Scientists have been researching in vitro fertilization since the 1890s, but is was not until 1978 that Louise Brown, the first "test tube baby" was born. Today, our medical capabilities have progressed beyond Huxley's wildest imagination.
Which aspects of the novel can be seen in our society today? For example, The World State has ensured no sport is promoted unless it involves the consumption of expensive equipment. This can be seen today in our costly "must have" video game consoles.
Let's see how many connections we can find. If someone else posts the idea you were going to use, please find another example. And please refer to the text; cite chapter/page numbers whenever possible.
Post due Wednesday 3pm as usual :-)
An aspect of our society that parallels the one in Brave New World is the belief in maintaining a youthful look. In today’s modern society, many people attempt to fabricate youth through advanced “beauty” procedures (such as plastic surgery, facelifts, liposuction, botox, etc.) that unnaturally alter their bodies to make them seem younger and more fit. On page 183 in the text, they state that Linda seemed a “monster of flaccid and distorted senility” in comparison to others in their world. They had never seen a face that was “not youthful and taut-skinned” or a body that “ceased to be slim and upright.” It is a similarly increasing value in our society to look plastically fresh and young throughout one’s years, to attempt to advert the wrinkled and flimsy nature that comes with being of older age. Technology is advancing with this belief, making fake, "plastic" youth more possible.
ReplyDeletePiper Miller (Block 4)
The super-consumeristic attitude of the characters in Brave New World is mirrored in the attitude of people today. In the novel, clothes that are old or somehow damaged are supposed to be thrown out, the mantra "spend, not mend" is repeated by everybody. This is similar to today's society because old clothes are often frowned upon by people, and everybody always is encouraged to have the newest fashions from New York or Paris or wherever. You will see other examples of people's consumeristc attitude simply if you watch television for a couple of minutes. We are bombarded by commercials whose sole purpose is to get you to spend money on top of the line, expensive products. And the trend is only getting stronger.
ReplyDeleteRev. Mack Kennedy
A major aspect of the novel that can be seen in our world today is the fear of growing old. Beyond maintaining a youthful appearance, they are afraid to be inhibited not only physically, but mentally. For example, on page 110, Lenina was visibly reeling at the old man, her eyes "wide with horror and amazement". Bernard, more open to the people of the Savage Reservation also was startled by the deterioration that comes with age. They are so used to the idea of, "Youth almost unimpaired till sixty, and then, crack! the end."(pg 111) that they cannot comprehend what happens when people grow old. From the bent body to the toothless mouth of the old man, this is a major parallel of our world today. We would rather be like those who keep their metabolism "permanently stimulated"(pg 111) than experience sickness, age, and loss of aesthetic appeal. The way that the Alphas react to growing old is not far off from the measures people take to maintain their physical and mental youth.
ReplyDeleteHolly Denton
Block 2
Society, filled with its hateful prejudice and derogatory views towards its citizens, is evident in Brave New World's "utopian" world. On page 74, Lenina says "I'm glad I'm not an Epsilon," deepening the notion fragmented in the citizen's heads. This relates to the conditioning process found in the Department of Hatcheries as the children grow up; propaganda being played and imprinted in their minds, continuing the prejudice views that keep the Alphas, Betas, Gammas, etc. in their "rightful place." These views are present in our society as the world recovers from harsh racial and misogynistic prejudices, found in Apartheid-era South Africa and India's caste system. This continues the never-ending thought and belief that others are indeed better than some people; the condescension that occurs in society strongly parallels keeping people in their rightful place.
ReplyDeleteEvan Jackson
Block 2
i think that one of the greatest similarities between brave new world and today's society is our use of drugs. In BNW soma is used to forget the pains that the new "Utopia" might have. Soma is used to make people bliss and ignorant to the reality of the world. This allows "society" or the people in charge to be able to control the populace. Soma is used to repress any form of human feelings. Page 154 states that "the return for civilization was for her the return to soma" that soma "played none of these unpleasant tricks." Shows the complete loss one can get within soma. This parallels today's society because we have become very depended on drugs. We use drugs to escape reality and become slaves to a substance in order to be happy. We no longer obtain happiness through our free will but rather depend on something that controls our lives that can lead to crime and death. Page 203-204 depicts Linda's last moments under the influence of soma makes her forget her son, someone that should be the most important thing in life. In today's society we have people leaving their families and losing sight of their morals and values because of drugs. This ultimately has a great impact on humanity because we begin to lose relations with our fellow man making us no better then mere animals.
ReplyDeleteSylvia Percovich
Block 4
An aspect of the novel that is reflected in our society today is the way that people handle their emotions. In Brave New world the moment someone starts to loose happiness or doesn't know how to cope with their feelings they turn to their soma to relieve them. In society today this is very similar to people who are drug addicts, or alcoholics.They become addicted because it is the only thing that can numb their feelings. This is similar to the way in which Lenina copiously uses Soma especially when she and Bernard are in the reservation. In Brave New World, "there’s always soma to give you a holiday from the facts." And "instead of feeling miserable, you'd be jolly. so jolly" (page 92). In our society we come across the same feelings that the citizens in Brave New World do, but we don't have a universal drug to eliminate the feelings so many people use drugs and alcohol as their own soma.
