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 [information] 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 bumble-puppy.
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 distractions." "In 1984 [sic]," Huxley added, "people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure."
So, friends, if you are interested in knowing the sort of dystopian future other writers have envisioned, you might want to seek out the titles listed below in addition to the two discussed above:
Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank (1959)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006)
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)
This Perfect Day by Ira Levin (1970)
...and by the time you have finished reading them all, the present state of the world will seem positively idyllic.
This is an interesting post and it reminds me that we surely are surrounded by distractions like TV, cell phones, online games, etc. which can keep us from thinking about the important things.
ReplyDeleteWhenever 1984 is mentioned, I feel so cultured to be able to say I read it at school! Of course, it was the curriculum which made me cultured, not me :)
ReplyDeleteOrwell and Huxley were both right: we have too much information and it's hard to sort through, we are constantly distracted by trivialities and who would read a book when they can watch an inane TikTok?
What is alarming is to see dystopia becoming reality for so many, or maybe that should be 'remaining reality,' while the rest of the world lives in a bubble of self-satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteI found the Orwell-Huxley comparison interesting. From that, Huxley had it most right. The futurologists of the 1970s tended to think the computer revolution would give everyone time to be creative and better themselves, and failed to imagine that many would go for easier or more selfish pleasures.
ReplyDeleteI lean toward Orwell with a dose of Huxley to keep my eyes open.
ReplyDeleteHumanity will destroy humanity, nothing else will. We are intelligent enough to invent AI, artificial intelligence, but we are not intelligent enough to see that it will destroy us.
ReplyDeleteTesting! Testing! I have no idea whether this will appear as a reply to Terra, or at the end of the list of everyone's comments, or nowhere.. Google/Blogger is being uncooperative lately!
ReplyDeleteSo now we know, at least for now. My thanks to each of you -- Terra, kylie, jabblog, Tasker, Emma, and Rachel -- for your comments on his post. One never knows nowadays which of one's posts will garner attention and which ones will not. Your participation here is greatly appreciated!
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