extreme response to communism during the Cold War era, under the influence of Senator Joe McCarthy. Similar to the paranoia that characterized the McCarthy era, Orwell’s dystopian society was expected to betray their friends, family and co-workers for the benefit of the state and themselves. This is made explicitly evident during Winston’s visit to the cafe, in which the telescreen sang; “Under the spreading chestnut tree/ I sold you and you sold me…”Foreshadowing Winston’s eventual betrayal of Maria in order to save himself, and his conformity to the party. Furthermore, the notion that “nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres in your skull” becomes ironic as the novel develops in which the criminalisation of unorthodox ideologies leads to the punishment of “thoughtcrime”, and the eventual “vaporisation” of dissidents. This itself alludes to the ‘great purges’ that took place under the terror that characterized Joseph Stalin’s reign. Likewise, the inherent fear of eccentricity amongst the oppressed citizens of “Airstrip one” is highlighted by the nature of “facecrime” in which the presence of an improper expression or any suggestion of abnormality could be punished. Thus, through Orwell 's effective use of allusion and characterisation, contextual audiences are provided with a didactic warning regarding the nature of a totalitarian reign, in which a “hideous ecstasy of fear” influences society’s

    Read More

  • 1984, by George Orwell and Gattaca, by Andrew Niccol

    987 Words  | 2 Pages

    Destruction of individuality is an idea both authors explore to expose the broad social wrong of an oppressive society. Both Orwell and Niccol use their protagonists to demonstrate how dictatorial governments that destroy any semblance of individuality are inherently wrong. Orwell uses third person narration, which directly follows his protagonist as he fights to maintain his individuality in a society driven to eliminate the capability of “love, or friendship, or joy of living” by making him “hollow”. By employing the use third person narration Orwell portrays to the reader that even an individual with powerful intent to remain different can be broken down and made to believe that “2+2 = 5”. Similarly, Niccol uses extreme close up shots focusing on Vincent’s cleaning process and the motif of constant DNA checks to reinforce how authoritarian societies can demolish all sense of individuality. Vincent, an “in-valid” must take extreme measures to overcome the prejudices of soc...

    Read More

  • Fahrenheit 451 And 1984 - The Fear Of Utopia

    1240 Words  | 3 Pages

    Several conflicting frames of mind have played defining roles in shaping humanity throughout the twentieth century. Philosophical optimism of a bright future held by humanity in general was taken advantage of by the promise of a better life through sacrifice of individuality to the state. In the books Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 clear opposition to these subtle entrapments was voiced in similarly convincing ways. They first all established, to varying degrees of balance, the atmosphere and seductiveness of the “utopia” and the fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of their inability to conform – often in protest to the forced conditions of happiness and well being. Their struggle is to hide this fact from the state’s relentless supervision of (supposedly) everything. This leads them to eventually come into conflict with some hand of the state which serves as the authors voice presenting the reader with the ‘absurdity’ of the principles on which the society is based. The similar fear of the state’s abuse of power and technology at the expense of human individuality present within these novels speaks to the relevance of these novels within their historical context and their usefulness for awakening people to the horrendous consequences of their ignorance.

    Read More

  • 1984 Movie And Book Comparison

    641 Words  | 2 Pages

    The movie and the book are different in many ways but at the same time they have a lot of things in common, the movie doesn't have as much details as the book does but it is a very good movie. In the movie you can very easily see and understand what's going on being you are watching the whole thing with your eyes. The movie also shows you how the students have to fight each and everyday just so that they protect themselves in the streets, the streets is all they know because well they were born and raised in the streets so they learned all about it & are about it. In the movie you can clearly see the struggle they go through, and how the streets are & when they're in school. School is supposed to be a safe place for all kids.

    Read More

  • Julius Caesar and 1984

    1186 Words  | 3 Pages

    Conformity is an entity that occurs in the lives of the ordinary; an infinite precedent and inner machination of the enigma people call human nature. Consensus from hordes of people and authority influence independent thoughts, actions, and consciousness, a fundamental social mistake that consequently leads to stripped individuality and ultimately orthodoxy. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, all plebeians’ voices are spoken as one and are universal. The plebeians display no debate or disagreement and are easily moved by the speeches of Brutus and Antony. In George Orwell’s 1984, the proletarians are all content; they have no need to rebel. Winston, the protagonist, is desperate to guard the ‘spirit of humanity’ while withholding his will to seek truth, yet he falters and joins the majority that will continue to maintain class hierarchy. Both, works delve into the instinct of human beings and the power of social pressures, showing that many will adopt views and beliefs even without realization, ultimately giving up one’s own individuality and free thinking. The fickle love of the plebeians in William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and the ignorance of the proletarians in George Orwell’s 1984 portray conformity through the majority’s natural instinct to follow authority.

    Read More

  • Conformity In A & P By Updike's 'Hunger Artist'

    1008 Words  | 3 Pages

    As each decade passes what implies and defines 'conformity ' changes as societies norms grow and transform yet the strength of its influence remains constant when stood against the wall of rebellion. Individuals such as the artist in Kafka 's Hunger Artist who craved to be adorned for hid differences of normality were seen inhuman by the audience 's eyes. While people like the cashier from A&P by Updike; tried to cross the boundary of social class are view by society as momentarily confused in need of guidance to remain where they rank in class status. And those who indeed bend to the advances of norms that are acceptable may end up like the unknown citizen in Auden 's poem whose identity was forever lost by mass grouping with the another unknowns who never did anything special.

