Tuesday, September 24, 2013

B Block Honors Seniors: 1984 Supplement



Part A: To supplement our reading of 1984, I am asking you to consider the qualities of both utopian and dystopian societies. Visit the two links below (of course, these are not put forth as actual utopias, but undeniably represent facets of what some consider ideal societies). Offer a brief synopsis of each. Then, discuss the qualities that you identify as synonymous with utopias and dystopias.

The World: Dubai

Denmark: The Happiest Place on Earth


Part B: Click here. View the document. Construct a thesis statement connecting the content of this article to 1984.


Part C: Click the links below to explore the images of North Korea on "The Big Picture". Peruse the photographs and read all of the captions. After viewing a number of images from multiple links, choose 3 that you feel echo- or, perhaps, represent distinctions when compared with- 1984. Construct 3 separate statements that identify and articulate similarities and distinctions between image and text.

Recent Scenes from North Korea
Peering Into North Korea
A North Korean Anniversary and Debut
Tension in the Koreas

18 comments:

Kelsey Sousa said...

In the first link, it shows a tiny place that is full of islands and is completely blocked off from anyone else for miles. It allows a getaway but at the same time your watched by the people of Dubai. The second link basically talks about how Denmark has to pay in order to have happiness.

Using new technology, we are able to dig deeper into the mind, brain and functional skills of human beings.

1.)Everything is very structured and almost everyone you see is in uniform.
2.) A lot of the people who has money have to work extremely, extremely hard for it.
3.)They are very scarce with what they need, there isn't really a.

Anonymous said...

Part A: In the first video about "The World" it portrays a small place full of islands that is completely surrounded by water. It allows you to get away from your society but at the same time you are overseen by the people of Dubai. The second link says how Denmark has to pay in order to be happy in their society.

Part B: Thesis: With the use of advanced technology, humans are able to uncover some of the hidden thoughts that are in someone’s mind.

Part C:
1. Things are very structured and organized, with all the people wearing uniforms.
2. People who actually have money have to work hard to get it
3. The people of North Korea don’t have a lot of what they need which hurts them as a country and individuals.

Ashley Cibotti

Anonymous said...

Part A: In the first video about "The World" it portrays a small place full of islands that is completely surrounded by water. It allows you to get away from your society but at the same time you are overseen by the people of Dubai. The second link says how Denmark has to pay in order to be happy in their society.

Part B: Thesis: With the use of advanced technology, humans are able to uncover some of the hidden thoughts that are in someone’s mind.

Part C:
1. Things are very structured and organized, with all the people wearing uniforms.
2. People who actually have money have to work hard to get it
3. The people of North Korea don’t have a lot of what they need which hurts them as a country and individuals.

Ashley Cibotti

Sarah Goldberg said...

Dubai and Denmark are both considered being utopian societies by the people that live there. Dubai claims to have year round sunshine, an exceptional array of retail venues, private beaches and marinas everywhere, strategic transportation hubs to optimize travel time, and to be the ultimate in exclusivity. Denmark is considered one of the happiest places on earth based upon how happy it’s citizens are. People are though to be happy there because the government pays for all health care and education. Also because everyone essentially makes the same amount of money so people actually do what they want to. Synonymous with utopian and dystopian societies, the people living there think their government is the best way of government. People in Denmark are so happy and give credit to their government for being so happy. In 1984, the dystopian society also makes people think that their form of government is the best. The government is so controlling that it makes people think that it is the best way of doing things.

Researching Functional MRI’s for “60 Minutes,” Stahl is able to report that mind reading may easily be in the future which depicts the novel “1984” as non fiction rather than science fiction.

The photograph of a resident of North Korea trying to extinguish a house fire is synonymous with the text 1984 because the government in the text will sometimes have attacks in the neighborhoods where the proles live to show that the government is much more powerful than they are.
The photo of all of the boarder guards in Noth Korea echoes the idea of every Party member in 1984 has to wear the same uniforms all the time.
All of the North Korean factory workers walking to work together echoes the idea in 1984 of how everyone is told when to go to work and all must go at the same time.

Branden pike said...

In the first link the show the structure of the community of the island and how they live in this community when they are very far away from any land or other community. in the second link it shows the life of the people in Alaska and the people in a nice resort in Florida. They show that the small town in Alaska is a lot happier then the people in Florid because they are in a nice small community where everybody knows each other. I think that they want us to see that a utopia is not a place with a lot of nice things but a place with a good economy and every body lives in peace.
1)the first link show all the people are in uniform and they are in a structured economy.
2)in the second one they show are lead and the have to work really hard to get where they are.
3) in the third one they show that they are scared and they need a lot of they don't have but really need.

