consumer society theme Flashcards
warning
about what could happen to society if things go wrong
it is also a satire of the society in which Huxley existed and which still exists today
attitudes of citizens
while the attitudes and behaviours of World State citizens at first appear bizarre, cruel or scandalous, many clues point towards the conclusion that the WS is an extreme version of our society’s economic values
individual happiness is defined as the ability to satisfy needs and success as a society is equated with economic growth
industrial revolution
began in the second half of the 19th century and by the 20th century were producing massive quantities
the willingness of the masses to consume these goods was crucial to economic growth
economic imperative
that people want new things as it keeps the wheels of industrial society churning
world state citizens
are conditioned to consume
they live to serve their economy, rather than the other way round
consumerism
“Ending is better than mending.”
satirises mindless consumerism and the approaches of trying to deal with the great depression in 30s
ironically BNW
is a world in which books have been banned, and in our own society it is one of the most commonly banned books
reasons: insensitivity, racism and sexually explicit
in Huxley’s future vision,
production and consumption are maintained in balance by the designed production of consumers, who are encouraged to consume, as part of the conditioning process. 1984, on the other hand, presents a world where needs are not met, due to the artificial shortages created by the continued state of war
