This week you will be trolling the wonderful world of the internet in search of a non-fiction article that helps your understanding of your chosen 1984 topic. To that end, I would think that you could do better than simply using the words “torture” or “Feminism” or “Propaganda” as search terms; narrow your focus! What, specifically, do you need to know about your topic in order to write an engaging and informative paper when we return from spring break? Your final paper for this novel will require the inclusion of at least one quote from a reputable non-fiction source . . . this may be a good starting place.
The nuts and bolts:
· Find a good article online that helps further your understanding of your chosen topic (hopefully in context of how you view your topic’s relationship to the novel)
· Evaluate the Web Site according to the “CAPOW” criteria we learned yesterday in the media center
· Read the entire article very carefully
· What you post:
o A link to the article
o A summary of the article in your own words (do not use another person’s abstract . . . that is plagiarism)
o How this article helps you further understand some portion of the novel 1984 (at least 100 words here)
o Reply to two other people after you have read the entire article they referenced in their post
§ Please think of this as a way for you to either find an additional article to use in your own paper or to help a peer clarify their thinking about the novel and/or the article
· By the end of this assignment you will have read at least three more non-fiction articles concerned with your topic!
· Your “comment” with the article link must be posted Friday at 12:00 pm and you must complete the “Evaluating Web Sites: Checklist” and submit when we return from spring break
· You must reply to at least two of your peers prior to 11:59 pm on Wednesday evening, April 4th.
http://niceorg.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/brainwashing-tactics-used-by-deviant-groups/ My link exposes some specific tactics that are relevant to 1984. In 1984 we see brainwashing and social control is the core of Big Brothers reign, but how he comes about his position of power is the question that I’ll answer using outside reference. To point out a few tactics; tactic 4, Education and “re- education”, it is very clear that this is being done in 1984. Simply by changing history one can set the course of the future. If people believe that Big Brother has been of power since the 1930’s then people will come to acceptance of there way of life. Also tactic 14; this tactic is when the victim has no room for debate or second thought. In 1984 the Thought Police and telescreens keep close eye on citizens especially the inner and outer party. Rejecting all past beliefs, customs, documents and things as such will steer a population in to the perfect civilization, as seen by the ruler. (Shorter D.)
ReplyDeleteI think your source is a good one for the purposes of explaining the situations of our book. The party does a wonderful job when it comes to "re-educating" as you say, their people. Re-working and past and erasing all evidence of the true past is the perfect fool proof way of controlling the past and therefore the people and future. Good job.
DeleteI know it’s chronologically impossible, but Orwell very well could have used this article to write 1984. I can think of so many examples from the book that coincide with things mentioned in this article. One of the most interesting connects I made was with “Room 101” and article topic #3: The use of chemicals, drugs or physical tools isn’t brainwashing. The method used in Room 101 is torture, not brainwashing. The principle of “The Ministry of Love” falls under article #9: Confinement and isolation. This article shows that Orwells ideas of brainwashing still hold true.
Deletehttp://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/01/05/pakistan.taliban.children/
ReplyDeleteIn the article, the Pakistani military invaded a Taliban compound where young Pakistani children were being forced to live. The military called the compound “brainwashing central.” In the compound, each room had four walls, each painted with a landscape. They were told that the landscape is what “awaited them in heaven”. Since Pakistan is mostly a war-torn county, most children look forward to this since they will “go to heaven after they do what they are told.” Along with them going to heaven, they claim that the people they kill when they bomb them will go to heaven as well. The war on terror experts say 90 percent of suicide bombers are from the ages of 12 to 18 years old.
In the article, Pakistan: Taliban Brainwashes Kids with Visions of Virgin, the Taliban resembles the Party. The children being brainwashed resemble the spies and the youth league. As the children get older, they become Party members, which can resemble members of the Taliban. This shows at a young age you are more likely to believe what people say and keep on believing it if you are raised in that environment as a child. The children are bribed with things such as “going to heaven” and obeying the party. When doing this, it lets the Party have control in basically everything they do.
This article and statement flushes extremely well with 1984. In reality you can get kids to do just about anything; if they are not educated. In 1984the it is clearly evident that the children take part in watching the adult citizens. The Parsons being a prime example. As far as teaching young children if you get em' young then you got em' good and fresh. Open minds ready for scalping and molding. In 1984 Big Brother takes advantage of this concept and uses it for his gain. Good analysis.
