1984 Media Analysis

“The past is never dead. It’s not even the past”. These words spoken by William Faulkner, a famous American writer, perfectly describes how the past influences the future. In the novel 1984, written by George Orwell, the main focus is how a totalitarian regime implements power over its people by the use of many tactics including media. Orwell’s beliefs about totalitarianism are parallel to the thoughts of the main character of the novel, Winston. Orwell accentuates how easily a government could take control over people and that there is a chance that it could happen in real life. In the 21st century, many aspects of life are suppressed by the media whether people are aware of it or not. People are increasingly influenced by media as technology advances. Most common ways that
“The American founding fathers felt that” the idea of freedom “was of utmost importance when they were deciding” how America will be set apart from other countries. (Spease) In comparison to the freedom crushing government shown in 1984, America is built around the idea of freedom and independence. We live in a country where we have the ability to have our own thoughts and beliefs.
Although we are given the right to freedom, we are unable to avoid the grasp of media. Media is almost everywhere, even if you are unaware of it. In a way, telescreens in the novel are like the media of today’s society. The concept of freedom is different for everyone depending on their perspective of it. When our minds are altered by something outlying such as media, a part of our freedom to think freely is taken away. People are becoming increasingly exposed to media as “the media and its influence on the societies, has grown exponentially with the advance of technology” (Mughal) Whether it is on TV,