Animal_Farm_and_Strummer

Different forms of rebellion have occurred throughout history because of a desire for change from an imperfect reality to a vision of a perfect world. This idea is explored throughout Julien Temple’s 2007 biographical documentary Strummer: the future is unwritten (Strummer) and George Orwell’s modernist allegory Animal Farm (1945), in which Orwell satirises the events surrounding the Russian Revolution. It is through an interaction with the texts that responders are able to challenge their own beliefs regarding rebellion and the reasons for its existence in modern and contemporary society. The idea of hatred towards a conformist society as a driving force of individual and community rebellion is a notion that is demonstrated in Orwell’s Animal Farm and Temples Strummer. In the events that follow the rebellion of the animals within Animal Farm, one of the novels leading protagonists Snowball, adopts the idea of utilising propaganda as a means of influencing the animals to rebel against the humans: “Four legs Good, two legs bad”. It is this idea that the pigs continuously attempt to convince the animals, signifying that human beings are the common enemy, reflected the subtle reference to two legs in contrast to four legs. The sheep are an example of the group within the animal society whose trust has been taken advantage of as a means to emphasize the pigs belief of the corruption of the social system. The repetition of “Two legs baa-d” is an example of the ironic control that the pigs have gained over the sheep. As expressed by the noteworthy character Old Major, rebellion is considered the path to freedom. In overthrowing the human race, he was of the belief that the animals will become “rich and free”. Moreover Old Major stresses the notion that the animals must reject co-dependence with man in order to overthrow their social standings in the hierarchy; “All men are enemies. All enemies are comrades”. This motto is a metaphoric reference to the foundations for the Russian Revolution as reflected in the idea that all beings should be equal. Therefore in the novels ability to explore reasons for rebellion towards a conformist society, Orwell is able to influence not only his contemporary responders, but also his modern responders due to the universal themes of rebellion that have transcended time. Similarly to Orwell’s Animal Farm, Temples Strummer thematically explores the idea of rebellion due to a hatred of conformist society through music. Temple’s biographical exploration of Joe Strummer reveals a punk-rock attitude that is adopted. “Do it yourself” is a quote that is continuously utilise throughout the film as a means to express the reasons for Strummer’s rebellion from the conformist nature of modern society. Contrastingly to the violence adopted by the pigs within Animal Farm, Strummer is revealed to rebel against society in a passive manner. In the films opening sequence, Temple fades in with the raw acoustic voice of Joe Strummer, quickly followed by black and white film of him performing “White Riot”. The passionate nature of the scene infers a desire of the protagonist to rebel against the society that has entrapped its individuals. This is revealed through the powerful emotion expressed by Strummer when he repeatedly sings, “I wanna riot”. Furthermore, in following the events of “The Clash’s” rebellion against society, Temple continuously reveals shots of the band together within the same frame. In utilising long, medium and close up shots of the band together, Temple is able to challenge the notion of Strummer’s desire to rebel against a conformist society as he ironically ends up convincing his band to conform with his love and adoption of the punk rock genre. These shots are a direct contrast of Strummer’s individuality as a non-conformist as revealed in the solo medium and close up shots that he features in, during the beginning of the documentary. Therefore, similarly to the reasons for rebellion expressed throughout Animal Farm, Strummer is able to challenge the notion of rebellion as ironically, in attempting to disenfranchise himself from the characteristics of the society, he in turn adopts the very characteristics he despises. As reflected throughout Animal Farm and Strummer, corruption within individuals in which whom lead the rebellion are able to cause disorder and dismay. As featured in Animal farm following the battle of the cowshed, the animals decide upon creating a military honour named “Animal Hero, First class” in which they present upon Snowball and Boxer. Ironically, in a place where “All animals are equal,” the animals are taking on the human form of society in creating classes and a hierarchy. This reveals to the responders that the animals desired utopia has seeds of its future downfall therefore foreshadowing a deep corruption. Before a day of harvesting, after the milk have been milked, “it was noticed that the milk had disappeared”. Upon discovering that the stolen milk had been found in the pigs food, Squealer suggests: “We pigs are doing this in the spirit of selfishness and privilege,” this shows that in a place where supposedly “All animals are equal,” the pigs are privileged and higher up. One of the main ways Orwell gets his idea of oppression and domination is through squealer and his rhetoric and persuasive language. Squealer and Strummer’s pithy, catchy language are very similar as everyone goes along with it. In Strummer, Joe says “I just want the right to choose it’s no good me having it if no one else can have it,” his self deception is in parallel with Napoleon in Animal farm who begins to deceive followers and does what he wants. Footage of Joe using violent language as a “charismatic leader” shows he is slowly becoming corrupt through deception and manipulation to his band members. Strummer uses intertextuality by incorporating scenes from Animal Farm where the animals are scared, this shows that the atmosphere of Strummer is similar to Animal Farm. It is through a variety of language forms and features utilised by Orwell and Temple that provoke its contemporary responders to challenge their own notions of rebellion and themes of corruption. These texts tell us that though it may be good to rebel, you have to be careful or you may go around in a full circle back to where you started.