V For Vendetta Society Analysis

1006 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Electronic surveillance and privacy

A gray, echoing room surrounds it. It is shackled, restrained, confined. Ankles and wrists bruised and bleeding from the chains that loop around it, like a tornado ripping anything it is able to grasp. Screaming thoughts constantly being silenced and unsaid words repeatedly being swallowed down. However, it does not screech for freedom; freedom does not slither off its tongue, ever. And most importantly, it does not mind the bruises and the bleeding because it is dull, lifeless, and numb. Gray eyes are wide, open, and witnessing everything, but the unclaimed eyes are not able to comprehend what it’s viewing. It claims that its name is Citizen and that it lives in a city called Society. More or less, this is how the authors of V for Vendetta and Fahrenheit 451 had envisioned the future: the citizens being the …show more content…

It has become common today to dismiss the overall theme of movies and books, such as V for Vendetta and Fahrenheit 451. Americans today tend to believe that they do not live in a dictated society. Conversely, not many recognize the bits and pieces of a controlled society. For instance, Americans are surveillanced more than one would suspect. In a recent article called ‘Edward Snowden: The World Says No to Surveillance’, Edward Snowden states, “MOSCOW — TWO years ago today, three journalists and I worked nervously in a Hong Kong hotel room, waiting to see how the world would react to the revelation that the National Security Agency had been making records of nearly every phone call in the United States.” In making this comment, Snowden argues that American citizens are not aware of the amount of surveillance that is brought upon themselves. How many Americans believe that they are being surveillanced while talking on the phone? Admittedly, not many question it. Americans have succumbed to the idea that this democratic government implies freedom, even though private phone conversations are being tapped into. An example worth looking at

Show More
Related

  • Adam Penenberg The Surveillance Society Summary

    1353 Words  | 3 Pages

    Adam Penenberg’s “The Surveillance Society” reminds Americans of the tragic events of September 11, 2001 and the instant effects the that attacks on the World Trade Center had on security in the United States. Penenberg discusses how the airports were shut down and federal officials began to plot a military response. Although those were necessary actions, they were not as long lasting as some of the other safety precautions that were taken. The Patriot Act, which makes it easier for the government to access cell phones and pagers and monitor email and web browsing, was proposed. Politicians agreed that during a war civil liberties are treated differently. From there, Penenberg explains that for years before September 11th, Americans were comfortable with cameras monitoring them doing everyday activities.

    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 Rhetorical Analysis

    1294 Words  | 3 Pages

    Imagine the world we are living in today, now imagine a world where we are told who to marry, where to work, who to hate and not to love. It is hard to imagine right, some people even today are living in the world actually have governments that are controlling their everyday life. In literature many writers have given us a view of how life may be like if our rights as citizen and our rights simply as human beings. One day the government may actually find a way to control and brainwash people into beings with no emotions like they have in the book 1984 where they express only hate, because that’s what they have been taught by the party.

    Read More

  • Government Surveillance vs Privacy

    1439 Words  | 3 Pages

    Is the American government trustworthy? Edward Joseph Snowden (2013) released to the United States press* selected information about the surveillance of ordinary citizens by the U.S.A.’s National Security Agency (N.S.A.), and its interconnection to phone and social media companies. The motion picture Citizenfour (2014), shows the original taping of those revelations. Snowden said that some people do nothing about this tracking because they have nothing to hide. He claims that this inverts the model of responsibility. He believes that everyone should encrypt Internet messages and abandon electronic media companies that track personal information and Internet behavior (op.cit, 2014). Snowden also stressed to Lawrence Lessig (2014) the importance of the press and the first amendment (Lessig – Snowden Interview Transcript, [16:28]). These dynamics illustrate Lessig’s (2006) constrain-enable pattern of powers that keep society in check (2006, Code: Version 2.0, p. 122). Consider Lessig’s (2006) question what is “the threat to liberty?” (2006, p. 120). Terrorism is a real threat (Weber, 2013). Surveillance by social media and websites, rather than the government, has the greater negative impact on its users.