ReplyDeleteAndrea Siluk
Block 2
The way that society treats outsiders in BNW is similar to the way that people in society today view people that may be a different race, ethnicity, or religion. In Brave New World John is treated like an outsider. When he arrives he is appalled at the lifestyle and ideas of civilized people, and gets himself into a lot of trouble by denouncing civilization. An example of this is when he refers to soma as a "poison to soul and body". This is something that heavily offends the community. Incidents such as this occur everyday and example could even be The man who wanted to burn the Curran on the anniversary of 9/11. People in our society are not tolerant of others although we like to think we are. In BNW people in London refer to John as "A beastly savage" pg. 125, and a "Terrifying monster of middle agedness." pg. 150. Although today we may not call people who we see as different from ourselves monsters in a way we still treat them that way.
ReplyDeleteAndrea Siluk
Block 2 ( incase the top one doesnt count)
In Brave New World whenever a character is faced with a problem or a difficult situation they take soma to diffuse the situation and run away from their problems. Instead of facing problems head on they take soma and run away from their problems and do not learn from their mistakes. Similar to modern society we drink, do drugs, take prozac(like many modern housewives) and whatever else to not face our problems. On page 89 when Lenina says " a gramme in time saves nine" or " a gramme is always better than a damn." People in Brave New World and in this society are so fixed on fixing problems with medicines and drugs that they are immature and always look for people or in this case products to fix their problems. Instead of relying on things or people we need to fix our problems ourselves.
ReplyDeleteKarlens Direny
Block 4
Many people can argue the fact that we try to desensitize death in our society. For many abortion is not the killing of a human but just the removable of an embryo. While in Brave New World there is no organized religion similar to Christianity, but in our society religion helps people cope with the idea of death, by saying that those who die move on the the after-life, heaven, etc. "They're well off; they're safe; they're never ill; they're not afraid of death; they're blissfully ignorant of passion and old age". While we are not ignorant of death and old age we have become better an accepting the inevitable.
ReplyDeleteThe instant gratification attained in Brave New World is very evident in today's society; from the "everyone belongs to everyone else" concept to the idea of recycling items to be a sign of true poverty, we live in an "I want it now world". The instant gratification in BNW is in the form of games and sex. In our world, it is brought upon us in the form of the smartest minds on earth being recruited to create an internet that runs faster than the speed of sound. By being able to obtain email, news, television, and music instantly, the human brain is being programmed to want things ASAP, and if we don't get it, we get mad. Instant gratification, or else... Or else we all need a soma holiday.
ReplyDelete-Tatiana
Block 2
One aspect of the novel that can be seen in our society today is air travel. In Brave New World, people take helicopters instead of cars, to where ever they need to. The technology is so advanced that flying is a normal concept in their world. This is similar to our world today. We have only had air travel for a little over 100 years, so a lot of our ancestors have probably never flown on a plane. Since the invention of air travel, we are capable to travel far distances in shorter periods of time, as well as traveling over sea, whereas the only other way to get over seas would be by ship. Although we still use cars today, people with money and/or great importance use helicopters and small private planes and/or jets to get from place to place. However, in Brave New World, flying is not a big deal to the people in the World State. "Still laughing, he threw the helicopter screws into gear, accelerated, and was gone," (106) shows that flying was nothing new or exciting.
ReplyDeleteSince the Reservation is like our past, the "savages" are not used to air travel, just like some of our ancestors were never alive for the first flight. "The plane! In a panic, he scrambled to his feet and ran into the other room, vaulted through the open window, and hurrying along the path between the tall agaves was in time to receive Bernard Marx as he climbed out of the helicopter," (145) reveals how excited John was about flying because he has never been exposed to such an advancement while at the Reservation because everything there was traditional and nobody traveled outside of where they lived.
Izabella Szura
Block 2
An aspect described in Brave New World that is seen now, is the idea that we must stay up to date with fashion trends. We must throw away or get rid of torn or old clothing. Companies put pressure on us to have the newest season of clothing. On page 121 (chapter 7) Linda said "throw them away when they've got holes in them and buy new. The more stitches, the less riches". People in the "new world" are fixated on wearing their "bottled green acetate cloth with green viscose fur at the cuffs and collar" (page 50).
ReplyDeleteIn order to keep us spending money on clothing season after season, some designers cut and burn their clothing. They do this so that stores such as T.J.Maxx do not get a hold of their clothing and bring down the value of their clothing.
Danielle Malcolm
Block 4
Another aspect of BNW that is reflected in our society today is Consumerism, which is the theory that an increasing consumption of goods is economically desirable. As people we always hope to create new things and make more money in society. And in both, the novel and society, consumerism rests solely on the assumption that human desires are indefinitely expandable and that there are boundless opportunities to create new products to meet those desires. When you read the novel, in the factories they are always creating something or working on a new way to fix this or improve that. And in society everyday companies compete by inventing a new product to satisfy consumer's needs.Many of these products do have much an impact on society and then there are others that dont
ReplyDeleteGinette Norvelus
2nd block : )
Universal happiness is a false concept that both societies try to attain, but never do. In Brave New World, the entire premise of the society is based on the perfect world that embodies the Controller's belief of "No civilization without social stability. No social stability without individual stability." Everyone is conditioned to disregard things that may be inflict sepulchral and depressing attitudes. The women in society that are not allowed to have children and the use of soma to instill societal happiness. In our society, we try to buy things that will give us happiness, whether it is good or bad. Drugs and alcohol are used by some people to achieve happiness, while, an education is happiness for others. However, we can see that in both places universal happiness is never really achieved. This is seen in the case of Bernard and Helmholtz, which juxtaposes the less fortunate people in a capitalist society.