Unknown said...

In the first link the show the structure of the community of the island and how they live in this community when they are very far away from any land or other community. in the second link it shows the life of the people in Alaska and the people in a nice resort in Florida. They show that the small town in Alaska is a lot happier then the people in Florid because they are in a nice small community where everybody knows each other. I think that they want us to see that a utopia is not a place with a lot of nice things but a place with a good economy and every body lives in peace.
1)the first link show all the people are in uniform and they are in a structured economy.
2)in the second one they show are lead and the have to work really hard to get where they are.
3) in the third one they show that they are scared and they need a lot of they don't have but really need.

Unknown said...

In the first link the show the structure of the community of the island and how they live in this community when they are very far away from any land or other community. in the second link it shows the life of the people in Alaska and the people in a nice resort in Florida. They show that the small town in Alaska is a lot happier then the people in Florid because they are in a nice small community where everybody knows each other. I think that they want us to see that a utopia is not a place with a lot of nice things but a place with a good economy and every body lives in peace.
1)the first link show all the people are in uniform and they are in a structured economy.
2)in the second one they show are lead and the have to work really hard to get where they are.
3) in the third one they show that they are scared and they need a lot of they don't have but really need.

Unknown said...

In the first link the show the structure of the community of the island and how they live in this community when they are very far away from any land or other community. in the second link it shows the life of the people in Alaska and the people in a nice resort in Florida. They show that the small town in Alaska is a lot happier then the people in Florid because they are in a nice small community where everybody knows each other. I think that they want us to see that a utopia is not a place with a lot of nice things but a place with a good economy and every body lives in peace.
1)the first link show all the people are in uniform and they are in a structured economy.
2)in the second one they show are lead and the have to work really hard to get where they are.
3) in the third one they show that they are scared and they need a lot of they don't have but really need.

Unknown said...

“The World” describes a utopia made up of a large group of islands, shaped to look like the continents of the world. The islands would be residential and part of Denmark. The article “Denmark: The Happiest Place on Earth” discusses Denmark and its people. Studies have shown that Danes are the happiest people in the world, yet in order to be this happy, they have to pay a very high amount of taxes and live in a socialistic society. Utopias and dystopias seem to have the same idea of being perfect societies with perfect living conditions. The only difference is that dystopias have one or a few things that have gone wrong to make it not as desirable, or bad for the people living in it.

Through the advancement of fMRI technology, the specific thoughts made by a person will be able to be identified, and this could cause many concerns over privacy.

1) In one picture, a woman is seen walking on a road in uniform, similar to the people of oceania.
2) The leader of north korea is pictured on the outside of a palace. This is similar to the big brother posters hanging everywhere in 1984.
3) An explosion of artillery shells is seen in the distance. In 1984, there is an explosion in the area where the proles live as Winston walks through it.

Unknown said...

“The World” describes a utopia made up of a large group of islands, shaped to look like the continents of the world. The islands would be residential and part of Denmark. The article “Denmark: The Happiest Place on Earth” discusses Denmark and its people. Studies have shown that Danes are the happiest people in the world, yet in order to be this happy, they have to pay a very high amount of taxes and live in a socialistic society. Utopias and dystopias seem to have the same idea of being perfect societies with perfect living conditions. The only difference is that dystopias have one or a few things that have gone wrong to make it not as desirable, or bad for the people living in it.

Through the advancement of fMRI technology, the specific thoughts made by a person will be able to be identified, and this could cause many concerns over privacy.

1) In one picture, a woman is seen walking on a road in uniform, similar to the people of oceania.
2) The leader of north korea is pictured on the outside of a palace. This is similar to the big brother posters hanging everywhere in 1984.
3) An explosion of artillery shells is seen in the distance. In 1984, there is an explosion in the area where the proles live as Winston walks through it.

Olivia Christy said...

