Thursday, 29 May 2014

The Dream Police?

Nineteen Eighty Four (1956)
It is eerie that whatever George Orwell predicated in his 1949 fiction of a bleak future has manifested in many forms in modern society. He predicted a dystopian society where life is literally a living hell. The world is at war, divided along three ideological / racial lines - Ocenia (UK and US mainly), Eurasia (Russia, Central Asia and allies) and Eastasia (East And South East Asia). Society in Airstrip One (a war ravaged 1984 London) comprise Inner Party (2% elite), (Outer Party (13% middle class) and Plebs (the remaining 85% uneducated).
The region is ruled by Big Brother, the supreme leader who watches and listens to your every move. To assists him he has ordinary citizens and even kids to pose as state spies. TV screens are placed at every nook and corner to transmit party propaganda, over glorify success and give a sense of euphoria to a country in shambles devastated  by effects of war.
Language is changed to suit the times. Even history is written and rewritten perennially to the whims and fancies of the ruling party to suit the flavour of the month. Information is vetted by Government. People are coerced to think highly of their country. Hatred is here, there and everywhere. People are suspicious of each other. They even have a week of Hate!
Ministry of Truth churns out half truths and lies. Wrongdoers or enemies of the states are ostracised publicly.
Trouble makers are dealt with the unquestionable power of the state and are 'rehabilitated' to conform to society's aspirations.
Critical thinking is a great enemy. Thought is policed. 'Ignorance is strength' is one of the motto of the Party.
This powerful story has made it way to the silver screen and TV set many times. I managed to catch the glimpse of the 1956 B&W version and the 1984 version starring John Hurt and Richard Burton. Both copies did not deviate from the main story. However, the 1984 version was more graphical in exposure of flesh.
It essentially the tale of a history editor, Winston Smith, who cannot stand the lies told by the Party to the masses. He decides to pen his thoughts in a diary. He befriends Julia who shares with sentiments. Their thoughts are discovered by the Party and are apprehended.
The rehabilitation process manage to put them back on track to serve the country and became model citizens.


"..those who control the past, control the future
those who control the present control the past."
"War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is Strength"

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