ReplyDeleteGood evening Ms. Hurst,
ReplyDeleteOne aspect in the Novel that is very similar to today's society is how technology controls our everyday lives. Today, without modern technology, we are basically left helpless. We can't use the internet if the wifi is cut off, we can't use our cell phones without there being a tower nearby. In the novel, the lives of the mass are created through scientific technology that basically runs their lives since before they were "born". (Pg. 8) Also, children are taught through the use of technology, the same as how they are taught in today's age. Children in the novel are highly electrocuted (Pg. 21) so that they learn their lesson, while children in today's time are taught with laptop computers, the internet and interactive computer programs. The basic use of technology runs our everyday lives, a very similar aspect and an important theme in the novel.
Francheska Periche
Block 2
Judith,
ReplyDeleteAnother similarity found between the society of Brave New World and society today is the manipulating power of technology. People today rely on television, social networking sites and the media to tell them how to think, what to wear and what to believe. Brave New World approaches this concept on a far grander scale by exaggerating mass media's manipulative influence on society through the absurd hypnopaedic lessons. This direct correlation is created in a satirical tone beginning on page 25 as the director begins to explain the "impressive" effects of hypnopaedic sleep-teaching. Although on a less extravagant scale, society today is manipulating the masses through similar strategies; endless hours of monotonous television watching in place of the hours and hours spent sleeping to learn a specific moral lesson. Huxley is not far off in predicting the world's potential of one day reaching the brainwashing and mind-controlling abilities of the dystopia of Brave New World.
Maria Savarese Block: 4
An aspect that can be witnessed in our society today, that is also viewed within the Novel is the disregard of sexual pleasures as sacred. Currently in the society we live in humans as a whole, do not hold the concept of sex as a transcendent act, oddly enough neither do those in Brave New World. Citations of this are seen through many examples in the book, such as in Chapter 3 on page 30, "Naked in the warm...or squatting silently in twos and threes among the flowering shrubs," or when the nurse explains to the director that the "little boy seems rather reluctant to join in the "ordinary" erotic play," on page 31-32, it's astonishingly bizarre that those in the text are allowing and justifying such acts of sex within the kids. Not only do these characters permit the younger generation to endure in these sexual encounters with one another, but it's also promoted with having "Elementary Sex" (page 27) which is highly valued, being the first forty minutes of classes.
ReplyDeleteMany reading this might view it as erratic, but what is failed to see if how it clearly parallels the society in which we live in. Subjects such as birth control, condoms, the after pill, and even drugs to treat erectile dysfunctions are all promoted on the T.V, radio, and newspapers all throughout our society, yet no one finds it peculiar. Our society has evolved into accepting facts and concepts that relate to sex, and now with all these different treatments and forms of helping control sexual consequences, it has become its own market corporation, just like among the Brave New World society.
~Katherine Carrazana
block 2
One aspect in Brave New World that is prominent in society today is worshiping a higher being. In today’s society there are hundreds of different gods that people worship depending on their religion. The only god that people are allowed to worship is Henry Ford, and actually the only god that people know of is Ford (except of course the savages which are secluded on the reservation because they believe many things differently). Throughout the book people say, “Oh Ford!”, whereas in our society many say, “Oh God.”
ReplyDeleteAlso similar to today’s society is when people come together to worship their god. In chapter 5, Bernard seeks comfort in going to the “Fordson Community Singery” to praise Ford with a group of other people. The ceremony starts with a “Solidarity Hymn” played by the synthetic music maker and then the people “drink [strawberry ice-cream soma] to the Greater Being”. Obviously, however, these ceremonies greatly differ from those performed today. The people in Brave New World worship Ford by having sex after many happiness-inducing soma treatments, yet still the thought behind it of them worshiping a higher being is similar to what majority of the world participates in today.
Amy Marshall
Block 2
'Ello everyone :)
ReplyDeleteThe connection I would like to make note of the ideal of a centralized government in charge of totalitarian control over the masses. The page which caught my attention the most was page 177, where Mustapha Mond was in charge of previewing a novel titled "A New Theory of Biology", and then enforcing that it not be published because of its controversial contradictions to the esatblished stability of society. Similar occurrances are frequently exsistant in nations such as China, due to the Communist regime. Both governments are driven by their obbessions in maintaining their own ideologies of "stability" amonst the peoples they rule. Therefore, both exert their immense power and influence over their masses using cencorships and enforcement of the strict laws that create the foundtions for their "stability". Thus it can be concluded that those Controllers in the Brave New World are exactly that, the totalitarian controllers and rulers which are meant to exercise thier authority over helpless masses which mend to the will of those more mighty.
