It is no secret that the 20th century has become a difficult time for the world because of the frequency of wars and the prevalence of dictatorship. The influence of the political situation can be seen in the literature, as writers are among the first to react to events in the world. One of the most striking examples is George Orwell’s 1984 anti-utopia novel, which is s a truly brilliant work of literature. The author described a future model in which a totalitarian system of government prevails, and each person is under the supervision of the authorities. Every step of the citizens is analyzed, so they do not have the right to do anything wrong their government wants. Human observation uses technologies that were unknown in the 20th century, but in modern times, readers are shocked at how Orwell could predict the future. The types of controls described in the book, such as television surveillance, street surveillance, and penetration into human thought, are still used, despite the opposite view that in the 21st century, people use other technologies.
The first vivid example is the control of citizens in streets with cameras and microphones everywhere. This situation is most clearly manifested in anti-utopia because it demonstrates the scope of the state’s policy toward freedom. Someone in authority can view every person’s life, and “it was terribly dangerous to let your thoughts wander when you were in any public place or within a range of a telescreen” (Orwell 41). Citizens may have feared every move they made, knowing they were under scrutiny but having no way of influencing it and getting rid of such controls. The government simplified its work through video surveillance and built a solid totalitarian system. A similar situation can now be observed with the cameras mounted everywhere, like in parks, streets, and parking lots (Haque 188). Despite the prevalence of democracy, it is undeniable that people are under constant surveillance. Wherever a person goes, almost everywhere, they can get into the frame and be watched by someone on the other side of the screen. Thus, camera surveillance of citizens is an effective method in the novel and finds echoes in the 21st century.
The second example of control of incest is the monitoring of human activities within one’s own home. An example of Orwell’s book is the telescreen, which “received and transmitted simultaneously. Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a shallow whisper, would be picked up by it” (Orwell 3). According to the scenario, the TV enabled citizens to be under the constant control of the Party. Thanks to such technology, it was possible to take part in a person’s life not only in a public place but also in a seemingly protected place like home. Speaking of modernity, one can recall that, for example, “our phone calls, emails, and every other communication we make are being tracked and analyzed” (Haque 188). The same is true for televisions, which already have voice input and visual recognition of the user. Unaware of this, modern people are under constant surveillance in their homes, although they do not even feel it. Thus, the privacy of life inside the house is also not specific, as TVs and other mobile devices already have access to users’ biometric and personal data.
The last but not minor example of citizen control is the penetration and observation of a person’s thoughts. According to George Orwell, “the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork” (3). This technology allows the government to control visible human actions and thoughts that may never be realized but already threaten the survival of the regime of government. This enables the Party to warn against the possible emergence of people who oppose its policies. In the modern world, the practice of penetration into the human neural system is increasingly spreading, and scientists “will try to control your thoughts and your emotions” (Haque 187). Objectively speaking, this can be used by humanity for good purposes, which is why such practices are carried out which improve the capabilities of modern technologies in this regard. However, for totalitarian states that still exist in the world, this could be the instrument of government described in the novel, so the consequences of such actions may not be peaceful. Thus, the control of human thought is now, though an innovation, being actively researched by professors in medicine, reflecting Orwell’s novel.
Finally, there was a counterargument that totalitarian government technologies could not be used in the modern world because of their humanity but that such innovations must be considered. In support of this claim, an example is given: “It is not only the privacy issues but also the issues of decreasing the crime rates in the country” (Haque 188). In analyzing this statement, it is essential to say that it does not deny the existence of technologies that can control human life. Although they are used for good purposes, they repeat the concept of observation described in the novel. In addition to the counterargument, there is also an example of cars that conduct tracking because of monitoring the driving skills (Haque 189). There is the problem of contextualization because these technologies are about improving the quality of human life. However, this rule only applies if the ownership of these innovations is appropriately managed. Thus, while technologies such as those described in the Orwell novel are not intended to be used for control purposes, they are present in the modern era and may be used for purposes other than good at any time.
In conclusion, the use of the technologies described in the Orwell anti-utopia novel is still relevant in the modern world and significantly impacts human life. As evidence, it is fashionable to cite the example that even in the 21st century, people are under constant surveillance by cameras when they can walk down the street and say whatever they want. In addition, other technologies in the form of gadgets that are used every day, and have access to the owner’s data await the person at home. Scientists also employ technologies that penetrate the human brain and control their behavior and thoughts, although the development phase is still in its early stages. Even though this all suggests a positive impact on human life, it is, in any case, a method of observation and execution similar to the situation in the novel. It is, therefore, essential for humanity to remain vigilant and to control the problem so that totalitarian regimes do not exploit such innovations to their advantage. These arguments are crucial, as even in 2022, Orwell’s novel remains relevant as if warning humanity that it needs to be wary of technological progress.
Works Cited
Haque, Bahalul. “Big Brother in 1984 & The Modern Era Surveillance”. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, vol. 8, no. 1, 2019, pp. 186-190.
Orwell, George. Nineteen Eighty-Four. 1949. Penguin Classics, 2021.