HSC MODULE A ESSAY 1984/ METROPOLIS

Throughout history, certain occurrences have acted as a catalyst for a dramatic shift in the global psyche forcing the creation of new paradigms. Imagery of destruction and annihilation has often afflicted humanity exposing an inherent response of fear, paranoia and in turn, a chronic sense of destitute. The contexts in which Fritz Lang's 1927 film 'Metropolis' and George Orwell's 1949 novel '1984' have acted as an integral influence on the portrayal of certain values as happenings of time periods determine the importance of particular aspects of society. The texts offer a variety of social, political and personal perspectives that allow for the audience to gain insight into the values of the suppression of individualism, moral degradation and desire for freedom within their contexts. Although produced in differing time periods, the intertextual portrayal of these ideas prove the transcendent nature of occurrences like war and their dynamic effect on humanity.

An individual's perception of their value is shaped by the circumstances they are situated within. 'Metropolis' and '1984' depict the ramifications of war and conflict from political, social and personal perspectives providing insight into the diminished value of the individual as shaped by contextual circumstances. Metropolis acts as a direct social critique, allegorically representing the consequences of World War 1 and social inequity surrounding the advent of the Weimar republic, a time characterised by the unprecedented rise in industrialisation and dependence on machinery. This contextual influence is evident as Lang successfully utilizes the films allegorical nature to forebode the dangers of society's growing dependence on technology highly influenced by the industrialisation of world cities of the time. An establishing shot of the large power station, juxtaposed with the synchronised action and uniformity of the insignificantly sized workers acts as a microcosm of wider society, emphasising the growing value of technology over individuality in a newly industrialised context. With vexing background music enhancing the sinister nature of the scene, the individuals are symbolically outnumbered by the controls they are required to operate, indicating the preferred abilities of machines over human intelligence and independent thinking. Lang skilfully positions the audience to empathise with the workers by depicting this socially aware perspective, thus allowing for insight into the value of conformity as shaped by the context. '1984', although produced in the 'Cold War' presents a corresponding social and political perspective of the degraded value of the individual through its representation of technology. Commencing with the dropping of the 'atomic bomb' in 1945, the world was not only divided by opposing ideologies but plagued with the probing threat of imminent destruction and the treacherous aftermath of World War II was still prevalent. Orwell encapsulates this mindset through the representation of the diminished value of individualism as highlighted by technologies importance, conveyed through the monotonously toned, 'pulled the speakwrite toward him, blew the dust from its mouthpiece' illustrating a similar synchronisation to the workers in Metropolis. This symbolic action attributes Winston with 'machine like' qualities suggesting the strength of humanities dependence on technology, as influenced by its contextual use as weaponry, impeding on the qualities of the individual therefore allowing the audience to gain perspective on how context has shaped values within the text. Metropolis furthers the idea of the suppression of individualism through its depiction of restrictive authoritative powers paralleling the contextual disparity between wealthy and poor indicating a political perspective. This restriction is depicted as the workers, symbolically cloaked in a blanket of fog highlighting their confinement, walk in an array up to the 'Moloch'. The 'box' shape they travel in metaphorically alludes to the 'box' society has placed them as the lower class showcasing how authority within this context have shaped the value of the individual. 1984 mirrors the ramifications of harsh political regimes on the individual, echoing the qualities of the prevalent Communist ideology with the authoritative 'Party', run by the omnipresent 'Big Brother' connoting an ironic sense of comfort. Each individual is symbolically dehumanised emphasising the novels satirical nature by calling them 'comrade', reducing the individual to a commodity that can be utilized in their regime. Just as the workers in Metropolis are uniformed, this identification indicates a collective mindset amongst all, inhibiting individuals to formulate their own identity. The various depictions of the 'diminished importance of the individual' present the influence of context in the shaping of values within the texts.
