Brave New World #3

1. Did the castes result as the government wanting this type of society, or did the government evolve to be like it is 'now' around a new caste system?
2. What is Huxley's direct perspective on John?
3. Why do both 1984 and Brave New World put such an emphasis on the variables of sex?

1984 #1

Those in the Party certainly try many ways to form equality and conformity. They control the history, language, jobs, and even the thoughts of those that live there in Oceania. By not allowing free thought, sex, or an expression of individuality, they're created a sense of conformity where everyone's the same. In the sense of free religion, relationships, and individual rights, there simply aren't any. The people that live there don't get to make the decision of who they're going to worship and believe in, who they can have sex with, and their rights just don't exist. They've created this sense of conformity through many concepts of the Party. They have the telescreen, which promotes propaganda of the Party and how the Thought Police monitor the people's thoughts, the Ministry of Truth, which alters the history of Oceania. I would say that in Oceania, so far, we see a dystopia. The Party is making attempts to create a happy, ideal world for the people to live in, but all they've done is restrict every right that men are born with. For example, Winston finds, "war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength", which we can put into our own perspective and look at ourselves. Our society, although it's certainly not a uptopia, recognizes war as unpeaceful, freedom as a right and privilege, and ignorance as a bad aspect. These meanings put forth by the Party show that their society is certainly not a utopia.

"Communist Utopia" by Thomas Hornug

1. The only aspect of this painting that really indicates communism are the eyes in the sky and the wall. communism is the idea of being censored and constantly watched. The eyes represent this because they're watching everything that happens.
2. The artist clearly doesn't approve of or support communism. The streets are all dark and dreary, which is represented by the dark gray colors. The trees don't have any leaves on them, which shows the absence and lack of freedom in that society. You can't see the face of the man: he's the same as everyone else, which is a goal of communism.
3. The title means that it's a utopia for the communists: the ones in power. In a world of communism, it's a perfect world: everyone and everything being watched and monitored.

**After discussing more in class, I understand the communism being more of an economic system and more ideas about the painting.

"Don't You Want Me" by the Human League

1. The subject matter is the relationship between a man and a woman. A lot of it involves what the woman becomes after she meets him. The subject matter is the same for both perspectives.
2. The difference is that the man's perspective is a little more desperate and needy than the woman. The woman is more teasing and not actually wanting to be in the relationship as much as the guy. She's a little more independent than the guy.
The man thinks that he's responsible for everything that she's made successful. The woman thinks that without him, she would've gotten far anyways but needs time to live her own life, "But now I think it's time I lived my life on my own".
3. I side more with the girl because she's trying to be more independent but still caring for the guy. But, I also side with the guy because he feels like they should still feel for each other, after he was there for her for so long. I understand both points of view.