English - Global Issue

English - Global Issue

1. 1984 Extract

   • Themes
     • Surveillance and espionage
       • "The picture had fallen to the floor uncovering the telescreen behind it." This quote demonstrates that the Party has telescreens set up in the least obvious of places, allowing them to constantly be persistently spying over the population.
       • There is a camera positioned at the top of the 'f' in an unobvious position. This camera symbolises espionage and surveillance, and the fact that it is placed on top of the 'f' symbolises that large and powerful social media companies are spying on their users.

2. Cartoon

   • Themes
     • Power, control and dominance
       • The 'f' (Facebook) is positioned at the centre of the cartoon, is taller than the man, is larger than the man and the man is standing in the f's shadow, all of which demonstrate that the 'f' is clearly the dominant figure
       • The iron voice, which represents the Party, instructs Julia and Winston to "Stand in the middle of the room. Stand back to back" and the pair do the task without a second question asked. This demonstrates that the Party is simply too strong and powerful for Winston and Julia to disobey its direct command.
     • Loss of individual identity
       • Positioning of the camera restricts the man's freedom and ability to move, thus restricting his identity.
       • The iron voice repeating everything Winston and Julia say may indicate that after Room 101, they will simply become a normal citizen and say what everyone else says and repeat what the Party wants them to repeat.