1984 as one of the most faithful reflections of our society

In 1984 Orwell depicts a dystopian world ruled by political power where citizens only have to respect one rule ‘’obey to what the political party says’’. There is no freedom at all, and citizens live like prisoners being heavily oppressed without even realize.

One the biggest accomplishments of 1984 is that carries  deep social consciousness to the readers, and at the same time the audience is able to recognize their own world in the novel. More interestingly, people have to bear in mind that 1984 was written in 1947-1948    which makes us reflect on the fact that Orwell wasn’t too far from the truth.

With all that being said, if we do the analysis between the novel and our lives, we will find that we are also being controlled by corporations, religion, rules, and political forces. There’s a lot of bureaucratic and technological control.  For example, we are constantly under surveillance, the CIA have all our information. Whenever we search on google, or whenever we install Microsoft in our computers, buy a phone, send an email, make a call phone we are being investigated. What’s more, we have been induced to believe that sharing our life trough social media is fun and great, but at the same tine we are giving free access to all our information, likes, dislikes.  We are facilitating the process for them.  This idea of being constantly under surveillance resembles the idea of Foucault of panopticon societies.

Foucault argues that since the early 19th century two different concepts of structuring power merged, creating a control device that he compares to the Panopticon, an architectural concept developed by Bentham in the late 18th century. According to Foucault the Panopticon serves as a metaphor for “defining power relations in terms of the everyday life of men.” Foucault’s concept of the Panopticon as a way of describing power relations offers interesting possibilities for analyses of cultural landscapes. He points out that hospitals, prisons, or schools are organized along the Panopticon structure. So, we are law-abiding citizens because we are under surveillance all the time. We are being tracked by internet, spied by cameras, being watched trough the eye of authority. We are disciplined not because we are naturally good, but because we are told by religion, society that you have to follow certain patters, rules in order to fit. One may argue that people do not stole and lie not necessarily because they are naturally good, but because they are afraid of going to the ‘’hell’’.

 Therefore, in fear of being punished we behave like role models and good citizens. That’s is also one principle present in 1894. Most people live in fear and act according to what the power ask you them to do.

Foucault asserts that ‘’By individualizing the subjects and placing them in a state of constant visibility, the efficiency of the institution is maximized. Furthermore, it guarantees the function of power, even when there is no one actually asserting it. It is in this respect that the Panopticon functions automatically’’.

The use of technology, social media is the best example to prove that the panopticon really works by its own, almost automatically.

Do you consider yourself a free citizen? Maybe you should consider the idea that maybe you are being induced to believe that you are free when you are not.

  

References

Foucault, Michel. "Discipline and punishment." New York: Pantheon (1977).

Orwell, George. 1984. Editions Underbahn Ltd., 2006.