The composers of Metropolis and 1984 have encapsulated the essence of the ramifications of war within their differing contexts through the perspectives depicted of 'moral degradation'. Fritz Lang has encompassed the post war notion of questioning religious foundations through Maria's 'transformation'. The inventor 'Rotwang' symbolizes society's infatuation with indulgence, artificially crafting a human, showcasing moral decay. The constantly shifting close up shots juxtaposing 'human Maria's' face and 'machine Maria's' soulless, metallic face successfully evaluates society's moral decline as influenced by the lack of sanctity for human life displayed by war and the greed associated with industrialisation. Orwell's representation of 'moral degradation' echoes the social critique Lang has achieved as a similar aura of diminishing morality was experienced because of the threat of impending doom pulsating throughout the Cold War period. The 'nihilism' depicted by Winston mirrors the emotionless nature of 'robot Maria' and is highlighted by his physical ailments like, 'Varicose ulcer' and 'coughing fits'. The degradation of his body parallels society's moral decline which has influenced his state of despair thus providing insight into how context has shaped presented values. The influence of 'German expressionism' and 'Art Deco' has also aided the portrayal of society's moral decline as these movements were reactions to the growing prevalence of materialism as means of fulfilment rather than morality. This is evidenced by the artificial, angular equipment in 'Rotwang's' lab highlighted by oblique and close up shots of their synchronised action, with the vexing, dissonant background music encompassing the aura of danger and demoralisation of the time. 1984 depicts an inevitable sense of moral degradation in humanity through the symbolic character 'Katherine' furthering the political perspective within the novel. Her ordinary physical description as a 'fair haired girl, very straight with splendid movements' is juxtaposed with her internal 'stupid, vulgar, empty mind' alluding to the presentation of prevalent ideologies like Communism which conveyed simplistic, attractive external values but internally, had little morality . By attributing these qualities to a human character, Orwell makes a direct appeal to the audience to question their personal sense of morality, easily decayed in an atmosphere of authoritarianism and lust for power over compassion. The portrayal of 'moral degradation' in both texts is a direct consequence of their contexts thus shaping the presentation of values and ideas.
In times of anguish, humanity inherently responds with a yearning for escapism from tedium and exhibit a need for hope. Fritz Lang's social perspective of this innate desire for freedom effectively underlines the pressures of industrialisation and excess. A 'clock' motif is utilized throughout the film, emphasising 'time' as an instrument of control. This control is manipulated by authorities, mirroring powerful political regimes both of this time period and during the Cold War period as a means to gauge aspects of all individuals lives resulting in a need for freedom. A metaphoric close up shot of Freder symbolically straining under the pressure of the clock arms as an engulfing cloud of fog emerges indicates the strict constraints individuals are placed under. Freder's movement becomes controlled by the arms, symbolically suggesting the prominence of higher powers in the lives of individuals paralleling the motives of ideologies. Orwell has similarly utilized 'time' throughout 1984 to highlight a desire for freedom, thus allowing for insight into the context of the novel. The recurring motif of 'memories' showcases a yearning for escapism, highlighted by Winston's continuous cynically toned rhetorical questioning like 'If both the past and the external world exist only in the mind, and if the mind itself is controllable…what then?' This accentuates a need to escape the present time, much like how Freder attempts to escape the physical pressures of 'time' highlighting how both composers have employed this motif to portray the harsh realities of their contexts. Orwelll and Lang have also employed the depiction of confining 'space' to underline the evident need for freedom. Orwell emphasises confinement, indicating a desire for freedom in the vulgar visual image evoking description of the 'canteen' as having 'all surfaces greasy, grime in every crack; and a sourish, composite smell.' The space in which 'Maria' makes her transformation is symbolically strict in space, as well as the tight conditions workers dwell in suggesting society's need to enforce conformity to inhibit questioning and therefore, incite rebellion, indicating the political stances of both composers. The portrayal of a desire for freedom that resonates between the two texts has allowed for substantial insight to be gained into the values of their specific contexts.
The events of human history are recorded within texts that have the ability to capture a universal mindset that although portray a certain era, transcend time. 1984 and Metropolis are examples of texts that have utilized the direct influence of their contexts to encompass themes and ideas that displays the values of the times they were created. In conclusion, Fritz Lang and George Orwell have effectively encapsulated the ways of thinking evident during the periods in which their texts were composed through the portrayal of the values and ideas of the suppression of individualism, moral degradation and desire for freedom.