DeleteThis was a really great connection! I completely agree; children taught from an early age that killing is not wrong will continue to believe this the rest of their lives. As the saying goes, "train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Brainwashing is much more effective when the targets have young, absorbent little minds.
Deletehttp://amy-sillup.suite101.com/brainwashing-techniques-and-cults-a247713
ReplyDeleteThis article, by a refutable source- with a PhD- provides a closer look and better understanding to the concept of brainwashing. You can apply these points of brainwashing and the techniques used to brainwash someone directly to our book 1984. The article says that torture is often used to brainwash someone, and in the book Winston endures countless abuses at the hands of inner party members, including O’Brien. The article also mentions isolation and making the victim believe they are incorrect as other necessary methods of brainwashing. These measures were also taken with Winston, who was isolated with no outside contact for an unknown about of time. Winston was also made to believe that his ideas and concepts were all false, by O’Brien shooting them all down with logic that made no sense, and yet Winston began to think that way and believe everything he said. This article also mentions the need for brainwashing victims to be forced to do unethical things against their will. This makes it feel more natural, so that later they will be willing to do it again for whomever wishes to command them. Winston is forced to demand Julia receive the treatment of the rats. He literally says that they should release the rats on her instead of him. This is wrong and he knows it, but he is broken and says it anyways; he means it. Finally, the article mentions that through brainwashing one’s personality is “revamped”. I would like to point out that this is very similar to Dissociative Identity Disorder, in which where people develop alternate personalities of different kinds who have their own opinions and act differently from one another. This seems like something that would come from torturing someone into submission, like what is done at the Ministry of Love in 1984. I would like to propose that the Party is creating alternate personalities in their rehabilitation victims through torture and other inhuman treatments in order to get the results they wish: a perfect party member who can use doublethink and follow their rules.
This was a really good article, and very closely parallels the methods of brainwashing used in 1984. I would also like to point out the idea that making someone do something they know is wrong, so they'll be more willing to do other unethical acts later can be considered the "foot-in-the-door theory," which states that if you can get a person to accept a small request, you'll be more likely to get them to accept a larger request later on.
DeleteNice connection, Emilaaayyyy:)
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/232179-Peer-Pressure-Causes-People-to-Literally-Alter-Their-Memories-of-Recent-Events
ReplyDeletehttp://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/07/02/peer-pressure-makes-people-form-false-memories-study/
These two articles about research studies that show how kids , and sometimes adults will change their own memories to match those of their peers. Kids were given test and some time later came back to the research center to ask their results of the test they participated in. Although the kids knew the right answer they conformed their memories and answers to be accepted by their peers.
I choose these two articles because in book three of 1984 Winston was caught and tortured into believing things he knew werent right. He gave up because he didnt want to feel the pain anymore and because he just wanted the Party to accept him.
These two articles relate because in a way they both relate to peer pressure. 1984 may not directly say that its peer pressure , but it is even though its in a different way from what we belive today.
I remember this from the unit on social psychology I took last year. It is very surprising, but logical, that social pressure should force people to conform to anything, even false memories. Amazing what we will do to fit in, even on a sub-conscious level. This fits perfectly with 1984, since the entire society is based off of people acting exactly the same and following the same rules. It is no wonder the party has its members participate in community center games and groups the young members by age, doing activities together. This is so that these people can see what their peers are doing and follow suit.
DeleteI agree completely with what you're saying and I remember hearing this theory in Psychology. It is a great connection to the book!
DeleteI agree with you Paris. It has even happened to me. Sometimes we want something so bad or regret something with so much passion, that we have the power to change our memory. I think under unwanted circumstances, especially, memories can change and so can your look on the world.
