ZS' GCE Portfolio

This was at an exhibit on graffiti. These paintings were done by an artist. These are not meant to represent violence but rather to represent the crime that was so rampant throughout the 1920’s.

This is my neuroscience presentation on Acetylcholine

1. I like the piece with the gun because of the shadow, which throws off the picture in the sense that it is hard to recognize the gun. I like the piece with the car piece because of the very dangerous or somewhat notorious feeling of the picture.
2. I think the artist I think is a person who is old fashioned. Through his work he shows this because he paints old-fashioned gangs. For example he has a piece in which he spray painted Al Capone who is a 1920’s gangster
3. He tells a story of violence. He also tells a story of two criminal partners who look to be on the run from the police.

Zach Silver

4/15/10

Humanities

1984 and Brave New Word Focus Notes

The utopian societies in both these novels focus on oppression but in different ways. Firstly, in Brave New World the body of government’s focal point of its oppression is putting on the facade that the citizens are happy. Secondly, in 1984 the government focuses on the fact that the oppression is the only way to achieve this “utopia” when in reality the government is using fear to make the citizens agree with this form of government. Lastly, both governments always remind the citizens of the upside to having an oppressive government.

In Brave New World the government acts as if it is there to only please their citizens. Whether it’s via soma or just basically denying the truth of their situations the citizens refuse to admit the flaws in their society. Soma is a substance that resembles modern day drugs but its basic purpose is to put the citizens in mind-numbing ecstasy. These habits and coping mechanisms were all instituted by the government in order to coax the citizens into believing that the government is what is best for their society.

In 1984 the government is the cliché super authoritative government. The government clearly governs through fear. Whether it is the intrusive cameras or the intimidating government buildings it is a clear-cut example of a government trying to invoke fear in the citizens in order to make them comply. This is a different but just as effective form of government as in Brave New World.

In both these novels and their respective forms of government there is some type of masked oppression. They way they maintain the masquerade of a perfect society is by constantly reminding their citizens of the perfection of their societies. In Brave New World they use system in which they are subliminal messages in pre-birth and then they also have subliminal announcements throughout the day. In 1984 there are messaged played on all the citizens televisions every morning. These systems allow the governments to maintain a constant state of blind obedience and oppression.

In summation, in these novels there is a common theme, which is oppression but the way these ideologies come to fruition are very different. Firstly, in A Brave New World the government oppresses by having its citizens fed subliminal messages while keeping them in a drug induced oblivion. Secondly, in 1984 the government works on a system of fear and intimidation. Lastly, the way these governments maintains this obedience is through constant reminders of the societal “perfection”.  The confusion arises as to why were these methods so affective?