1984 in Pop Culture

Stevie Wonder ( Big Brother )

Surveillance, : In the song Mr. Wonder describes how big brother is always watching on the telescreens and how big brother knows he’s protesting and rebelling and big brother is tired . He mentions how children die and He’s describing never being able to see big brothers face so he wants to see a physical sight of big brother behind the door he’s hiding.

It has an upbeat tone that matches the dark undertones. The song sounds like the way the party views Oceania. It sounds upbeat and something you could rock out to, it sounds like how the party envisions the city as being perfect, and productive, but the undertones and lyrics are what Oceania is really like, broken down, robotic, controlled, and always under watch.

Spongebob Sqaurepants: Back to the Past (S7 E6)

It has an upbeat tone that matches the dark undertones. The song sounds like the way the party views Oceania. It sounds upbeat and something you could rock out to, it sounds like how the party envisions the city as being perfect, and productive, but the undertones and lyrics are what Oceania is really like, broken down, robotic, controlled, and always being watched by Big Brother.

In the Spongebob episode the creators chose to reference the Propaganda and Surveillance side of 1984 to show the effects of someone taking over the Bikini Bottom. They feature the poster of Man Ray's eyes watching SpongeBob and Patrick with the words, "I Am watching you," is a reference to 1984s famous phrase, "Big Brother is watching you."They also show other dystopian posters and feature surveillance cameras in the episode. The reference of Spongebob is very similar to 1984, but the episode has a more comedic tone than in the book.

Propaganda, Surveillance: In the episode Spongebob and Patrick travel back in time with Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy to the past. In the past, Spongebob and Patrick ruin the younger heroes plan of defeating Manray. In the future Bikini Bottom, Manray has taken over the world and has displayed propaganda posters around the town and has cameras disguised as people. Connects Manray over to the Party displaying their posters. The tone of the episode was comedic and satirical poking fun at the more darker side of the Bikini Bottom.

SimCity Societies: Authoritarian Mode

The creator of Sims chose to reference 1984 so that the player can experience the effects and aftermaths of totalitarian rule. Their uses are very similar to 1984 because of the structure of the city. With constant surveillance of the city, propaganda, “telescreens,” and the brainwashing, 1984 is being directly referenced.

We think 1984 has been so influential because it is an in depth look on the effects of totalitarianism in a society. It warns us against creating such a world, and creates a fear of this possibility. This fear stirs interest, and with this interest and fear, people are inspired to recreate Orwell’s vision when writing 1984.

Stevie Wonder chose to represent 1984 in his song because personally stevie had inner frustrations with the government running the country so he wanted to shed light about social problems, and corruption of the party through his groovy songs. The uses of 1984 in the song “Big Brother” is monumentally similar. It specifically mentions the main surveillance propaganda from 1984, who is big brother, and Wonder explains how big brother is always watching, on the tele, aka the telescreens. The biggest similarity between “Big Brother”, and “1984” is the focus on surveillance of the people from Big Brother, which makes this theme a perfect influence on Stevie wonder to make a song based on his strong issues with social corruption all together.

The creator of Sims chose to reference 1984 so that the player can experience the effects and aftermaths of totalitarian rule. Their uses are very similar to 1984 because of the structure of the city. With constant surveillance of the city, propaganda, “telescreens,” and the brainwashing, 1984 is being directly referenced.

We think 1984 has been so influential because it is an in depth look on the effects of totalitarianism in a society. It warns us against creating such a world, and creates a fear of this possibility. This fear stirs interest, and with this interest and fear, people are inspired to recreate Orwell’s vision when writing 1984.

References to 1984:

violence: public arrests, conflit

"telescreens" propped throughout the city

constant watch and surveillance of the residents

Propaganda, Surveillance, Thought: In the game, one can design their city in “authoritarian” mode, which includes the ability to place security cameras all throughout their city, constantly watching. Also, the game allows the user to display different propaganda geared toward “brainwashing” the residents into compliance, affecting their thought. Finally, the game features giant “televisions” that are said to resemble the image of Big Brother. Creating a satirical comedic experiene of stepping into the shoes of The Party.

"1984" by George Orwell

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