Part A: The World Dubai is a utopia because everything about it is perfect and has beaches and is broken up into parts and areas for different things; like the resorts, estates, etc. I would also call it a dystopia because it said it was created to be perfect, and if you have to create something so perfect, then it actually is not perfect and just seems perfect. Denmark they say is a happy utopia because everyone gets their health care and education taken care of. They only thing they have to do is pay taxes. It is a dystopia because a garbage man and a doctor can live in a nice neighborhood together and their homes would be similar in size. Every job will basically bring home the same income as each other.
Part B: In 1984, George Orwell uses the Thoughtpolice to identify who was thinking corrupt thoughts about Big Brother much like how scientists today have figured out a way to read your mind using Function MRI’s to scan your brain and see what is being thought depending on which part of your brain lights up in the pictures.
Part C: The picture with the Korean looking through binoculars at other people to see what they are doing reminds me of how the Party is watching everyone through the telescreens. The picture with North Koreas leader and the Workers Party of Korea posing reminds me of Big Brother and the inner and outer Party all posing together and joined as one. The picture of the soldier standing guard with the massive gun reminds me of the thoughtpolice and how they are prepared to shoot and kill anyone who thinking poorly of Big Brother and the Party.

Olivia Christy said...

Olivia Christy
Part A: The World Dubai is a utopia because everything about it is perfect and has beaches and is broken up into parts and areas for different things; like the resorts, estates, etc. I would also call it a dystopia because it said it was created to be perfect, and if you have to create something so perfect, then it actually is not perfect and just seems perfect. Denmark they say is a happy utopia because everyone gets their health care and education taken care of. They only thing they have to do is pay taxes. It is a dystopia because a garbage man and a doctor can live in a nice neighborhood together and their homes would be similar in size. Every job will basically bring home the same income as each other.
Part B: In 1984, George Orwell uses the Thoughtpolice to identify who was thinking corrupt thoughts about Big Brother much like how scientists today have figured out a way to read your mind using Function MRI’s to scan your brain and see what is being thought depending on which part of your brain lights up in the pictures.
Part C: The picture with the Korean looking through binoculars at other people to see what they are doing reminds me of how the Party is watching everyone through the telescreens. The picture with North Koreas leader and the Workers Party of Korea posing reminds me of Big Brother and the inner and outer Party all posing together and joined as one. The picture of the soldier standing guard with the massive gun reminds me of the thoughtpolice and how they are prepared to shoot and kill anyone who thinking poorly of Big Brother and the Party.

Emily Q said...

Emily Quintanilha
Part A: After reading the article about Denmark, I agree that for some that is a Utopian society but not all would agree with that. The government pays for most necessities but in return each person must pay 50-70% taxes and everyone is paid almost equally. Some might be okay with that but others may not, but it is the happiest place in the world and to me that is the number one quality for a perfect society. The Worlds society of Dubai I do not see as a Utopian society for anyone because the only thing it has is luxury. Luxury may be great but it does not equal happiness and does not make for a perfect society. Qualities I believe are necessary for a utopian society are the happiness and friendliness of the society. Qualities that are synonymous with a dystopian society are unhappiness, being totally controlled, and being isolated.

Part B: Having ways to identify the thoughts of others George Orwell’s “1984” compares with the neuroscience research that can read thoughts by having the ability to recognize one’s private thoughts.

Part C:
1. The houses shown in North Korea make me think of the proles in “1984” because they are falling apart and look like a place where the lower class would live.

2. It seems as though the North Korean military is more involved than the military of Oceania and that North Korea uses more violence.

3. The leaders of both North Korea and Oceania seem to be very well-know, looked up to, and worshiped in a way.

Anonymous said...

Dubai The World- Utopia- Said to be the most innovative real estate development in the world. It is an Island Paradise with a series of waterways and channels. The world Dubai is a full time vacation home with an ideal mix of sand sea and sky, private beaches and marinas. The weather consists of assure water cooling breezes and year round sunshine.
Denmark- Utopia- The government covers all heath care and education and spends more on children than any other country in the world per capita. They have a highly efficient system of governing with only 5.5 million people. People choose careers that they enjoy because everyone takes home about the same amount. Noone judges others career choices.
Dystopia- 50 to 70 % of income goes to taxes
Thesis: Using a specialized setting of MRI, scientists can now use neuroscience to see what’s going on inside the brain while people are thinking.
Nobody knows where eachother is going, you only see people in uniforms moving past one another.
Everyone worships or pretends to worship Kim Jong Un much like in 1984 where people do the same for Big Brother.
Soldiers are standing guard or walking around with automatic machine guns just looking for any who oppose the dictatorship.
-Zack Sicard

Unknown said...

