Study_of_Orwell_and_Gattaca

How has your study of Orwell’s 1984 and Niccol’s Gattaca enhanced your understanding of the values and contexts of both texts' Futuristic texts have shaped the mainstream ways of thinking and have enhanced our perception of the contexts they are set in. We are able to make our judgments on preceding social conventions and values by the literary devices in these texts. The removal of humanity in Andrew Niccol’s film Gattaca (1997) is significant to our perception of recognising standards of futuristic America. George Orwell’s novel, Nineteen Eighty Four (1984) portrays power and control of the government against individuals as an influential value relevant to the post war era. Therefore our ability to comprehend these mainstream ways of thinking is enhanced by the archetypal elements of both texts. The removal of human traits and identity influences our perception of the contextual influences in both Niccol’s Gattaca and Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four. In Gattaca, composer Niccol utilises technological advancements in the late twentieth century to reflect the distancing of individuals from reality. Anton’s genetic superiority over his brother, Vincent is illustrated through a long shot of Anton with his parents in contrast to a close up shot of Vincent. This technique emphasises the widespread use of family relationships during the context. Religion, an essence of purity, is another central concern relevant to our knowledge of the twentieth century. The use of a close up shot of the Christian Cross symbolises the existing values of faith and trust inherent within our traditional culture. However such puritanical views are juxtaposed by the cumulative listing of the baby’s disorders in “attention deficit eighty nine percent probability, heart disorder ninety nine percent probability”. The means of science to shift values away from religious morals is essential to our understanding of the implications of technology during the setting. Similarly Orwell in his novel, Nineteen Eighty Four explores the concept of the loss of humanity through the party’s belief in “Full control of the minds of its members”. The use of alliteration emphasises the implication of the removal of memories on the individual’s emotional sense of being. The experiences of individuals in the novel enhance our ability to understand the traumatic experiences of soldiers and their loss of identity during the Post War era. Another portrayal of these attitudes is signified through Winston’s question towards a bar man of “Are you treated more like a human being'” The use of simile exemplifies the man’s inability to understand Winston’s perception suggests the government’s manipulative power in changing the minds and beliefs of public. This perception further questions our own opinion of how the loss of memory has altered main attributes of humanity in the novel’s context. However the attitudes towards humanity are subverted through Orwell’s use of syntax in “It was a blow struck against the Party”. This suggests that by engaging in an intimate affair both Julia and Winston attempt to sabotage societal norms. Therefore in both Niccol’s Gattaca and Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four, the changing role of these human characteristics has forced the responder to reassess their understanding of the requisite elements of humanity. The fear of totalitarian regime is a central concern both Gattaca and Nineteen Eighty Four use to provide the audience with an understanding of the setting. The corporate power of powerful nations is a key element Niccol utilises in his film Gattaca to convey the high level control of Gattaca as a company. The use of a low angle shot of the corporation conveys an ominous aura arising in the film. This technique assists with our recognition of the usage of technology as a way to maintain reputation and status. Therefore this reflects the economic concerns of twentieth century America. Another key element in recognising these contextual aspects is exhibited through a close up shot of the director stating “naturally our standards are beyond that to the common citizen”. A shift in values away Gattaca’s high expectations over its reputation exemplify the importance of social status in the late twentieth century. However these values are subverted through the close up of a medal changing colour from silver to gold as Jerome commits suicide inside an incubator. The technique emphasises individuals gaining a sense of identity in twentieth century America. Therefore our ability to understand the attitudes towards society’s corruptive forces is influenced by the literary devices in the text. Composer, Orwell utilises the motif of Telescreens in his novel Nineteen Eighty Four to develop the responders concerns towards the oppressive regime of Hitler against the Jews in the era. These central issues are manifested in the party’s slogan “WAR IS PEACE FREEDOM IS SLAVERY IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” utilising a bold uppercase text to reinforce the significance of these beliefs in culture. The paradoxes within this quote symbolises the dysfunctional nature of Orwell’s society and the extent to which the government creates propaganda in order to attract the attention of the public. The party’s authoritative nature influences our opinion of the societal hierarchical structure during the post war era. Another archetypal element essential to our study of the context is the use of Telescreens. By monitoring the daily activities of all citizens and depriving them of their privacy, Telescreens are forms of the party’s means of abusing power. This increase in levels of indoctrination and propaganda reflects the government’s supremacy to exhibit a feeling of vulnerability impacting on individuals. Our knowledge to understand the spread of communism and fascism across the world is improved through the central concerns of the novel. However subversion in these attitudes is shown through the first person narration in “we’re not dead yet”. This emphasises a movement towards consumer confidence in the post war era. Therefore our study of both Gattaca and Nineteen Eighty Four enhances our perception of individual freedom in the context.