The Power Of Freedom And The Power Over Freedom

    "Power is exercised only over free subjects, and only insofar as they are free," says Michel Foucault in The Subject and Power. Power does indeed thrive off of the existence of freedom. Control-seeking persons of power are threatened by freedom (of the people) and in turn attempt to disguise freedom as a threat to the people.This was certainly the case in 1984, a film based off of George Orwell's book with the same title. When a citizen would rebel against the highly controlled system,they would be punished by undergoing a much more harsh process of mind control, limiting their freedom to a merely forced,rehearsed chant of allegiance to one power, Big Brother. While this film is an imaginative view of futuristic conditions, I don't believe such accusations about the oppression of freedom is so far gone from the operations of 21st century.

    Whether through media or the use of spies, the reinforcement and fact that "Big Brother is watching you" all of the time limited the freedom of the citizens in this film to be human. They were restricted from several natural behaviors and interactions, like friendship, love and affection, joy of life, courage, curiosity, and integrity.It's no shock to me that all of these characteristics are indeed agents of change, which is why controlling powers would want this almost non existent. Courage and curiosity are two of those traits that would cause one to go beyond their land to discover and explore. Integrity would lead someone to question the corruption in authority even in their own land. Meaningful relationships that foster love and joys of life would encourage many to think for themselves and take bold stands.And this is exactly what Big Brother does not want.What Big Brother wants is sovereignty, as signified by his attempt to judge all thoughts, words, and deeds of the citizens in that land through surveillance and employment of spies. Big Brother wants everyone to be loyal, not to themselves, but him and only him. People were employed for the sole purpose of editing history by ridding the records of any negative information about the authority, just to make it easy for people to essentially worship Big Brother and think others are bad and that he is the only 'good'. It's interesting that such an oppressive society leads to so much crime because obviously many people who are oppressed and cannot side with the system and are therefore forced to turn against it.This reminds me of the way our society is built to keep poverty and therefore crime in action. Fortunately, our daily activities aren't literally watched every waking moment nor are our natural freedoms limited, for the most part. However, we sure are close. The potential of today's technology and media to track and be used for control is already to the point and likely has surpassed what was depicted in the 1984 film. (Info we willingly put on social media, phone and computer cameras, etc)

   Big Brother ruled a land that was filled with people who, most likely out of fear, went along with all orders. There were many, however, who rebelled,but were of course caught for things like chanting, "Down with Big Brother!" in their sleep or having alliances with The Underground association that was anti Big Brother. In sum, any disloyal acts against Big Brother in word, thought, or deed caused those rebels to be punished through physical torture and mind weakening, forcing them to eventually give up. Winston, the protagonist and Julie, his love interest and member of the Inner Party were not quick to give up on their own love or freedom. "Love makes a world they cannot control and that's a world worth taking a risk for." At this point in the film, these words Julie spoke gave me more hope that they just might be the ones to at least start a change against this regime. Sadly, this still didn't happen -- especially not in a society that promotes that "War is peace; freedom is slavery!"

  Winston and Julie had been meeting up for a while in the upstairs room of an antique shop of a older man they decided to trust. Big Brother was there all along. After they were caught, tortured in a prison like setting, and set free, Julie and Winston were released into society, now very weak, disassociated, and powerless. Big Brother was threatened by their freedom and so power was abused to brainwash citizens, like Winston, into fearing or not even recognizing what freedom is anymore. Winston's life had more spark in it since he'd connected with Julie. He was inspired to make changes and never separate from her. In the end, after talking with Julie in an outdoor park, Winston joined in to the crowds' Big Brother chant, and unlike any other time, he wasn't forced, but it was now ingrained in him to get excited about and worship Big Brother. Winston turned around to go back to his conversation with Julie, but she was gone so quickly. He was taken aback for a minute, but continued and then got more passionate with the chanting. In my opinion, Julie symbolized love. 

Her disappearance in the end seemed to suggest how miserable and controlled society would be absent of love.

A world in which freedom,natural harmless freedom is oppressed is a world of discomfort and chaos.

The film ends with these words from the narrator and I will end this post on the same note:

"This could be our future. this

could be our children if we fail

to preserve our heritage of their freedom."