Sunday Dispatch .405
Contrary to common belief, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.
Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism.
Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.
Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy.
As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distraction."
In 1984, Huxley added, people are controled by inflicting pain. in Brave New World, they are controled by inflicting pleasure.
In short, Orwell feared what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.
~from Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
Contrary to common belief, Huxley and Orwell did not prophesy the same thing. Orwell warns that we will be overcome by an externally imposed oppression. But in Huxley's vision, no Big Brother is required to deprive people of their autonomy, maturity and history. As he saw it, people will come to love oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.
What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.
Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism.
Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.
Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy.
As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distraction."
In 1984, Huxley added, people are controled by inflicting pain. in Brave New World, they are controled by inflicting pleasure.
In short, Orwell feared what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.
~from Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
2 comments:
Actually, Orwell and Huxley were BOTH RIGHT, but in polar opposites. You can see both their (polar opposites) perspectives playing out over the past few decades.
It's literally a PARADOX.
It wasn't me, I wasn't there
I was just watching from over here
And besides, I couldn't afford the bus fare
In Hollywood and Washington
They shake and smile through the harm they've done
But it's your little red wagon
And you've got to pull it
It'll take a lifetime to clear your name
Under the bridges of fame it's always nighttime
It wasn't me, I wasn't there
I was stone drunk, it isn't clear
And it doesn't count because I don't care
The years transform my memories
Of all the countless decades of grief
It was cut and run in '91
Put yourselves in a straightjacket
But when you plead insane
It's no cheaper than humiliation
That's free
I've gone and quit my worshipping
Of the false gods and golden sins
Because we made love in the tower of Babel
And it fell down
It wasn't me, I wasn't there
That was not my love affair
That is not my lover, that's not even my friend
It wasn't me, I wasn't there
I was stone drunk, it isn't clear
And it doesn't count, because I don't care
But I use a pop song to clear my name
Under the bridges of fame it's always nighttime
I'll end with a closer and say goodnight
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