Us vs Them

Similarities abound when one compares our current society to that found in Brave New World. The three aspects I found to be most similar were: pleasure at the expense of integrity (Id driven society), the power of repetition as a persuasive method (the ad space affect), and the focus on wanton consumption as a vehicle of economic stability (use it and loose it ad infinitum). The hedonism of BNW should be obvious to those who have read the book; soma abuse, casual polygamy, and attempts to oversaturate the senses at all times are but a few examples of the pleasure of the characters of brave new world. An aside: pleasure is all fine-and-dandy but becomes a social ill when pleasure is pursued to the point where one sacrifices all pride and egotism in favor of the comfort of a null existence swallowed in waves of sensory overload. This is the direction our own society is taking with parallels like super sizing, drug abuse, and a shift of focus from achievement to reward dispensed by others like soma to a crowd of deltas. The second aspect found in both societies is the use of repetition by those in power. While BNW has the government using repetition to control the masses, it is the corporation that is utilizing repetition in the form of ad campaign bombardments which-results show- has a tangible affect on the decision of those who view them, different in magnitude perhaps, but both of the societies have essentially the same method of control. Both societies also favor the use and discarding of material goods, relying on the steady consumption of the populous to fuel the economy. Yet again, the magnitude is different, but both societies make it far easier to purchase new goods rather than repairing what the already have. Thus, three parallels emerge when comparing our society to the one way may become someday.

Like any conditioning, the similarities between John and Lenina’s conditioning are fairly obvious.

Reflex Quotations: both John and Lenina respond to target stimuli with direct quotations from their conditioning source (Shakespeare for John, Hypnopaedic sleep therapy for Lenina).

Moral Structure: Both base their moral reasoning off of their respective conditioning i.e. Lenina finds monogamy filthy while John thinks the opposite. Both of these responses are (to varying degrees) not their independent conclusions but notions implanted in their brains.

Cage: Because both of the pairs conditioning is so deep, neither John nor Lenina are able to see beyond their existing moral structure, finding each other to be nearly incomprehensible.

Despite the similarities, there are significant enough differences in John and Lenina’s conditioning to merit notice

Magnitude and Method: Lenina’s condition was accomplished thousands of recitations of her beliefs starting at the beginning of her life while John studied Shakespeare frequently after he had some development as a person. The result of this is that John has a more unique and independent identity, while Lenina is mostly the Hypnopaedic lessons encased in flesh.

Intent: Lenina’s conditioning is deliberately developed as a cage to restrict her growth and actions, while John’s Shakespeare is an aesthetic work meant to, if any explicit purpose, exalt the soul rather than chain it. This meant little in regards to the chaining effect it had on him.

BNW

When comparing Brave New World to Utopia it becomes obvious that BNW is in many a dark mirror to Utopia where the dark side of a Utopia ideal are explored and twisted into a perverse clockwork of inhumanity and complacency. The most obvious similarity is between Utopia and BNW is the uniformity; everyone in both culture is required to ware certain clothing based on personal variables (gender and marriage in Utopia, caste in BNW). The other important similarity, and the reason for the previous example, is the emphasis on the social organism rather than the individual. Both of these societies expect their citizen's to focus their entire lives around the good of the society, the expense of the individual's freedom.

One good thing about BNW, and the only good thing for that matter, if the elimination of disease. This is fairly self explanatory, disease is bad, no one wants a disease. The dark side of this is of course, the fact that disease eradication is only possible by severe genetic manipulations and if a disease did appear in this society which they were unprepared for, the homogeneous gene pool would spell near doom if not acted upon quickly.

Of all the things I dislike about brave new world, condition was by far the most disturbing. Not only were the methods atrocious (Zapping babies was a little much) but the implications of it all were even worse. To think that you have been programed to behave in a certain way, robbing yourself of all mental autonomy is a horrifying thought, and is near tantamount to the destruction of the human spirit.

Utopia part 3

Slaves: nothing new from previous posts

Sick: When the sick become terminally ill, they are encourage and given permission (of course) to end their lives via starvation or opium, as they are no longer able to contribute to the community.

Hmm. sounds like crazy utilitarian stuff to me, nothing particular new or innovative, but the cold and pragmatic approach I would expect from the Utopians. Suicide is also condemned when permission is not given, which just further enhances the point that not even a squirrel may fart in Utopia without expressed permission of the senate.

Marriage, the Bride and Groom inspect each other naked before deciding to marry.

Yet more typical Utopian shenanigans, it does not surprise me that the Utopians base their logic of this practice on the same reasoning that one uses to purchase a horse, thats livestock people, a possession on the same level as a companion for life ( it does make some sense though).

side note: Fools they laugh at fools, who seem implied to be retarded people...
Yet again, anther pragmatic approach to a situation, there culture foundation on logic makes them seem less like a nation of people and more like a collective biological AI, creepy.


Policy: they have a lean legal system and no lawyers.

Good idea for once, allowing legal cases to be decide as the appear at least allow for a little expression of individuality.

War: they are trained in war but hate to engage in it, when they must, the combine mercenaries with bribes aimed at sedition to end conflicts at a minimal cost to Utopian life.

Nice that their con-war but their viewing the loss of mercenary life as a positive, combined with their bribe techniques portray Utopian as more snooty and conceded than I expected.

Religion: Pagan with leanings to a monotheistic core belief, eager to accept Christianity as well as not punishing anyone based on religion

Go free religion! but other than that, I found little of interest in this chapter, Pagans who are quasi Christian and want to convert to this new faith is so cliche it seems as if More was obligated to write this portion as he did.
p.s. Mithras is a Persian god (I think), nice touch on historical accuracy on More's part.

Music their music is a vessel for the passions it seems and is used in religious ceremonies as a method of honoring their deity

Based on the description, it sounds like Utopian can actually manage a little persoanl expression and I'm relieved to see that they also take joy in something so universal as music.

Overall the Utopians gave me a Socialism meets children of the corn vibe, they creep me out and I would absolutely despise to live in their colonl-er.. society.

One final brain teaser: This author wrote A Man for All Seasons, where the main character dies in defense of his self hood, his personal character, and yet in this ideal society, all personal expression and excellence is devalued in favor of complete service to the masses of the, methinks the truth must lie somewhere in between.