    Read More

  • Self Control In 1984

    1144 Words  | 3 Pages

    In George Orwell’s dystopian novel, the government blocks almost all forms of self-expression in order to assert its authority over the people. Those within the society who show signs of defiance against the set rules, even those who act unwillingly, are seen as a threat to the success of the regime are wiped from existence. In Orwell’s 1984, the government uses different forms of propaganda and brainwashing to achieve complete control of society for their own personal benefit.

    Read More

  • Utopia and Dystopia in Harrison Bergeron and The Lottery

    1343 Words  | 3 Pages

    The characteristic, the society is an allusion of a perfect world, is a distinctive component in these dystopian narratives. In Harrison Bergeron, citizens are alluded to conform to consistent expectations and are derived of their individuality. They are subverted to pervade equality throughout the society by wearing handicaps. By conforming to this, the society perceives that they live in a...

    Read More

  • Individuality In By George Orwell

    1009 Words  | 3 Pages

    Conformity plagues one’s existence and stature in today’s society. Due to government intervention in citizens’ daily lives, many writers have questioned the morality of conformity in a society by the means of control. When control becomes rampant fascist and totalitarian governments are formed, and because of the rise in fascism and totalitarianism, many people were led to conform social ideals. Therefore, George Orwell critiques conformity within society through the use of Big Brother, Proles, and Winston.

    Read More

  • Comparing 1984 and Brave New World

    2395 Words  | 5 Pages

    In Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and Huxley’s Brave New World, the authoritative figures strive for freedom, peace, and stability for all, to develop a utopian society. The Utopian society strives for a perfect state of well-being for all persons in the community, and over-emphasizes this factor, where no person is exposed to the reality of the world. As each novel progresses we see that neither society possesses family values nor attempts to practice them. Neither are passionate nor creative in factors such as love, language, history and literature. Our society today, in general, is unsure about the future: The nightmare of total organization has emerged from the safe, remote future and is now awaiting us, just around the next corner. It follows inexorably from having so many people. This quotes represents Watts’ fear for the future; George Orwell and Aldous Huxley both explore the future state of civilization in their novels. They both warn us of the dangers of a totalitarian society. Both books express a utopian ideal, examine characters that are forced into this state and are compelled to dealing with this society and all the rules involved.

    Read More

  • Comparison of Metropolis and Blade Runner

    1551 Words  | 4 Pages

    From the silent epic of Fritz Lang Metropolis (1927) to Ridley’s Scott’s spectacular Blade Runner (1982) the connection between architecture and film has always been intimate. The most apparent concepts that connect these two films are the overall visuals of both films and their vision of city of the future. The futuristic city of both Scott and Lang are distinct in their landscapes, geography, and social structure. These two films sought to envision a future where technology was the basis by which society functioned. Technology was the culture and the cities would crumble without it (Will Brooker). Metropolis and Blade Runner uses the themes relationships among female sexuality and male vision, and technology. However, Gender roles and technology seems to be the most important part in both films.

    Read More

  • What Are The Similarities Between The Matrix And 1984

    664 Words  | 2 Pages

    The 1999 film The Matrix and George Orwell's novel 1984 share similarities. Both cinematic and literacy masterpieces illustrate how people are tyrannized in a dystopian society, show how centralized authority controls people and demonstrate the key role of resistance.

    Read More

  • Similarities Between 1984 And Number 12 Looks Just Like You

    2175 Words  | 5 Pages

    In essence, it is all about perception. When a society like those found in 1984 or “Number 12 Looks Just Like You” aim for perfection, there are two broad paths that they can follow in an effort to achieve their goals. Most obviously, the creation of perfection could be accomplished through the task of simply attempting to meet every individual standard that exists across the society. However, this is often an impossible task in practice considering the contrasting and often outright antithetical perceptions of perfection. Instead, dystopian works often depict societies that approach the path to perfection through the slightly more realistic task of creating perfection through the goal of eliminating or reducing the sheer variety of standards by which its citizens can judge their treatment and their happiness.

    Read More

  • Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

    780 Words  | 2 Pages

    George Orwell’s haunting dystopian novel 1984 delves into the closely monitored lives of the citizens of Oceania as the Party tries to take control of society. In totalitarianism, propaganda and terrorism are ways of subjugation with a main goal: total obedience. He aimed to create a “what if” novel, what would happen if totalitarian regimes, such as the Nazis and Soviets, were to take over the world. If totalitarianism were to happen, the leader would be the brain of the whole system. Orwell emphasizes the theme of individualism versus collective identity through Winston, the protagonist, and his defiance to the Party and Big Brother, with a frightening tone, surreal imagery and a third person limited point of view.

    Read More

  • The Handmaid's Tale Comparison

    1398 Words  | 3 Pages

    In these novels, a dystopian society is represented by having conflicts with the government's censorship of knowledge, early on establishments of the common theme of identity deficiency, and the

    Read More

More about Similarities Between 1984 And Metropolis

Open Document