>A Brave New World at least presents a more interesting and plausible vector for indoctrination Interesting maybe, but I'd hardly say plausible. The Party is just a totalitarian state that maintains a constant state of war, co-opts some people into the system, thoroughly indoctrinates others, and pacifies the masses with cheap entertainment and (presumably) basic education. The telescreen is entirely plausible- obviously logistically a nightmare, but in practice the aim would be to make people afraid of being watched, not to actually keep tabs on everyone at all times. The Party hopes to make free thought literally impossible, but that hasn't actually happened in the novel's timeframe.
Brave New World, on the other hand, posits that at some point in the past, somehow, a single world government has literally made natural childbirth a massive taboo. I don't recall it ever explaining how the hell that happens. Mind you, it doesn't need to- to my mind it's more a satirical fantasy than any kind of realistic 'prediction'- but for that reason 'plausible' is not the word I'd use.
Ryan Myers
stop posting
Charles Jackson
>People imagine communism as some sort of monumental system where every last clerk is ready to give everything to the system Soviet style communism (as most national varieties of communism) is shit and oppressive, but the people working as bureaucrats aren't loyal. Everything is done with bribes, tiny little gestures, a bit of alcohol or some currently unavailable product that cannot be legally imported. A communist administration will always be chock full of the aforementioned bribes, petty workplace theft and of course black market selling of items. Just look at the western interpretation of the "New Soviet Man" or any russian joke about communists. (Heck, any joke from a Warsaw Pact country)
Adam Carter
>television (which was coming into existence at the time the book was written) served as a continuous means of indoctrination of the people, for sets cannot be turned off. (And, apparently, in a deteriorating London in which nothing works, these sets never fail.) Very weird criticism.
1. The telescreen is clearly more important in letting the authorities watch the people. The television role is important too but secondary. 2. IIRC 'deterioration' and shortages are clearly explained to be part of the Party's plan- it would be able to improve the economy, but doesn't want to. In any case, unless the economy were literally on the brink of collapse (in which case the Party is probably screwed), the Party would obviously devote huge resources to ensuring that a vital part of its control kept working.
For a real world example, North Korea probably has a shit-ton of power cuts, but the nuclear research and production facilities will be well-equipped with back-generators.
Andrew Gonzalez
Didn't the novel somewhat imply that the proles revolted every now and then so they basically had a somewhat free life? The only complete oppression was in the inner party, which is absolutely true, Stalin destroyed many of his adversaries that were close "friends".
Noah Garcia
No Westerner will ever understand that.
Lincoln Gray
don't mistake westerners with americans
Tyler Wood
> (You) >don't mistake westerners with americans Huh?
Hunter Perez
Isn't that what the party tries to present?
That's what frustrates me so much about 1984, is everyone just buckles and is a good party member. No one's trading blowjobs for alcohol and cigarettes, no one's subverting the system at all for little luxuries under the counter, Big Brother just has everything on 100% lock and that's not how humans work. Even if they could monitor everything, the people who have to sift through that dead boring footage every day are gonna let shit slide for favors.
Liam Kelly
That's what I'm telling you. A real dictatorship of that scale would't be orderly and powerful. Those petty officials and clerks would be like little local kings, while party members would be gathering all the wealth. Illegally slaughter a pig? Well then, I'm just going to give this freshly made salami to the local official/party member and just be done with it. It's just a few extra hoops of not doing bureaucracy.
