I just ran across this quote and it's worth thinking about and discussing next week.
“Old George Orwell got it backward. Big Brother isn't watching.
He's singing and dancing. He's pulling rabbits out of a hat. Big
Brother’s busy holding your attention every moment you're awake. He's
making sure you're always distracted. He's making sure you're fully
absorbed. He's making sure your imagination withers. Until it's as
useful as your appendix. He's making sure your attention is always
filled. And this being fed, it's worse than being watched. With the
world always filling you, no one has to worry about what's in your mind.
With everyone's imagination atrophied, no one will ever be a threat to
the world.”
-Chuck Pahlaniuk
We haven't read 1984 (Orwell's book), but like Brave New World it envisions a dystopian future. Unlike Brave New World, 1984 focuses on authoritarian control -- people are aware of the limitations imposed upon them by "Big Brother" (a watchful, terrifyingly powerful government) -- but they are too afraid to do anything about it. It seems like the quote above supports Huxley's fears as we've discussed in class. As you look around 2019 America, do you think he's right? Please comment with your ideas. Mahalo.
I think the part where big brother(the government) is trying to keep you distracted has some truth to it but when they say no one will be a threat to the world I can't see that ever happening with all the crime has increased over the years I just see it getting worse because people know fewer ways of coping with there emotions.
ReplyDeleteAs I see the America in 2019 , the government has been distracting us from the society we actually live in , it hasn’t been the best lately because of the crimes going on & the injustices the president has done. The government is consuming us to a society of terrifying ruling.
ReplyDeletePeople are distracted by anything to avoid a responsibility, or a chore, or anything important, because anything is better than work. Im guilty of this as well, but its become more prominent in this society than ever before
ReplyDeleteThe devices we use everyday are distractions and only lead us to more . The government allows because they need they power .
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