(Book 3, Chapters 4-6): Anime Vs. 1984 (No But Really, Just Something I Noticed)
Quote:
"There was no physical act, no word spoken aloud, that they had not noticed, no train of thought that they had not been able to infer. Even the speck of whitish dust on the cover of his diary they had carefully replaced. They had played sound-tracks to him, shown him photographs. Some of them were photographs of Julia and himself. Yes, even... He could not fight against the Party any longer. Besides, the Party was in the right. It must be so; how could the immortal, collective brain be mistaken? By what external standard could you check its judgements? Sanity was statistical. It was merely a question of learning to think as they thought." (276-277)
What I Have to Say:
So I chose this quote specifically because it reminded of an anime I watched a few years back called Psycho Pass. Spoilers ahead in case anyone is interested in watching it. The entire society is basically built on preventing crime through a police force that has the power of "reading peoples' minds". Of course, in the anime, the knowledge of what people think comes from (spoiler!) a hive mind made up of asymptomatic brains instead of people who claim any suspicious behavior means you are guilty like in 1984. In the Psycho Pass universe, no one except the brains themselves and a few select people know that the hive mind exists; instead, what can tell if people are criminally inclined is considered one entity named Sybil. This sort of reminds me of Big Brother, which I don't really think exists, but is just a collection of the ideals of the Party.
In the anime, those who discover the true nature of Sybil are killed (unless they are asymptomatic, because those people are recruited). I think this can be compared to the Party vaporizing those who do not remain ignorant to the Party's intentions and how those who are tortured are added to the group of the ignorant. The brains who run Sybil also try to keep the general public ignorant to the truth of the government unless they can be used to make Sybil stronger (by adding a brain). Sybil also keeps everyone in place through the fear of arrest or even murder because anyone with a high enough crime coefficient (the number that tells the police how likely you are to commit a crime) can and will be punished. Unfortunately, just like in 1984, this selling sign can be blown out of proportion, because sometimes crime coefficients can go up just because of stress. In both worlds, the people are expected to remain complacent and accept the sayings of the government (Sybil and Big Brother) as complete truth.
In specific relation to the quote, I really really enjoyed the part where Winston states that sanity is statistical. I relate this to the crime coefficient because because in Oceania, those who deny the fake reality the Party are considered crazy, and those who have high crime coefficients are considered unstable. The quote also makes it clear that the Party knows all, even if any doubt in the Party isn't expressed physically, just like in Psycho Pass, where no crime has to be committed for guilt to be claimed.
"There was no physical act, no word spoken aloud, that they had not noticed, no train of thought that they had not been able to infer. Even the speck of whitish dust on the cover of his diary they had carefully replaced. They had played sound-tracks to him, shown him photographs. Some of them were photographs of Julia and himself. Yes, even... He could not fight against the Party any longer. Besides, the Party was in the right. It must be so; how could the immortal, collective brain be mistaken? By what external standard could you check its judgements? Sanity was statistical. It was merely a question of learning to think as they thought." (276-277)
What I Have to Say:
So I chose this quote specifically because it reminded of an anime I watched a few years back called Psycho Pass. Spoilers ahead in case anyone is interested in watching it. The entire society is basically built on preventing crime through a police force that has the power of "reading peoples' minds". Of course, in the anime, the knowledge of what people think comes from (spoiler!) a hive mind made up of asymptomatic brains instead of people who claim any suspicious behavior means you are guilty like in 1984. In the Psycho Pass universe, no one except the brains themselves and a few select people know that the hive mind exists; instead, what can tell if people are criminally inclined is considered one entity named Sybil. This sort of reminds me of Big Brother, which I don't really think exists, but is just a collection of the ideals of the Party.
In the anime, those who discover the true nature of Sybil are killed (unless they are asymptomatic, because those people are recruited). I think this can be compared to the Party vaporizing those who do not remain ignorant to the Party's intentions and how those who are tortured are added to the group of the ignorant. The brains who run Sybil also try to keep the general public ignorant to the truth of the government unless they can be used to make Sybil stronger (by adding a brain). Sybil also keeps everyone in place through the fear of arrest or even murder because anyone with a high enough crime coefficient (the number that tells the police how likely you are to commit a crime) can and will be punished. Unfortunately, just like in 1984, this selling sign can be blown out of proportion, because sometimes crime coefficients can go up just because of stress. In both worlds, the people are expected to remain complacent and accept the sayings of the government (Sybil and Big Brother) as complete truth.
In specific relation to the quote, I really really enjoyed the part where Winston states that sanity is statistical. I relate this to the crime coefficient because because in Oceania, those who deny the fake reality the Party are considered crazy, and those who have high crime coefficients are considered unstable. The quote also makes it clear that the Party knows all, even if any doubt in the Party isn't expressed physically, just like in Psycho Pass, where no crime has to be committed for guilt to be claimed.
Hey Fernanda! Your quote that you chose was very well chosen since it really shows how the Party operates along with the Thought Police to catch anybody they choose. I really liked your response since it seems as if this anime that you selected was really in close relation to 1984. I was quite impressed that you were able to dissect 1984 as a whole in our last blog and connect it thoroughly to this anime that you chose. You know I'm not a big fan of anime, but hey I just might have to watch this one since it seems very similar to 1984. I want to see for myself, the relations that you explained in your response.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the quote, it is after all quite scary that the party by any means will do anything in order to capture anybody who rebels against the government. I feel that it was necessary for Winston to finally step back and accept Big Brother since his rebellion would only last so long if he continued this rebellion again. I feel that from this being the ending of the book in which Winston chooses the Party and Big Brother rather than his rebellion, I myself was quite disappointed towards the ending of the book. I was disappointed since from when Julia was introduced all I had in mind for an ending was for Winston and Julia's love was too strong that they were inseparable even if they went against each other to escape the Party's confinement. However, this was the opposite since they rebelled against each other and never rebelled against the party with each other anymore. Winston finally accepted the party and Big Brother's ideals. The disappoint fact is that we mostly always thought that the ending would be by Winston and Julia teaming up forever, to overthrow the party.
Overall, your blog was impressive as always. Your quote selections never fail to upset, and your responses are always very detailed and elaborated. I love your blog. Great job throughout all your blogs!
The relation from Psycho Pass to 1984 was brilliant. I enjoy seeing relations between two different forms of entertainment (An anime and the social commentary that is 1984) and connections between the two. Maybe I'll check out Psycho Pass for myself after seeing your great connection between it and 1984.
ReplyDeleteThe party will go to immense lengths to keep its citizens under its control. In a way I expected Winston to not go against the Party because he is just one man and it would not make the book realistic. I have never seen Psycho Pass, but the way you compare it to 1984 makes it sound eerily similar almost. I have never seen someone compare this book to an anime before so good job!! Wonderful post!!!
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