    Read More

  • 1984 vs Today

    871 Words  | 2 Pages

    1984, a novel by George Orwell, represents a dystopian society in which the people of Oceania are surveilled by the government almost all the time and have no freedoms. Today, citizens of the United States and other countries are watched in a similar way. Though different technological and personal ways of keeping watch on society than 1984, today’s government is also able to monitor most aspects of the people’s life. 1984 might be a dystopian society, but today’s condition seems to be moving towards that controlling state, where the citizens are surveilled by the government at all times.

    Read More

  • Essay On Lack Of Privacy In 1984

    1567 Words  | 4 Pages

    George Orwell’s novel, 1984, depicts a dystopian vision of the future, one in which its citizens thoughts and actions are controlled by Big Brother government. This novel relates the ruthless surveillance and lack of privacy of the citizens to government actions today. Totalitarianism, surveillance, and lack of privacy may all be common themes in Orwell’s novel 1984, but are also prevalent in modern day society and government. Many people today have and will continue to dismiss the ideologies mentioned in 1984 as unrealistic predictions which could never occur in the democratic run system they live by today. But, are Orwell’s ideologies completely implausible, or have his predictions already played a hidden role in society? Many citizens today are truly unaware of how much of their private lives are made public. Especially with new technological advances, the modern democratic government can easily track and survey citizens without their knowledge. While the government depicted in 1984 may use gadgets such as telescreens and moderators such as the Thought Police these ideas depicted can be seen today in the ever evolving democratic government known to be the "equivalent" of the people's voice. Orwell may have depicted a clearer insight into modern day surveillance then one may have imagined from this "fictional" novel.

    Read More

  • US Government Monitoring Its Citizens

    1413 Words  | 3 Pages

    In early June 2013, Edward Snowden, a 29-year-old former defense contractor who had access to NSA database while working for an intelligence consulting company, leaked classified documents reports that the National Security Agency (NSA) is recording phone calls of millions of Americans along with gathering private data and spying foreign Internet activity. The Washington Post later broke the news disclosed PRISM, a program can collect data on Internet users. The leaked documents publicly stated a vast objection. Many people were shocked by the scale of the programs, even elected representatives were unaware of the surveillance range. A nationwide debate over privacy rights have been sparked. Although supporters claim that the NSA only does its best to protect the United States from terrorists as well as respecting Americans' rights and privacy, many civil rights advocates feel that the government failed to be clear about the limit of the surveillance programs, threatening Americans' civil...

    Read More

  • Freedom And Security In George Orwell's 1984

    845 Words  | 2 Pages

    In 2007, the NSA started a program called PRISM, where they can request information from large companies such as Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Microsoft, and Apple without probable cause. This program reduces our freedom and privacy (largely), but by doing so, the NSA is keeping us safe from terrorists and many more threats. In 1984, the government had posters of Big Brother on every wall, on coins and virtually everywhere you look. Also, there are telescreens in the workplace, in the streets, in the cafeteria, and in peoples homes. As stated in 1984, “Nothing is your own except the few cubic centimeters inside your skull” (Orwell 24).There is no escape. These telescreens are constantly watching you and “at any rate, they could plug into your wire,” (2). However, in 1984, the government is surveilling the people for a completely different reason. They want to stay in control and don’t want people to rebel. But nowadays, the heavy surveillance is for counter-terrorism and protecting the people. For that, I am willing to give up a small amount of my freedom. But, in 1984 giving up your freedom means giving up your freedom of choice, way of life, and basic inalienable

    Read More

  • The Dystopian Society in George Orwell's Novel 1984

    476 Words  | 1 Pages

    “WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” Part 1,Chapter 1,pg. 6. These three principles were repeatedly emphasized throughout the book and helped lay the foundation of the dystopian society George Orwell imagined in his novel 1984. Fear, manipulation, and control were all encompassed throughout this dystopian society set in the distant future. The freedom to express ones thoughts was no longer acceptable and would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Humankind was rapidly transforming into a corrupt and evil state of mind.

