Conformity is created through the use of color-coded castes with titles such as Alpha, Beta, etc. People are conditioned to want to be a part of whatever caste they're born into. It's an unequal system, but the lack of desire people have to interact with other castes at least maintains some sort of equality in that people only interact with those in their own caste.
This society wants to say they have no religion, but their worship of Ford and their seemingly religious practice of waiting together for the great coming speaks otherwise. This 'church' is state enforced, too, giving off even more overtones of a state religion. This unity that people feel (and the fact that if they were to oppose this 'religion' they would surely be punished) helps prevent conflict. There are no conflicts with relationships because everyone is incredibly promiscuous. In fact, any sort of stable, committed relationship is frowned upon. A person is seen is dirty if they don't have multiple partners. In terms of individual rights and emotions, "When the individual feels, the community reels" (Huxley 103). After all, if someone were to have a certain emotional reaction to something, while someone else had the opposite reaction, (for example, anger and joy) there would be a conflict. By having personal emotions looked down upon, it discourages these conflicts.
Although the majority of people in this society are happy, this is a dystopia. Since everyone is born into separate castes and conditioned to enjoy the caste they are in and not associate with other castes, a sort of widespread societal contentment is created. It's a dystopia, however, because any sort of individuality is crushed. If someone wishes to have only one partner and wishes to commit solely to them, they're looked down upon. If someone has any sort of feeling about something, you are looked down upon. A person might be happy with the way things are, but they still cannot do as they might please.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Ethnography
1.) They both have benefits. EMIC perspective can clear up any misinformed opinions outsiders have about a certain group due to the fact that insiders know the truth of the matter through interactions with other people in the group. However, EMIC perspectives can be biased in the group's favor. ETIC perspectives can provide straight-up scientific facts, such as statistics, about a group, which counteracts the EMIC perspective's biases. However, as mentioned before, outsiders can be misinformed about the group. A combination of both is needed to find the truth.
2.) These rules exist so that the ethnography can be both accurate and respectable. By acknowledging your biases, the reader can better analyze where your biases come in and why they're there. Having an informant from the group you're studying adds authenticity to the information you're presenting, since it's coming from a primary source. By being up-front about your intentions, the reader knows what to expect and how to react.
2.) These rules exist so that the ethnography can be both accurate and respectable. By acknowledging your biases, the reader can better analyze where your biases come in and why they're there. Having an informant from the group you're studying adds authenticity to the information you're presenting, since it's coming from a primary source. By being up-front about your intentions, the reader knows what to expect and how to react.
"Rain On The Scarecrow" by John Mellencamp
1.) It's about a man who has lost his farm and is in financial strife due to it.
2.) Some conflicts the song addresses are that John called his friend to try and auction off his land, but he can't. This is a man vs. man conflict. There's also the man vs. society conflict of John losing his farm due to society's shortcomings.
3.) The scarecrow in the rain symbolizes how a symbol of traditional farming (a scarecrow) is being drowned out and destroyed by rain (society). The blood on the plow symbolizes how the farmers worked the land so hard and diligently that it's as though they put their blood into the land.
4.) Rain and blood are sad-sounding words with negative connotations, giving the song a sad feel. Mellencamp uses these words because he wants to convey a sad feel.
5.) He seems to favor the farmers and presents them in a sympathetic light. He is on their side. He mentions how his grandma is praying and singing on the porch. She is a part of this farming family and is hoping that they can continue to survive. This paints her (and her family) in a sympathetic way.
2.) Some conflicts the song addresses are that John called his friend to try and auction off his land, but he can't. This is a man vs. man conflict. There's also the man vs. society conflict of John losing his farm due to society's shortcomings.
3.) The scarecrow in the rain symbolizes how a symbol of traditional farming (a scarecrow) is being drowned out and destroyed by rain (society). The blood on the plow symbolizes how the farmers worked the land so hard and diligently that it's as though they put their blood into the land.
4.) Rain and blood are sad-sounding words with negative connotations, giving the song a sad feel. Mellencamp uses these words because he wants to convey a sad feel.
5.) He seems to favor the farmers and presents them in a sympathetic light. He is on their side. He mentions how his grandma is praying and singing on the porch. She is a part of this farming family and is hoping that they can continue to survive. This paints her (and her family) in a sympathetic way.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Othering
1.) The West views the East as being homogeneous, with the people there being anonymous masses rather than individuals. The West also views the East as being exotic, mystical, and seductive.
2.) It means they see Eastern peoples as not having any sort of individuality when it comes to their actions. They are like a hive mind that act on emotions and racial considerations.
3.) Their actions are determined by instinctive emotions rather than by conscious choices or decisions. Their emotions and reactions are determined by racial considerations rather than by aspects of individual status or circumstance.
4.) It benefits the West by giving the impression that if the group of Eastern people as a whole are kept happy, (since they act of off emotions and act as a group, and discontent would incite a group uprising) they will be easy to conquer and control. By taking control of the hive mind, Westerners would have total control over people. Creating a common enemy will enable people to more easily band together to combat their enemy.
5.) In a sense, perhaps. Not as much as before, back when the West was still encased in the blissful throes of colonialism and imperialism, but it still exists to an extent.
