Metropolis & 1984

Question 0

1984 perspectives

Answer 0

Once individuals surrender their rights and freedoms, rebellion becomes futile - the individual becomes powerless to affect change.

Question 1

1984

Answer 1

George Orwell, published in 1949.
Rise of totalitarianism in 1930s Europe - Germany, Soviet Union and Spain.
Use of propaganda and censorship, control and manipulation of information.
Orwell’s ideology - democratic socialism

Question 2

Metropolis

Answer 2

Fritz Lang, released in 1927.
Post WW1 Germany - Weimar Republic and treaty of Versailles.
Hyperinflation, reparations, political and economic crisis.
German Renaissance “roaring 20s” and the growth in cinema.
Discourse concerning types of political rule, economic and social organisation of society.

Question 3

Metropolis perspectives

Answer 3

Autocratic power and blind leadership lead to rebellion and chaos - damaging.
Social cohesion and a compassionate society is possible through unification of ‘head’, hands and heart - understanding a mutual respect = a capitalist system that benefits all.

Question 4

1984 and metropolis similarities - values

Answer 4

Progress with moderation and restraint.

Respect for the individual.

Question 5

1984 and metropolis similarities - perspectives

Answer 5

Power is not readily relinquished - furthered for selfish reasons
Extreme worship - religious, political, capitalist, scientific is detrimental to the individual.

Question 6

Metropolis - power and control - perspectives power structure

Answer 6

Metropolis - power structure best describes as capitalist plutocracy by following features

• • industrial oligarchy
• • metropolis (utopia) vs workers city (dystopia)
• -Marxist class struggle - labour vs capital

Question 7

Metropolis - power and control - perspectives - social control

Answer 7

Social control through- fear of death and injury, ignorance (don’t know how other half live), surveillance and control of information.

Question 8

1984 - power and control - perspectives power structure

Answer 8

Best described as totalitarian.

• one party rule – “The party” led by Big Brother.
• dominance of a single ideology “ingsoc”
• control of language – newspeak
• control of history
• permanency of social hierarchy – The “Proles”, the outer party and the under party and big brother.

Question 9

1984 - power and control - perspectives social and political control.

Answer 9

Through perpetuation of:

• fear
• suspicion of others
• hatred of outsiders
• surveillance
• war
• propaganda

Question 10

Metropolis - resistance and rebellion

Answer 10

Class struggle/conflict
Maria’s leadership of a eschatological cult founded upon principles of a proletarian uprising.
Epigraph - the mediator between the head and the hands must be the heart.
Maria’s and Freder’s love as an act of rebellion.

Question 11

Metropolis - resistance and rebellion - utopia future

Answer 11

1927 Weimar Republic optimism.
Compassionate capitalism/socio-democratic capitalism
Triumphant ending - reconciliation between the head (Joh Frederson) hands and heart ( represented by grot )

Question 12

1984 - resistance and rebellion

Answer 12

Winstons dairy
Winstons desire to overthrow the party and big brother
The relationship between Winstons and Julia as an act of political rebellion
Julia and private rebellion
The botherhood

Question 13

1984 - resistance and rebellion - ultimately futile

Answer 13

Post WWII pessimism
The thought police as a tool of surveillance
Obriens manipulation and betrayal of Winston and Julia
Destruction of rebellion in the ministry of love and room 101