Metropolis And 1984 Analysis

Composers such as, Fritz Lang, Metropolis, and George Orwell, 1984, demonstrates how a government’s repressive values can induce turmoil within societies, to subsequently cause an individual to begin to search for meaning. Lang’s melodrama, silent film reflects on the consequences of rapid industrialisation in the Weimar republic of Germany post WW1, whilst Orwell’s, dystopian satirical novel is inspired by the rise of communism and fascism, as he warns against the advent of totalitarian societies. Both composers, through different inspirations, depict oppressive regimes that cause an individual to question original values and ultimately allows them to search for a sense of meaning and purpose in regaining their individuality.
Both Lang and
Lang uses the manipulation of the workers faith in Maria, to ensure the social hierarchy is maintained. The frontal lighting is utilized to depict Maria’s pure values, which is contrasted with black lighting and shadows to construct Robot Maria as deceptive and conniving. Thus, alluding to the malevolent nature of the elites and their power to manipulate and corrupt society by hijacking faith. The use of Chiaroscuro, exemplified how manipulation is used to stop the search for meaning among the oppressed community. This keeps the nature of a totalitarian society, thus creating a lack of values among the individual. This image of Maria is furthered in the transitioning shot of Freder sick in bed to Maria’s erotic dance. This demonstrates how the falsly advertised immoral values of Maria is able to generate a sense of meaning, as they begin to reflect and question whether within their lives, they are being oppressed through unknown advertised manipulation, which reflects the rise of the 1920’s ‘mass media’ idea within Lang’s time. This juxtaposition in scenes, puts emphasis on the effect oppressive regimes has as they destruct values of generosity and love. Orwell also portrays this as Mr Charrington’s unsympathetic values deceive Winston, due to the manipulation from the parties. Lang’s use of the eye-level shot of the lustful men, invites the audience to understand how manipulation formed by oppressive regimes has caused a lack of relationship values. Lang has used the naïve nature of relationships particularly between Maria and Freder, to stress the negative impacts of manipulation for personal findings; which is reflective of Germany’s sexual restriction, due to the Weimar republics conservative values. These composers, then force the individual to search for their own relationships, rather than aimlessly following government