Hi Judith ,
ReplyDeleteA similarity between the society in Brave New World and our society today is that they are both ethnocentric . In Brave New World they refer to the those who haven't taken on their new way of life as "savages" , a concept truly introduced on page 110. At this point , Lenina and Bernard look at an old man struggle down a ladder in shock at "this old creature's age.". They degrade their views , beliefs ,and way of living because they consider their own to be superior. Likewise , we do this with other cultures in the world . We were outraged at China's one-child policy and recently , how they censor the media. We look at the way they handle situations and scrutinize them because they don't handle them like us . We even take it as far as to scrutinize each other within society. People up north are quick to make comments about how country those further south are while those in the south make comments about the stuck up nature of people from the north. In Brave New World , our main setting is the London Centre . This centre is treated with an air of superiority to the other centres mentioned . On page 9 , the mention the Singapore centre , but only to say that they have intentions of beating them at how many children may come from one ovary . On page 103 , Bernard is being faced with being sent to the Iceland centre as a punishment . It's the same as how we view certain parts of the world today . For some , we would love to go there and visit , like they do for the savage reservations . Yet others , would serve as nothing more than a punishment.
- Shanika F.
4th Block
One of the aspects that take place in the novel “Brave New World” that mirrors what we actually do in this present time is try to create distractions to keep everyone in the dark and away from the truth. Throughout the novel, whenever a character was faced with adversity or just a problem in general, the first place they would turn is to the soma. This halusinate drug kept them in their own little happy world and kept them from all of the real troubles in their lives. They would actually take a certain amount of it and call it a soma holiday because they would get so lost that although their bodies were in the room, their minds were in an entire different universe. For example, when Linda came back, she was practically shunned because of her appereance and because she completely let herself go. She was neglected by everyone, including her son’s father which made her feel horrible. She didn’t want to deal with this overbearing pain so she went on soma holidays one after another. In chapter 10 page 154, it said “Soma played none of those unpleasant tricks. The holiday it gave was perfect…” With that being said, it shows how this drug was now know to be something great with no harm at all which is wrong because although it might get you high for a period of time, you still eventually come back down.
ReplyDeleteIn today’s case, society drowns out the bad truth with television, music, video games, and even actual drugs. Anything that the government can hand us is taken happily to keep us from asking them any questions. This hurts us because as long is they can keep us occupied and under their control, they can do whatever they want. The truth is what sets you free and freedom is power, and that’s exactly why the government wants to keep the truth as far from us as possible, just like in BNW.
Vashti Powell
Block 4
One simple example of something in Brave New World that relates to our society is that the people in the World State are reliant on their fix of soma to function, and without it they are unable to do things in their normal lives, and they are not happy, so when the soma is destroyed, and people of the World State cannot get "high" off of their "happy pills":)they cannot function normally. This is similar to present day drug adddicts who cannot go without their fix on whatever drug it may be; over the counter, or illegal, because this is their source of stress relief and manufactured happiness like the citizens of the Brave New World.
ReplyDeleteThroughout the novel, conformity plays a key role in maitaining BNW's emphasis on the "collective individual". This inate instict for assimilation parallels to our societies devotion to common norms, trends, etc.
ReplyDeleteIn Aldous Huxley's future society, a pre-destined conditioning and caste system deprives humanity of the individual instict. "No civilization witout social stability." (page 42) In other words stability and conformity among the masses proves the most crucial factor in maintaning this idyllic "utopia". Any person(s) suspected of breaking these barriers are condemned as being a "savage", or "queer" in mind or appearence, (the obvious example being John's strange values and Linda's abhorrent appearence.) Lenina for example, is called out by Fanny for her long (by BNW standards) relationship with Henry Foster, "you ought to be a little more promiscuous". (Page 43)Furthermore, Bernard Marx is throughout the novel incessantly teased for his unique appearence and attitudes; "They say somebody..that's why he's so stunted." (Page 46)
These examples stike a profound resembalance to our society. When encountered by strange or unfamiliar phenomenom our instinct prmpts us to recoil and rebuke the irregularity. Whether it's something as influential as the first black president, or as petty as the latest fashion trends, conformity has been congnitively ingrained into the fabric of our society; the ultimate parallel between the real world, and the dytopia of Brave New World.
Brave New World depicts soma as a readily available drug that makes people happy, much like alcohol. Soma shares several characteristics with alcohol. The governemnt profits off of both, with taxes coming from thwe sale of alcohol and soma being sold by the government. Soma is available almost anywhere and in many different forms like alcohol. Society uses soma and alcohol to separte themselves from the outside world. In Brave New World it is as if soma is the successor to today's alcohol, giving people similar experiences while taking away alcohol's ability to "make you feel ill afterwards." (pg 125)
ReplyDeleteEric Marshall, Block 2
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteJust as in today's society, Brave New World favors progressiveness and, in consequence, nature takes the punishment.
ReplyDeleteIn today's society, there are entire forests being torn apart in the name of advancement and a majority of the trees are not being replaced In Europe alone, over 90% of its forests were harvested for wood and other essentials . Brave New World exemplifies the progressive, anti nature movement as the Direct of Human Conditioning (D.H.C.) himself states: "A love of nature keeps no factories busy." (Ch. 2 pg. 16 in my book) directly meaning that nature is meaningless because it does not require any type of human consumer consumption.