*The placement of objects/events/etc. in such a way as to emphasize the differences between them.
2.) It means they see Eastern peoples as not having any sort of individuality when it comes to their actions. They are like a hive mind that act on emotions and racial considerations.
3.) Their actions are determined by instinctive emotions rather than by conscious choices or decisions. Their emotions and reactions are determined by racial considerations rather than by aspects of individual status or circumstance.
4.) It benefits the West by giving the impression that if the group of Eastern people as a whole are kept happy, (since they act of off emotions and act as a group, and discontent would incite a group uprising) they will be easy to conquer and control. By taking control of the hive mind, Westerners would have total control over people. Creating a common enemy will enable people to more easily band together to combat their enemy.
5.) In a sense, perhaps. Not as much as before, back when the West was still encased in the blissful throes of colonialism and imperialism, but it still exists to an extent.
*The placement of objects/events/etc. in such a way as to emphasize the differences between them.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Final 1984 Reading Response
Big Brother has undeniably won. Through Winston's feelings towards Big Brother going from hatred to adoration, Big Brother has obviously won. Eliminating opposition (in this case, through torture and brainwashing) ensures that no one will try to stop you, thus reinforcing Big Brother's victory. Throughout the book, Winston was against what Big Brother stood for. Even in the beginning, when he hadn't just yet started performing his acts of defiance, he hated Big Brother. During the Two Minutes' Hate, a time during which Goldstein, an enemy of Big Brother, is to be despised, "Winston's hatred was not turned against Goldstein at all, but, on the contrary, against Big Brother..." (16). To have this long-lasting hatred and dissension turned into love and conformity constitutes winning.
One way the One State could be brought down is through the proles. This chance is slim, however, seeing as how not only are they uneducated as a whole, they simply don't believe that any sort of life could be better than the one they have now. Seeing as how the only life they have lived is that that the One State provides for them, they can't imagine anything else. They could, conceivably, band together and rebel and possibly win by sheer numbers alone, seeing as how proles constitute 85% of Oceania's population, but the thing is is that they have no reason to. The Party has ensured that.
By the end of the novel, Winston has become a product of the One State. He no longer has any sort of dissenting thoughts. He is like a machine. He will go along with what the Party says, he will support what they support and value what they value. He is essentially a model citizen, even if that means chugging gin and not questioning what is asked of you. All in all, the Party, and Big Brother, have won.
One way the One State could be brought down is through the proles. This chance is slim, however, seeing as how not only are they uneducated as a whole, they simply don't believe that any sort of life could be better than the one they have now. Seeing as how the only life they have lived is that that the One State provides for them, they can't imagine anything else. They could, conceivably, band together and rebel and possibly win by sheer numbers alone, seeing as how proles constitute 85% of Oceania's population, but the thing is is that they have no reason to. The Party has ensured that.
By the end of the novel, Winston has become a product of the One State. He no longer has any sort of dissenting thoughts. He is like a machine. He will go along with what the Party says, he will support what they support and value what they value. He is essentially a model citizen, even if that means chugging gin and not questioning what is asked of you. All in all, the Party, and Big Brother, have won.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Love Language
1.) What were some assumptions you made while watching the video?
I assumed she couldn't speak English at first, but after she started writing, I assumed she was deaf.
2.) Is this a cultural conflict? If so, explain.
No, because being deaf isn't a culture. Deafness does not affect a certain culture, it affects people of all different cultures. All deaf people undergo the same experience of being deaf and a lot of them experience learning sign language, but other than that, every deaf person has a culture unique to them. As such, this isn't a cultural conflict, it's just a difficulty in communicating due to the girl being deaf.
3.) Name an external conflict from the video.
The boy wants to talk to the girl, but the girl won't/can't.
4.) Name an internal conflict from the video.
The girl experiences a man vs. self internal conflict. It's a conflict she's never going to win, however, since her deafness can't be cured and learning how to talk would be very hard. Her conflict is that she wants to talk to the boy and hold a conversation, but she can't actually speak. Her deafness is what's causing this conflict, since it's a part of herself she can't change.
5.) How is this conflict resolved?
It was resolved through the boy and girl talking through written messages, getting to know each other, and the girl ultimately revealing her deafness.
I assumed she couldn't speak English at first, but after she started writing, I assumed she was deaf.
2.) Is this a cultural conflict? If so, explain.
No, because being deaf isn't a culture. Deafness does not affect a certain culture, it affects people of all different cultures. All deaf people undergo the same experience of being deaf and a lot of them experience learning sign language, but other than that, every deaf person has a culture unique to them. As such, this isn't a cultural conflict, it's just a difficulty in communicating due to the girl being deaf.
3.) Name an external conflict from the video.
The boy wants to talk to the girl, but the girl won't/can't.
4.) Name an internal conflict from the video.
The girl experiences a man vs. self internal conflict. It's a conflict she's never going to win, however, since her deafness can't be cured and learning how to talk would be very hard. Her conflict is that she wants to talk to the boy and hold a conversation, but she can't actually speak. Her deafness is what's causing this conflict, since it's a part of herself she can't change.
5.) How is this conflict resolved?
It was resolved through the boy and girl talking through written messages, getting to know each other, and the girl ultimately revealing her deafness.
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