    Read More

  • Nate Beeler's Government Is Watching

    446 Words  | 1 Pages

    Likewise, Beeler used the exaggerated symbolism of eyes intimidatingly watching from every possible angle to represent that all of our actions are witnessed by the government. Alarmingly, with the domineering capacity of the government to spy on civilian lives, this can develop a society consumed of poisoning suspicion with one another. Furthermore, this analogy was highlighted to appeal for a defined boundary that restricts the government to snoop and have access to Americans’ private lives. Significantly, the inclusion of this analogical symbolism was intentionally used to accentuate the government violation of the fourth amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Notably, the fourth amendment states that without a warrant and probable cause or suspicion, the NSA has no power to access and invade a citizen’s privacy. Although government surveillance supporters may argue that the Americans should just cooperate for the greater good to prevent domestic terrorism, they fail to protect individual liberties. Hence, Nate Beeler bestow upon his audience one serious question: Is it acceptable to live in a

    Read More

  • Evey Hammond as a Revolutionary in V for Vendetta

    827 Words  | 2 Pages

    Alan Moore's graphic novel V for Vendetta is not only a call for revolution, but also an explanation of how such process should materialize. V, who transcends beyond a character and embodies the concept of revolution, establishes the procedure for social change. He understands that his role is to avenge and “make rubble” of injustice and corruption; however, true social reform must move beyond destruction and forge an improved society on the ruins of an oppressed past. Therefore, V adopts Evey Hammond, a young victim of the regime, as his protégée and educates her to guide society through the second stage of revolution: reconstruction. Evey's character embodies the stages of revolution, preeminently reconstruction. Through her, Moore recognizes not only the need for destruction, but also for rebirth in a transcendental revolution.

    Read More

  • Big Brother: An American Reality

    2795 Words  | 6 Pages

    The breath-taking expansion of police power that the United States government took after 9/11 now poses as a troubling issue. Americans need to address the issues of government surveillance because it affects t...

    Read More

  • V For Vendetta Analysis

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    The movie V for Vendetta has stirred a lot of controversy among individuals, concerning the message it delivers. Critics and film fans alike have their differences when it comes to their opinion on the movie. Two queries soliloquized in the minds of most individuals after watching V for Vendetta. Does the film advocate for acts of terrorism? Is V a radical or a freedom fighter advocating for people’s rights? The movie V for Vendetta features a man, “V,” who managed to free himself from unjust incarceration in the hands of the government as an observational study. In response to this unjust and insensate treatment, V makes a vow to himself to not only revenge, but also to kill those responsible for holding him captive. The government in this is scenario is ironical in the sense that, instead of being just and safeguarding the rights of individual citizens, an individual like V is unfairly held captive.

    Read More

  • Internet Privacy: Edward Snowden

    1686 Words  | 4 Pages

    The American government used to be able to keep the people in happy ignorance to the fact that they watch every move they make. After certain revelations of people like Edward Snowden, the public knows the extent of the government spying. On June 5, 2013 Edward Snowden leaked documents of the NSA to the Guardian (The Guardian 2). The whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed to the world how the American government collects information like cell phone metadata, Internet history, emails, location from phones, and more. President Obama labeled the man a traitor because he showed the world the illegal acts the NSA performs on US citizens (Service of Snowden 1). The government breached the people’s security, and now the people are afraid because everyone is aware of how the US disapproves of people who do not agree with their programs. Obama said that these programs find information about terrorists living in the US, but he has lit...

    Read More

  • Themes Of The Vendetta

    894 Words  | 2 Pages

    Explore the characters. Are they believable and round, or flat and one-dimensional? Does the major character ( the protagonist) change? What causes the change?

    Read More

More about V For Vendetta Society Analysis

Open Document