Just as in today's society those who support the natural world are considered as liberal tree-huggers just like John in Brave New World because he goes against the synthetic society.
People in Brave New World are conditioned to do work and be consumers of expensive goods, not to care about nature because being out in nature gives one time to think, and of course the controllers do not want their people to think. Today, society is not too far from the anti nature mentality because especially in today's collapsing economy, people are focused on working, getting money to feed their families, not worry about the trees being cut down or the fear of global warming. Working means lives, natures is naught but a frivolous thing.
Vanessa Whitney
Block 2
The act of keeping the masses ignorant of the past is as relevant in today’s society as it is in that of Brave New World. The Controller introduces this mode of social regulation in the beginning of Chapter 3 as he reminds the students that “History is bunk (34),”indicating its total absurdity. He then waves his hand as though to symbolically brush “away a little dust (34)” of various historical events and figures (“Harappa… Symphony” on page 35) and goes on to state, “That’s why you’re taught no history (35).” The next section of the text includes the indication of “strange rumors of old forbidden texts” like “Bibles” and “poetry,” which also supports the society’s constraint on history. Toward the end of the chapter, Huxley continues to illustrate the disappearance of history within the context of the Nine Years’ War, describing events like “a campaign against the Past” that was accompanied by the closing and destruction of museums and monuments and the “suppression of all books published before A.F. 150.” The traces of history were wiped out completely so the newly established society might not draw conclusions based on past occurrences. (Furthermore, other methods of restraint include the suggested adherence to social norms that deter individuals from recalling past events, as noted in Chapter 6, Part 2.)
ReplyDeleteActions that discourage historical studies have already been taken in the present day. The generic excuse for such a bold, conflicting proposal is the ability to save money within the educational budget. Suggestions to limit history classes range from squeezing a larger portion of history into a smaller amount of time to cutting courses altogether. Rushing through history is virtually useless if students are receiving nothing but Sparknotes worthy summaries, and are not absorbing the importance of history on a deeper level. Cutting classes completely allows no room for intellectual growth in regard to learning about the future from the past. Some propositions, as seen in the video clip included below, advocate leaving out all events up to the Revolutionary War. Hmmm… sounds rather familiar – “suppression… before A.F. 150.” It is, indeed, a brave new world.
Jeannie :^D
Oops, I forgot the link!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Cut-Early-US-History-from-High-School-84158327.html
Quite an interesting video... I encourage you to watch :)
The connection that I would like to point out between today’s society and the society in Brave New World is that both recycle. In Brave New World, society uses the crematory to collect phosphorous from dead bodies (p.73). The recycle dead bodies and produce phosphorous in return. This is the same thing that many people do today, just a little less extreme. Today people recycle cans, bottles, paper, ect., apposed to recycling the dead. The concept is the same though, recycling is recycling know matter how it is done. During a Huxley’s time, recycling was not very popular, but in his book it is clear of what he thought the future would hold. Recycling is a major part of our lives now, just as it is in the World State. It has become more efficient and useful to the population, thus it has become more popular. The World State has the ability to collect over ninety-eight percent of the phosphorous that burning bodies produce. In our time we are able to efficiently recycle many household items and in some cases save money.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThe similarities between Brave New World and our current world are: the sense of self and the idea that everyone should fit into a specific place/societal role. Also the behavior of self-indulgence. Brave New World places people into specific groups : Alphas, Betas, etc. The Alphas and Betas are mirrored in our own world as the rich, wealthy, beautiful. Those who succeed whether on their own or through hard work are looked on as others are not. Anything less, such as working as a waiter, cab driver, elevator operator, etc. is looked down upon as miniscule and unimportant compared to the exciting things that Alphas & Betas do in their daily lives. This is also reflected in high school through cliques - popular, smart, stupid, druggie, whatever you can think of is somehow related to Huxley's restrictions of the caste system in Brave New World. This sense of everyone has a group, a specific place they belong is very much portrayed through behavior of high school students, or even kids of any age. Self indulgence is also a major similarity between the two worlds. If someone has a bad day they feel they need and deserve some form of outlet whether it be food, drugs, drinking, etc. The same is true of Brave New World and the use of soma to avoid feelings and emotions that are considered abnormal.
ReplyDeleteThe similarity between our world and Brave New world that I noticed the most was the key point of alienation between a mass of people and a person unlike themsleves. Johns mother, Linda is alienated to the point where she is set aside in a room drugged with soma to basically make her die faster. She was different from the rest of the society, having had John with a live-birth, they wanted her away from the masses. They were afraid of what it would do to societies stability.
ReplyDeleteWe do this unknowingly in our everyday world. We have mental hospitals for the people who are not as stable as us. We have rehabs for abusers, and classes at school for mentally slower children. We unknowingly alienate everyone for any reason we can find, just because they are in someway different from us. We as a society are afraid of those who think like Bernard, in a way unlike our own. Just like the population in Brave New World, we hear what we want to hear and see what we want to see. The others are alienated out of our sight.
