Joseph Demakis's Blog, page 2

Lost in Translation - Orwell’s 1984 - Book v. The Movie

            George Orwell’s classic book 1984 was first published in 1949 and became an instant classic that is still read today by students around the world.  It has made many publishers list of the top one hundred books to read in a lifetime and is ranked as one of the 20th century’s most famous novels.  The New York times even stated,“Few books in history have been published at a more auspicious time than ''1984.'' There was the blockade of Berlin, the Prague Coup, the explosion of the first Soviet atomic bomb, the communist victory in China, the attack in Korea. The onset of the Cold War created a voracious appetite in the West for works explaining ''the Communist mind.'' For a decade or more ''1984'' became almost the definitive popular work on the subject” (Grenier) So, it is no surprise that such a pivotal and popular novel would be adapted to the big screen.  In fact, this epic tale has been adapted to film numerous times with the most recent version being in 1984 with director Michael Radford. This modern film starred an “A-List Cast” featuring John Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack and even won the Best British Film of the Year award at the Evening Standard British Film Awards in 1984. With all the positive reviews for the movie, its adaption from the book to a two-hour film caused many parts of the novel to be changed and in doing so lost some of the main aspects of the overall story.            The novel’s basic story outline is there and brings to life Orwell’s future nightmare of a totalitarian state. It depicts the horrible living conditions with broken elevators, dripping faucets, and broken windows.  It even describes a razor blade shortage and Winston’s small apartment with discolored paint that peels off the walls, with corridors littered with trash. The movie does a good job as to explaining “Big Brother” and the “Thought Police” that keep tabs on everyone.  It touches on Winston’s job at a prison-like government building and you sense that he is dissatisfied with his life. There is little clarity in the film that this building where Winston works is part of the “Ministry of Truth” and that his job is to erase history that does not fit the message of the government. Nor, is there any reference to Orwell’s “Memory Hole” with the incinerator next to Winston’s desk.             The biggest part that the movie is missing is Orwell’s explanations of “Newspeak”, “Doublethink”, “INGSOC” and other key concepts within the novel.  It doesn’t even refer to one of the most famous lines in the novel that explain INGSOC’s ominous maxim: “Who controls the past, controls the future. Who controls the present, controls the past.” (ORWELL 35) The movie instead focuses more on the love story between Winston and Julia.  The movie does go into great detail with the torturing of Winston after being caught by the “Thought Police”. In the movie, Winston cannot bring himself to love Big Brother. Though he was broken his spirit was too strong. This is in contrast to the novel where he submits to his love for Big Brother.            Also missing is the historical context of the novel that depicts the era of spreading Communism and the rise of the Soviet Union.  Instead, the movie focuses a great deal on “Big Brother” and it seems it was forgotten that Orwell wrote the book under the famed Moscow Trials and his experiences in Spain.  The movie takes the contexts of Orwell’s novel to a pundit that “1984” is a warning to America and the free world with the rise of computers, electronics, and surveillance systems. This causes a fear of technology that outweighs the abuse of power of a totalitarian state.             In conclusion, the movie was an overall accurate depiction and stayed true to the novel’s fundamental storyline.  But as with most movie adaptations of famous novels, key concepts are lost in the translation to film. So, it is always best to read the original work in its full context, without outside influences, with a basic knowledge of the history that the author and the story were written in.
Works CitedGrenier, Richard. Did the Heart of Orwell's "1984" Get Lost In The Movie. New York: New York Times, 24 February 1985. Online.ORWELL, GEORGE. 1984. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013. Electronic Book.