DeleteThis is a good connection with 1984; no one that I know would have thought of peer pressure being a way of brainwashing. Though when we look at peer pressure we look at a group of people with one person or more being somewhat different from the others. Though the group of people could be following a ring leader within the group the leader doesn't nessesarrly use force and pain to win there followers but puts the fear of being different from the others. In 1984the that fear is the control of thought; which thought leads to action; is controlled by the thought police. This is the connection that I see concerning peer pressure in 1984
ReplyDeletehttp://gaia.adage.com/images/random/childrenads022404.pdf
ReplyDeleteThis isn't really an article, but a summary of findings by the TFAC (Task Force on Advertising and Children) on three key topics: (1) research on advertising and children, with implications for psychologists and policymakers; (2) commercialism in schools; and (3) ethical issues for psychologists raised by advertising practices. Although a little dated (2004) the information is reliable, and still relevant to the conversation we are having today.
Basically, the studies found that children under 5 are unable to differentiate between advertising and actual programming. Between the ages of 7-8 children begin to understand that advertisements are geared to persuade them.
Without an understanding of what advertising is, children are incredibly susceptible to ‘brainwashing’ because advertising familiarizes children to a product so the children ‘choose’ to want said product. Correlations have also been made between adverts of alcohol or tobacco, and use of these products later in life. While advertisements intended for younger niches is not an implicit brainwashing, it does prove that behavior and even emotion can be tricked at a young age to achieve a specific goal.
I agree that younger children are more susceptible to brainwashing. But I'm not sure that brainwashing them into thinking alcohol or tobacco are cool at a young age will cause them to smoke/drink when they are older. I think that they can be brainwashed into thinking they are cool, but they can easily be brainwashed into thinking drugs and alcohol aren't cool too.
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ReplyDeleteLibby MasonApr 11, 2012 08:17 AM
ReplyDeletehttp://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20120327-335890.html
This article discusses how people who are under stress are more easily susceptible to being brainwashed, and this was exhibited by the behaviors of a cult led by a "medium" in which the members denied all their cultural customs and abandoned their parents. This seems to follow the general idea of peer pressure, which can also be seen in 1984.
Looking at how easily people were brainwashed in the society of 1984, it makes sense that the presence of stress and tension would contribute to their compliance. Fearing the government and not daring disobey for fear of disappearing without a trace, and being constantly surrounded by others sharing the same anxieties would certainly be conducive to obedience born from sheer terror.
It also seems logical that these victims of brainwashing would abandon their parents, if only because they provide an anchor to their past lifestyle and it might become too easy to slip back into old habits.
I agree that tense people who are vehemently pressured by a controlling force are much more likely to be brainwashed than people who are at ease and can evaluate the situation rationally before making any decisions they might later regret.
http://www.rense.com/general15/tr.htm
ReplyDeleteAlthough I do not agree with what this article is trying to imply, it made me reflect back to what the book 1984 implied. This article talks about how the government fools us into thinking what they want us to. They say that the September eleventh attack was not an attack from terrorists but from someone in the government. They think the main brainwashing tactic used was from Americans’ fear. This reminded me of how in the book Orwell made the government very authoritative. The characters were always afraid to act, react, talk and even think. They were to scared to do anything that the government might think is wrong. That is what the article is trying to say..people are too scared to go against what authority says and form their own opinions. That, I do agree with. People are always scared to go against society which is proven in both the book and the article.
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7article/article35.htm
ReplyDeleteHow evil are people exactly? Based off this article, The Holocaust may not have been the Germans fault. There were several experiments conducted by Stanley Milgram in 1961. He told the people being tested that one person would be the teacher and the other would be the learner. Teacher would list words and student had to recite it began with out errors. When an error was made, teacher would shock student. Miltons actual experiment was to test, exactly how much pain a person would inflict on another, just because an authoritative figure told them to. Majority of people did push the limit, even though they weren’t forced to stay; they were getting paid for their time anyway.
This is exactly what happens in the holocaust. Typical, everyday Germans were being ruled by insane Adolf Hitler, who obviously was all about manipulating. The pressure of peers, religion, and authority led most Germans to punish the Jewish and many more innocent people who were different. The power of a dictating government takes toll on the innocent. People feel cornered by their leader figures to do what they think will keep them under the grace of the government. Who doesn’t want to be on the good side? But there’s always a price to pay.
Anxiety does seem more present in those who were rejected by family and/or society. At a vulnerable state, I see exactly how easily they could get brainwashed easier. These people want some type of control and comfort in their life and following a leaders wishes in return for life is fair game.
ReplyDelete