~Alicia Weeks
Block 2
A likeness the world of BNW shares with our world is irreligious and the need to fit in. What is so interesting is that as much as most characters appear to have a belief in a higher power Huxley's main character, Bernard Marx, shows sign implying that he might be an atheist. For example in Chapter 5 page 83, it shows that Bernard does not really believe a higher power is coming nevertheless pretends that he does. Which also ties in with the need to fit in. Marx is dissimilar from the other characters yet he does not use his contrasting nature to his advantage. But would rather attempt to be "just like everyone else" which is a major issue today in our schools and even beyond school.
ReplyDeleteGeorgette Taluy
Block 4
The similarity between Brave New World and our society is the type of entertainment that is most enjoyed. In Brave New World the feelies is a room with 4-D porn provided. In the same way American television is not exactly 4-D but Gossip Girl and 90210, pretty much fit the porn category. Even in the school system, when examples in class are related to sex or erotic behavior the student’s ears perk up and start listening. In elementary school, sexual education is now being taught at an earlier age, some schools teach the class in kindergarten! Even though society is not encouraging sexual play on the playground, teaching kids about sex at a younger age is heading that way.
ReplyDeleteEven at Westminster Abbey when everyone was having an orgy, Huxley was mocking religion for entertainment. In our society the entertainment doesn’t differ that much, show’s like Family Guy and South Park, are constantly disrespectful towards religion and mock what people believe almost as much as Huxley does.
An aspect of Brave New World that reflects our current society, is how hypocrisy never ceases to exist. In the beginning of the novel, whenever Bernard Marx was mentioned by one of the other characters he was often referred to as odd. It is mentioned several times that perhaps alcohol was put in his blood and that could be the reason behind him being different. The instant Bernard returns from the Savage Reservation with John, he is received almost like a god especially since it is revealed John is the son of the Director. Blasphemy! Yet behind closed doors, the smack talk against Bernard continued, many saying that Bernard would “come to a bad end” and he should relish the moment since he “won't find another savage.” But nothing negative would be said about Mr. Marx when they would get invited to his parties. At one point Lenina pondered over the idea of going out with Bernard, but when they returned from the reservation and he received positive attention, she claimed that he was rather “sweet.” So much for the previous criticism about him being different. Image seems to be essential to certain people and they are willing to go to any lengths to be affiliated with people who are in the public eye. It is difficult to know if someone is honest because they may act one way in person, yet behind closed doors they may be completely different.
ReplyDeleteCinthya Castro
Block 2
The media is portrayed in both Brave New World and in the world we live in as hugely persuasive to the masses. The seeming "media frenzy" got the crowds in Brave New World to see John, consequently causing to him snap, just by being able to broadcast the information to millions of homes across the world. In our lives today, we place a greater amount of emphasis on subjects covered by mainstream media. The announcement of a mosque built next to ground zero through the news can incite huge debate, but without the news knowing about it, the building could have stood without the world-wide conflict. This control can also draw from the Controller's power to keep certain pieces of information from the masses, just as the news has the power to do so as well. Goodnight and good luck.
ReplyDeleteIsaac Amor Block 2
A big similarity between "Brave New World" and society today is sexual behavior. In society, teenagers are becoming sexually active at young ages. They no more about sex than they should. In order for a girl to get noticed by a boy, she would put herslef out there just to get his attention. The aftermath of this situation results, most of the time, in rumors being spread around and people calling that poor girl a whore, slut, or any other cruel word. For example, in the book BNW during chapter thirteen on page 194, Lenina had taken her clothes off and stated to John,"kiss me till I'm in a coma..." He pushed her away and yelled,"Damned whore!" Because people have sex at young ages, it makes them prone to having more partners when they are older. Boys today have an image to uphold and the more girls they "befriend", the better their image becomes. On page 67 during chapter 4 part 2, Helmholtz Watson is portrayed as an honorable man because of all the women he has slept with. The book says, "...it was said that he had had 640 different girls in under four years." On this page, Watson was said to be an admirable man. Lenina was depicted as a "whore" and Watson was shown as somewhat of a hero. There is a double standard in society; it seems to be perfectly alright for a man to sleep with all the women he wants, but a girl obtains a reputation as something terrible because she wanted to engage in sexual activity. Some people today have already experienced an "orgy". BNW describes, in detail in the third paragraph on page 84 , what was occurring during the "orgy-porgy" and how everyone was feeling. Page 84 in chapter 5, part 2 talks about how Bernard Marx felt during the "orgy-porgy". "I hear him; He's coming...," said Bernard on page 84, as well. However, Marx was not being truthful and couldn't feel anything. In real life, people lie when they say they had an orgasm during sex. BNW has many situations that relate to society today. Sex is just one of the many relations between the two.
ReplyDeleteCheyenne Hall
block 4
A large connection to todays world and the Brave New World is the idea of mass orgies (yes I have run out of ideas so I will go down the funny route). In BNW the idea that having orgies is good and almost religious to some this is not much different from now days where swingers mix and mingle amongst one another so has to have intimate relations with another all retaining a sense of anonymity to a degree ( most likely enough so that they can kind of look one another in the eye the next morning). Any who in the BNW the distancing of ones self from the act is a simple everyday act much like the average orgy-goer. Also many religions advocate a free almost orgytastic (new word) life style that maintains the religion but also the person's honor and for some their dignity.