Differences Between 1984 Book vs. Movie Book Movie Ingsoc’s salute is a clenched fist The Salute is the crossing of the forearms to make an X Party members refer to each other as “Comrade” They call each other “Brother” and “Sister” Ministry of Plenty is called “mini-plenty” Ministry of Plenty is called “mini-prod” which suggests the full name is “Ministry of Production” Winston’s workplace is called the “RecordsDepartment” (rec-dep) of the Ministry of Truth
Winston’s workplace is called “Mini-rec” (Ministry of Records) Winston and Julia go together to visit O’Brien’sPrivate residence in the Victory Mansions. TheyAre looking for information about joining theBrotherhood Winston goes alone, and it isn’t clear that he is looking for information about the Brotherhood. O’Brien reveals that he is a member of theBrotherhood. In the movie, it is not clear Eurasia and Eastasia follow the ideologies ofNeo-Bolshevism and Death-Worship In the movie this is not mentioned Winston is given an identical briefcase to his ownThat contains Goldstein’s Book. This is a pretextForgetting the address to O’Brien’s apartment. Winston is at O’Brien’s apartment when he is given the book. It is disguised as a Newspeak dictionary. The book explains the real reason why Aaronson,Rutherford and Jones were exposed as traitorsAnd counterrevolutionaries The movie doesn’t really explain the real reason. The book explains the importance of “Newspeak”,“Doublethink” and allusions to previous countries. In the movie, these important concepts are hardly explained or completely passed over. Winston’s job of rewriting the past as an outer-partyMember at the ministry is explained in the book In the movie it is never properly explained

