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Modern Equivalents to 1984 Elements!. Salem State College, Massachusetts. Gail Nelson, working in the business department, was videotaped undressing over a 5 month period of time. A co-worker found the video camera with tape of Gail undressing and presented it to her.
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Salem State College, Massachusetts • Gail Nelson, working in the business department, was videotaped undressing over a 5 month period of time. • A co-worker found the video camera with tape of Gail undressing and presented it to her. • Her boss claimed that someone had been using office equipment after hours and they were attempting to ID the person. • Nelson attempted to press charges. • Her case was thrown out because the act was not illegal. Only if sound was captured would it have been illegal.
How is this similar to 1984? • Telescreens viewing every moment and movement.
Google, 2007 • Google launched G-Identity, a platform for providing information when your name is Googled. • Google is not only profiting from your identity, but they are acting like Big Brother in controlling the use of it.
How is this like 1984? • Just as IGNSOC was in control and the ‘owner’ of the peoples’ activities, Google is ‘owning’ its users identities.
National Security Agency, 2001-2007 • Under the belief that it was for the best, Bush along with the NSA eavesdropped on US Citizens email and phone calls from fall of 2001 till early 2007. • This action was found to be illegal and grounds for what many believe should have been Bush’s impeachment.
Apple Computers, 1984 • Apple profited from Orwell’s world by introducing their Macintosh line with a 1984 parody. • Big Brother was IBM and Apple was the girl running in to save the people. • http://www.theapplecollection.com/Collection/AppleMovies/mov/1984.mov
Obama/ Clinton, 2008 • A parody of the Apple video was made, by an independent source, in support of Obama. • Big Brother is Clinton and the girl running in is Obama. • http://hillary1984.com/
1984: Newspeak • Today: Politically Correct Speech • Bum = Homeless Person • Foreign Food = Ethnic Cuisine • Handicapped = Physically Challenged • Home-ec = Family and Consumer Sciences • Secretary = Administrative Assistant • Sex Change = Gender Reassignment
1984: The red sash of the Junior Ant-Sex League • Now: The red ribbon of the Anti- Aids celibacy league • The pink ribbon of breast cancer awareness • The yellow ribbon troop support • The red ribbon of HIV support • The blue ribbon of child abuse prevention • The purple ribbon of domestic violence • These colors stand for more than one, this is just a sampling.
1984: Telescreens in every room running 24 hours a day. • Today: Televisions in every room with programming 24 hours a day. • Today: Red Light Cameras at intersections in Cleveland and other major cities. • Today: Security Cameras and Personal Cameras.
1984: Helicopters silently watch over the masses to keep people from committing thought crime. • Now: Helicopters silently watch over our highways to keep people from breaking traffic laws, by planting the fear of “always being watched.”
1984 : People are steered away from consuming rare goods such as Chocolate, Steak, Sugar, Coffee, Cigarettes, and alcohol by rationing. • Now: People are steered away from consuming rare goods such as Chocolate, Steak, Sugar, Coffee, Cigarettes, and alcohol by warnings that declare that these items are bad for your health.
1984: Telescreen is full of confessions from "Thought criminals". They confessed to hatred of the government, crimes of all kinds, perversions of all kinds. • Now : Daytime talk shows are full of white trash who enjoy sharing tales of their pathetic existence with the whole world.
Big Brother, Reality Television • The product of a 1997 brainstorming session • First produced in The Netherlands, 1999 • Original format has been adapted in over 70 countries • Purposely based off Orwell’s structure
Big Brother vs. 1984 • BB: “Citizens” are locked in a house controlled by producers. They are cut off from news and the outside world and only told what the producers want them to hear.
Big Brother vs. 1984 • “Citizens” of the Big Brother house are viewed in every situation.
Big Brother vs. 1984 • “Citizens” are asked to confess the sins of others and to voice their opinion on other house guests.
Big Brother vs. 1984 • One individual controls the fate of the others. As a group (socialism) they decide what is best for each house guest.
The Big Brother Awards • Yearly award handed out to companies/ agencies that violate privacy. • Nominees are divided into categories such as Most Heinous Government, Most Appalling Project, Most Invasive Company. • Nominees have included Google, Tony Blair, The US Government, The US Border Policy.
Influenced Music • Numerous bands and songwriters have created works inspired by 1984. A small sampling: • Ozzy Osbourne’s “Rock n Roll Rebel” • Stevie Wonder’s “Big Brother” • Band names “Jr Anti-Sex League” , “Victory Gin” and “2 Minutes Hate” • Nine Inch Nails’ “Every Day is The Same” • Neil Young’s “Living with War” • Other songs by Annie Lennox, Pet Shop Boys, Van Halen and more
The Island (2005) • Includes constant surveillance, thought police, restrictions on relationships and physical contact
V for Vendetta (2006) • Takes place in a similar world as 1984. • Uses government spying, state censored media and police state designed for everyone’s “protection.” • The character of Chancellor Sutler is similar to Big Brother.
The Matrix (1999) • Neo’s apartment number is 101 (as in Room 101). • The movie and the novel share many similar themes.
Is Big Brother controlling us today? • Within 1984, a central government controls/ monitors our actions. • Today we have multiple groups/ agencies controlling/ monitoring our actions. • What are some of these groups/ agencies and how do they affect us?