ReplyDeleteThe aspect of the novel that I found similar to our society is the promiscuity at an early age. In Brave New World children at the age of 6 start their promiscuous behavior. Within society today children around the ages of 10 to 14 become aware of the differences between girls and boys and they soon become curious as to find out the differences. Today children are having children and that is the type of behavior that Brave New World promotes.
ReplyDeleteIn Brave New World on page 38, it says, “in a little grassy bay between tall clumps of Mediterranean heather, two children, a little boy of about seven and a little girl who might have been a year older, were playing, very gravely and with all the focused attention of scientist intent on a labour of discovery, a rudimentary sexual game.” And basically in Brave New World this is one of the values that they look at as sex isn’t something that they should be deprived of. That at these young children playing is something that is wanted within society.
While in our society today we have girls that start having children at the age of 15. We have actually had a mother in 1939 that was as young as 5 years old. Although society doesn’t ask for this to happen or praise minor promiscuity it is something that is growing within our society.
Cite
http://www.nealirc.org/Gerontology/FamilyRecord.html
Sue-Ann Shaw
Block # 4
Hey Ms. Hurst,
ReplyDeleteAn aspect in Brave New World that also applies in todays society is the belief that everyone is equal to everyone, and that everyone is the same. In Brave New World, Huxley makes these test tube babies the same with very little differences, besides social ranking. In today's society it is made to look as though all of the world are equal, and that everyone has a say in what happens in their own life. But in reality it is very much like the book; the controller and Dhc are like the givernment in our case, they make the decisions and we follow them. Although it seems as if we have a say in what goes on, they use propaganda techniques to convince us to do what they want us to do.
Tatjana Lightbourn
2nd Block
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteA major similarity that I saw in BNW was that Aldous Huxley tries to create a sense of an ideal communist society. "Every one works for every one else..." (pg.74), can be seen as the basic concept of "true" communism. As it is stated, Huxley is mocking Russia and German societies a heap. The society seems to have no need of currency, due to all the classes working cohesively.
ReplyDeleteThe explanation of how this society got created after the Nine Years War(pg.48-56), has a very strong connection to what Adolph Hitler did when he got his Reich into power. The controllers burned all the books so they can create their own history and start anew. Obviously some where saved, John reading "The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare", (pg.131). Also locking the "savages" out of this society was key to keeping its inhabitants brainwashed, so they were not influenced by the truth.
---Phillip King
Block 4
An aspect of Brave New World that is evident in our society today is the avoidance of all that falls beneath our standards. Whether it’s a general disappointment in something physical, to a memory of an unfortunate circumstance, human nature guides each individual in pushing it away in all possible ways. As with a very common idea not everyone comprehends in today’s world: “people like happy people,” society acts consistently in fiction as it does now. Although we’d rather not accept this as true, many similarities can be seen in the society within Brave New World, and modern day humanity; those who do not meet expectations physically, mentally, or emotionally are hard-pressed to stay in others’ lives, and will- albeit unconsciously by some- be shunned from societal norms and the general populace.
ReplyDeleteMatt Brown
Block 4
The sexual promiscuity portrayed in Brave New World definitely coincides with today's societal living standards. Once frowned upon before modern times, it was shameful and distasteful for men and woman to have excessive partners. Monogamy was the "law of the land" in a sense, and numerous novels such as the Scarlet Letter emphasized the worlds viewpoint at that time. Chapter three (pg.39) states "For a very long period before the time of our Ford, and even for some generations afterwards, erotic play between children had been regarded as abnormal (there was a roar of laughter); and not only abnormal, actually immoral (no!): and had therefore been rigorously suppressed." The reactions in parenthesis show how absurd the people of the BNW thought the past beliefs were. The way they think is exactly how society thinks today. We no longer regard sex as a monogamous ritual between just one man and one woman. People are having sex on average 127 times a year. Also, 45% of people have one night stands with multiple partners. The world is changing, and now it's natural to sleep around and have fun. People who save themselves for that "special someone" seem weird to those who have already experienced copulation. Eventually our society will completely adapt to a sexually uninhibited lifestyle such as the Brave New World and everyone will welcome it with open arms.
ReplyDeleteBrave New World parallels our society through the ways we understand and enjoy music and the arts. Music has a unique aspect among our society in which it diffuses between cultures changing social norms. In Brave New World, synthetic music is played and enjoyed by those who listen, while in our society, modern conveniences allow us to feel and enjoy the same rush and exitement.
ReplyDeleteCulture is assimilated with music through its ability to demonstrate the belifs and emotions of a social group. In Brave New World (Chapter 5, pg.76), feelings of joy and pleasure are persuaded through the playing of synthetic music. At the grand opening of the Westminster Abbey Cabaret, the mood is one of exitment as depicted by the diction in how the "electric sky sign" on "facade" was personified to be inviting. The tone also demonstrates a fun atmosphere through the "now four-hundred and one" couples dancing to the playing of sexophones. An event that seems similar to this in our society would be going to a club and dancing where lights and music are played and people of all sorts having fun. Another parallel between technologies is the sexophone in Brave New World and 3-D televisions in our society where we can observe 3-D images that support the music being played (i.e- a requiem and a sepulchral graveyard setting), which directly affects our emotional state.