Dubai The World- Utopia- Said to be the most innovative real estate development in the world. It is an Island Paradise with a series of waterways and channels. The world Dubai is a full time vacation home with an ideal mix of sand sea and sky, private beaches and marinas. The weather consists of assure water cooling breezes and year round sunshine.
Denmark- Utopia- The government covers all heath care and education and spends more on children than any other country in the world per capita. They have a highly efficient system of governing with only 5.5 million people. People choose careers that they enjoy because everyone takes home about the same amount. Noone judges others career choices.
Dystopia- 50 to 70 % of income goes to taxes
Thesis: Using a specialized setting of MRI, scientists can now use neuroscience to see what’s going on inside the brain while people are thinking.
Nobody knows where eachother is going, you only see people in uniforms moving past one another.
Everyone worships or pretends to worship Kim Jong Un much like in 1984 where people do the same for Big Brother.
Soldiers are standing guard or walking around with automatic machine guns just looking for any who oppose the dictatorship.
Zack Sicard

Unknown said...

Dubai The World- Utopia- Said to be the most innovative real estate development in the world. It is an Island Paradise with a series of waterways and channels. The world Dubai is a full time vacation home with an ideal mix of sand sea and sky, private beaches and marinas. The weather consists of assure water cooling breezes and year round sunshine.
Denmark- Utopia- The government covers all heath care and education and spends more on children than any other country in the world per capita. They have a highly efficient system of governing with only 5.5 million people. People choose careers that they enjoy because everyone takes home about the same amount. Noone judges others career choices.
Dystopia- 50 to 70 % of income goes to taxes
Thesis: Using a specialized setting of MRI, scientists can now use neuroscience to see what’s going on inside the brain while people are thinking.
Nobody knows where eachother is going, you only see people in uniforms moving past one another.
Everyone worships or pretends to worship Kim Jong Un much like in 1984 where people do the same for Big Brother.
Soldiers are standing guard or walking around with automatic machine guns just looking for any who oppose the dictatorship.

Unknown said...

Dubai The World- Utopia- Said to be the most innovative real estate development in the world. It is an Island Paradise with a series of waterways and channels. The world Dubai is a full time vacation home with an ideal mix of sand sea and sky, private beaches and marinas. The weather consists of assure water cooling breezes and year round sunshine.
Denmark- Utopia- The government covers all heath care and education and spends more on children than any other country in the world per capita. They have a highly efficient system of governing with only 5.5 million people. People choose careers that they enjoy because everyone takes home about the same amount. Noone judges others career choices.
Dystopia- 50 to 70 % of income goes to taxes
Thesis: Using a specialized setting of MRI, scientists can now use neuroscience to see what’s going on inside the brain while people are thinking.
Nobody knows where eachother is going, you only see people in uniforms moving past one another.
Everyone worships or pretends to worship Kim Jong Un much like in 1984 where people do the same for Big Brother.
Soldiers are standing guard or walking around with automatic machine guns just looking for any who oppose the dictatorship

Anonymous said...

Connor Lynch
Part A
The World: Dubai is an idyllic archipelago in the shape of the seven continents that acts as an innovative commercial center as well as a tropical paradise. Naturally, this sounds like quite a utopia, however The World is likely very costly to spend any time at and also likely costs a lot of money to maintain itself.
Denmark is considered to be the happiest place on Earth based on the simple question of “How happy are you?” The citizens claim to have very little to complain about, the only thing ruining their day seeming to be high taxes which take away about fifty to seventy percent of their income, yet this pays entirely for things like healthcare and education. People also have no stress when it comes to choosing a career since everybody receives the same income and thus can essentially do whatever they please. While these are certainly ideal things most people would want to have in a utopia, I’m sure many would prefer it if their taxes were a little lower.
Part B
The segment from 60 Minutes on “Tech that reads your mind” and 1984 by George Orwell connect in determining one’s thoughts, discovering one’s true emotions, and delving into one’s deep mental psyche to give us an idea of how we should potentially be thinking in the future.
Part C
In the picture in the first link where a person is hiding behind a post with barbed wire, a message is echoed that people are trapped and snarled in the ways of the ones in power.
In the fourth picture in the third link where a lone guard is keeping watch over an empty area, a message is echoed in that citizens of the two dystopias must guard themselves from the actions of all others.
In the first picture in the fourth link where smoke is seen from artillery shells, a message is echoed that when somebody is in a high position of power, things like missile fire in populated areas will occur and nearby citizens will be forced to live in hiding.