Modern Equivalents to 1984 Elements!

1. Modern Equivalents to 1984 Elements!

2. 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.

3. How is this similar to 1984? • Telescreens viewing every moment and movement.

4. 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.

5. How is this like 1984? • Just as IGNSOC was in control and the ‘owner’ of the peoples’ activities, Google is ‘owning’ its users identities.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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/

9. Terms and Ideas

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.”

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. Pop Culture’s use of Big Brother

17. 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

18. 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.

19. Big Brother vs. 1984 • “Citizens” of the Big Brother house are viewed in every situation.

20. Big Brother vs. 1984 • “Citizens” are asked to confess the sins of others and to voice their opinion on other house guests.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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

24. Influenced Movies

25. The Island (2005) • Includes constant surveillance, thought police, restrictions on relationships and physical contact

26. 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.

27. The Matrix (1999) • Neo’s apartment number is 101 (as in Room 101). • The movie and the novel share many similar themes.

28. 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?