Brian Cavanaugh
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn today's society we are still afraid to embrace reality, especially through works of literature and media. In Brave New World, “there were those strange rumours of old forbidden books” (pg. 35) which the citizens were banned from reading to prevent deconditioning and learning things the DHC and Ford would find inappropriate and threatening to their habituated lifestyle. Then, there were the "works that have been permitted to come down to us" (pg. 24) which the DHC and Ford felt posed no threat and correlated with society’s lifestyle. We are taught certain values, morals, ethics, etc. in our homes, schools, and religion, and a portion of American society is worried that these ideals that we were “conditioned” into will be lost through reading such contaminated works. There are many censors and book-banners in the United States who feel that if they ban and censor certain works, they too, can prevent some sort of chaos emitting from simply picking up a book. Schools even ban certain books within the classroom for their content; even Brave New World is on the "Banned Books" list, how ironic. But this is seen in the "Advanced Emotional Engineering for Third Year Students: course, when Watson's rhymes caused conflict with authority (pg.180-181). The rhymes could have a negative affect on the students, or so this was the reason for Watson's reprimandation. The fact we are banning literature is absurd, but it exists just as the absurdities of the Brave New World exist.
ReplyDeleteCassie
Block 4
The world controllers in BNW can be compared to common day dictators. Mustapha Mond is no different than Stalin or Hitler who use similar tactics as him to keep society "stable". Mustspha Mond uses propaganda and brain washing to keep the people in society in line and ignorant. On page 177 Mustapha Mond is shown banning a biology book for containing "dangerous" material that may promote what would be seen as bad behavior. All of these tactics were and are used by dictators to control the masses and maintain power. It was not uncommon for the S.S. in Germany to hold book burnings to prevent "dangerous" material from spreading throughout the masses and possibly promoting action against the dictatorship.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteBrave New World parallels today's society in the amount of faith placed in a person. In chapter 12 Bernard is trying his hardest to persuade John, the Savage, to meet the other inhabitants of the Brave New World. Bernard was seeking a way out of his ridiculed reputation, hoping another would do what he failed to for his entire life, he was simply let down by the person he thought would eagerly oblige. Of course we all know John did not meet everyone leaving Bernard once again in the same situation with an added reason for the people to dislike him. This is similar to the election of 2008 in the United States. Many people would claim that the Bush administration left the country in a state that no one was prepared for, similar to the " water in his surrogate" in reference to Bernard- a cause that could have a life altering effect. Once President Obama was elected many people began to expect an immediate change, for him to magically undo eight years of an administration. Like Bernard, the majority of Americans, were assuming that this one event, this one person, could rewind time simply because of who and what the person stood for. Also analogous to Brenard's actions, many of the same Americans who voted for Obama now are against him, illustrated by a 28% approval rating, ( validated by the daily Presidential Tracking Poll) just as Bernard began referring to John as " The Savage" because he was let down. Granted it is the President's job to see that the country continues to prosper, but it is also his/her job to insure it is done respectably and with the least amount of issues. Brave New World eliminated natural conception, natural knowledge, and decisions, although in one aspect man is taken out of the equation for how this new world is created it is given more power in how man has direct decisions on how and who becomes what- by the hand of man.
ReplyDelete-Jalina Pittma Blk 2
In the first chapter of BNW a group is on a tour of the central London conditioning and hatchery center. If you read closely and pick up clues you will notice that the group is made up entirely of males. Throughout the novel, I noticed that most people who hold important positions in the BNW society are males. Another example would be the lack of female Alphas in the novel. In todays society most men still hold the more important jobs, while there may be some exceptions it is still hard for women today to be equal in the workplace.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 13, page 189, when Lenina was sitting on the couch and John was on one knee telling her that he love's her; the setting is very close to a modern proposal. Here John tells her of his feelings towards her, which are so powerful he wants to conduct a ceremonial act of getting the skin of a mountain lion to prove he's worthy. Where he's from, he's used to a gentleman providing a sign of affection before the marriage; similar to how society views an engagement. The man traditional is supposed to ask for the woman's hand in marriage from her parents, followed by getting a ring and then proposing it to her. This is a very religious aspect of how John's society, along with literature (Shakespeare) has shaped his mentally. Compared to how the State has Lenina's, no religious ties what so ever, thus her not even knowing the importance of love and purity. This can be compared to those people who get married without consent and doesn't have a consciousness for religious procedures.
ReplyDeleteJonell Joseph
Block 2
First of all I am SO sorry I'm late for this I swear I have been extremely busy. I know that an aplogy with an excuse is not an apology, but I just hope you understand, Im only human.
ReplyDeleteIn chapter 5 part 1, they talk about the different man-made races such as th Alphas, Betas, etc. You know how they raise the people agains each other just because of the colors of their clothes? It reflects on how shallow racism has been implanted in the minds of people for thousands of years, only based on visual aesthetics, overlooking who Humans are,and only noticing what they are. It is the proof and reflection of how even if in the future (if all history and morality is deleted and corrupted from the face of this earth) demons will always linger deep inside society. Just like the sun will always come out no matter how dark it is.
-William Weeks