1. I would say the first and most obvious similarity would have to be the fact that our world like the Brave New World is fastly approaching lifestyles based on pleasure. In our modern times everyone knows, sex sells. That and everything is made easier and money is made all the time on what makes us feel better and reduces stress in our lives so that we can be more happy with our own lives.
2.Another likeness between the two is the prolonging of youth. New procedures are created everyday to "take off a few years" with the goal in mind to indefinitely prolong youth such as that created by the injections in Brave New World.
3.The final similarity to be found between the two worlds commitement is becoming less of an issue in relationship now. In previous times it used to be when you got married you stayed that way or you dated maybe a couple people in you lifetime but now it is much different. Divorces are skyrocketing and it is put out there by the media that better you are the more partners you can have. This resembles the casual sexual relationships that occur as a regularity in Brave New World and as time goes on the relationship between our two worlds only get closer.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Social Conditioning
In the book BNW many people are appalled by the social conditioning of the people through the sleep hypnosis. They say that conditioning is not humane or right and takes away their free will and leaves them as zombies such as Lenina. However John, the savage, even though he did not grow up there has his own social conditioning it just happened to be while he was awake instead of sleeping which proved to be almost just as effective. The only reason it seems wrong is because they were conditioned differently so they disagree on what is right because they both believe each other wrong and odd in what they are doing. In truth the only reason we see Lenina being in the wrong ourselves is because we were conditioned more closely to what John was in that we believe such things as men and women are supposed to have just one partner instead of many and things such as sex and pleasure are not to be taken so lightly. The conditioning only differs in that instead of being told by someone in our sleep we are raised to act like those around us and most of the time end up shadowing their own belief systems.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Brave New World
1. When looking at Brave New World and Utopia it is obvious that they do not share many similarities. In fact they are exact opposites as one is a utopic society while the other is a distopic one, however some can still be found. One of these similarities lies within the subject of traveling. In both places it is required that one must have permission before going to another place or city. This is used to keep track of all citizens so if they are needed they can be found. It also seems to be a method of control if need be.
2.Brave New World although a distopic society actually has some things that I do not find completely awful. The main one being the being able to get rid of old age and have extended youth until your death bed. This is also because there are no more diseases or sickness which is another huge achievement that cannot be taken lightly.
3.Brave New World however as a distopic society is obviously going to have some problems. Although they create happiness, it does not make them right. The one I have the most problems with is the repetitive rules and thoughts that are programmed into each persons head when they are younger. These ruels take away free will and make it so that nobody can make their own decisions anymore, they just accept everything the way it is because that is what they have been conditioned to do.
2.Brave New World although a distopic society actually has some things that I do not find completely awful. The main one being the being able to get rid of old age and have extended youth until your death bed. This is also because there are no more diseases or sickness which is another huge achievement that cannot be taken lightly.
3.Brave New World however as a distopic society is obviously going to have some problems. Although they create happiness, it does not make them right. The one I have the most problems with is the repetitive rules and thoughts that are programmed into each persons head when they are younger. These ruels take away free will and make it so that nobody can make their own decisions anymore, they just accept everything the way it is because that is what they have been conditioned to do.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Book 2 Cont.
1. Of Their Slaves
Slaves are not a legacy or a class of citizen that can be passed on. I find it reasonable to have slaves under the effect that they are all criminals condemned to life. I find this is much more reasonable and useful than a death sentence. Slavery is just basically what that have instead of capital punishment for truthfully it is more terrible to the crimanals than death itself.
2. Marriage
I believe it is better to have the age restriction on marriage which they set at 18 for women and 22 for men. The age for men I believe should be equal to the women but I support the restriction itself. There next testament is that there is no sex before marriage unless you wish to be severely punished and denied marriage for the rest of their life. Marriage in Utopia is taken as a serious sacrement also in that there are no divorces unless adultery is present. Their society would not work well in an American one I know that is for sure.
3.Law
Of their law they have no lawyers. I find it entertaining that this is the case as it is mostly because they regard it as a dishonest profession so their job is despised. In place of this every man must plead his own case and trust it to the judge to make the decison. It is because of this that citizens most know the law themselves and in this knowledge they are actually less likely to make offences as most crime is ignorance of the law in my opinion.
4.Military and War
Utopians first of all detest war as a brutal thing however as is my opinion war is not something you can just put away since it is sometimes necessary. For this point all citizens of Utopia are trained daily in military exercises and disipline. This I believe is an intelligent decison and just common sense because just on account of the fact that you dont want war does not mean someone else will not. For the most part due to their stance though the only wars they fight are those to help out their friends. In return for this help they are able to hire soldiers as well for their own wars so that they do not have to fight the wars themselves. In this they take out those that wish to fight on both sides and basically just take out two birds with one stone. They must not be taken for cowards with this opinion though for when they do fight there is no surrendering for them, no retreat.
5.Religion
Of the relegion it is much like our own in America. They have an open system in which all religions are tolerated. In fact they have enacted laws just so that all have freedom of religion. Their priests are not highly decorated in these also but just regarded as regular citizens. One thing that sets them apart it mentions is that in the realm of musical and instrumental ability they have no comparison. I believe this comes from their desire for peace and allows them to express this through song.
Slaves are not a legacy or a class of citizen that can be passed on. I find it reasonable to have slaves under the effect that they are all criminals condemned to life. I find this is much more reasonable and useful than a death sentence. Slavery is just basically what that have instead of capital punishment for truthfully it is more terrible to the crimanals than death itself.
2. Marriage
I believe it is better to have the age restriction on marriage which they set at 18 for women and 22 for men. The age for men I believe should be equal to the women but I support the restriction itself. There next testament is that there is no sex before marriage unless you wish to be severely punished and denied marriage for the rest of their life. Marriage in Utopia is taken as a serious sacrement also in that there are no divorces unless adultery is present. Their society would not work well in an American one I know that is for sure.
3.Law
Of their law they have no lawyers. I find it entertaining that this is the case as it is mostly because they regard it as a dishonest profession so their job is despised. In place of this every man must plead his own case and trust it to the judge to make the decison. It is because of this that citizens most know the law themselves and in this knowledge they are actually less likely to make offences as most crime is ignorance of the law in my opinion.
4.Military and War
Utopians first of all detest war as a brutal thing however as is my opinion war is not something you can just put away since it is sometimes necessary. For this point all citizens of Utopia are trained daily in military exercises and disipline. This I believe is an intelligent decison and just common sense because just on account of the fact that you dont want war does not mean someone else will not. For the most part due to their stance though the only wars they fight are those to help out their friends. In return for this help they are able to hire soldiers as well for their own wars so that they do not have to fight the wars themselves. In this they take out those that wish to fight on both sides and basically just take out two birds with one stone. They must not be taken for cowards with this opinion though for when they do fight there is no surrendering for them, no retreat.
5.Religion
Of the relegion it is much like our own in America. They have an open system in which all religions are tolerated. In fact they have enacted laws just so that all have freedom of religion. Their priests are not highly decorated in these also but just regarded as regular citizens. One thing that sets them apart it mentions is that in the realm of musical and instrumental ability they have no comparison. I believe this comes from their desire for peace and allows them to express this through song.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)