Utopian Ideals Masked by Communism

            Though out the 21st-century mankind has evolved socially and technological at greater speeds than any time in the history of civilization.  With the world constantly changing with new ideas and inventions has led to better quality of life for all.  Providing greater security for the future generation in the form of a higher life expectancy, increased food production, less starvation, curing of diseases by means of increase medical advancements and so much more.  What has allowed mankind to excel and flourish is the competitive nature of economic free trade and social standings caused by the adoption of Capitalism.  Thou, Capitalism is not perfect it allows individual freedoms, the limited government promotes prosperity and must be preserved for future generations. Some have argued that the answer to the problems cause by a Capitalism can be solved with Communism, yet fail to acknowledge that this form of government also has its own set of challenges.             Capitalism replaces Feudalism as it decayed in Western Europe in 1500 after the Renaissance.  This was caused by the epidemic of Black Death and the military power of kings shifting from nobility to professional armies. The feudalism’s system of government lingered on in Eastern Europe till 1861 when Russia abolished serfdom. This leads to increased individual freedoms for most people as stated in the book Marx: A Very Short Introduction:Pre-capitalist systems it was obvious that most people did not control their own destiny — under feudalism, for instance, serfs had to work for their lords. Capitalism seems different because people are in theory free to work for themselves or for others as they choose.” (Singer)This change in social and economic order brought on many more changes within Europe.  It brought new markets with growing demand for goods, that challenged the feudal systems form of industry where industrial production was monopolized by closed guilds. These guilds were replaced by the manufacturing middle class as new markets kept growing with an increased demand for goods. With increased capital from new markets lead to an environment with greater commerce, navigation, and communication.  These ideology changes also brought about towns and individual land ownership. Thus, creating a utopia compared to the way of life that federalism instilled in earlier centuries.             With the spreading of capitalism around the world, brought a new way of life to the masses but it did not come without its own problems of economic and social issues, by causing its own form of dystopia.  Countries started to be ruled by towns and it created huge cities leaving rural areas underdeveloped.  Yet outside the borders of the nation states, it needs a never-ending market of new goods and materials. Thus, leading to border disputes over natural resources between nations.  As stated in the Manifesto of the Communist Party;“The need of a constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over the whole surface of the globe. It must nestle everywhere, settle everywhere, establish connections everywhere.” (Marx and Engels 4)This lead to colonization of the world by the Europeans that massacred hundreds of thousands of innocent peoples in the name of Imperialism.  While they calm to bring civilization to the world many nations force religious beliefs on indigenous peoples.  Thus, distorting many cultures in the process of expansionism that was viewed as inferior to Europe nations.             With the onset of the Industrial Revolution capitalism became the means for the developed world.  Capitalism’s control over western economies leads new industries that replaced skilled craftsmen and artisan with machines that could out produces hand labor. This was address in the Manifesto Of The Communist Party by stating;"Modern industry has converted the little workshop of the patriarchal master into the great factory of the industrial capitalist. Masses of laborers, crowded into the factory, are organized like soldiers. As privates of the industrial army, they are placed under the command of a perfect hierarchy of officers and sergeants. Not only are they slaves of the bourgeois class, and of the bourgeois State, they are daily and hourly enslaved by the machine, by the overseer, and, above all, by the individual bourgeois manufacturer himself." (Marx and Engels 8)This modern form of capitalism leads to great differences between classes within society.  With many of the wealthy aristocrats controlling government, resources, and land compared to the common peoples. This lead to deteriorating living condition and workplace environment that was comparable to the condition experienced by surfs during federalism and thus exposing the dystopian side of capitalism.             With the rise of growing classes division bought on by modern industrial capitalism, people began to look for a solution to the problems the ideology created within the society.  Thus, came a solution of Communism with the potential to change the world in the hopes of improving society and living conditions for all.   The idea of Communism was to abolish private property, do away with currency, overthrow bourgeois supremacy and political power.  This was to happen by the working-class parties revolting against the status quo of capitalism.  The philosopher Karl Marx called for action at the end of the Manifesto of the Communist Party by instating these final words; "The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Workingmen of all countries unite!" (Marx and Engels 44)This would lead to the dictatorship of the proletariat between the fall of capitalism and the rise of communism.  It would be a democratic state using the basis of universal suffrage.   This democratic authority would set the foundation for the future communist society by taking private property and converting it to public land.  It would establish centralize control of banking, communication, and transport industries.  Also, eliminate inherited wealth and set up free public education. By doing these things the dictatorship of the proletariat would establish a utopia by taking control of the basic needs of everyone.  It would allow for increased leisure while improving the living conditions for the masses.  No one would go without and long-term security would be established by controlled economies that meet the demands of the society without overproduction or waste.  This ideal utopia would truly come to pass when the dictatorship of the proletariat would disassemble and become part of the utopian society, doing away with the last form of oppression by eliminating all states and government.            With such promises communism offered for the future of mankind, it was not surprising that many countries adopted this form of government in the 21st century. Communism was responsible for some of the greatest ideological movements in the history of civilization. Yet, failed to bring about the promises utopia that was envisioned but instead lead to great suffering and pain for the masses.  It stagnated economies from a lack of innovation, creativity, advancement, and progress, that capitalism fueled with economic free trade and competition.  It devalued individual contribution to the economy making everyone equal, unlike capitalism that rewards individual on contributing power, skill sets, and work ethic. This lead to massive shortages of goods and even starvation, unlike free markets under capitalism, that had an abundance of goods and food. Thus, causing some of the 21st centuries greatest humanitarian crises with untold suffering by the masses. True capitalism and free trade require voluntary transactions, while communism requires compliance and coerce. This lead to the dictatorship of proletariat becoming totalitarianism and brought with it corruption.  While most forms of government have corruption, democratic capitalism has checked and balances by limited government, individual freedom and competition in a free capitalist economy, unlike communism that did not embrace such proactive measures.   Thus, leading to thousands of deaths in the name of communism as the totalitarian government grew to take over every part of an individual’s life by forcing compliance.  Communism in real-world scenarios lead to the opposite of Marx ideal of a utopian world and instead created hell on earth. Capitalism is not perfect, but it is better than the alternatives of feudalism and communism. It has checks and balances that limit the power of government by preserving individual’s property and freedoms.  It promotes prosperity by encouraging free trade and competitive economy that drive the development of innovation. Thus, enabling mankind to achieve great advancements that improve the lives of the masses and there for a capitalist economy should be preserved at all cost.

Works CitedMarx, Karl, and Frederick Engels. Manifesto Of The Communist Party. New York: New York Labor News, 1908. E-Book.
Singer, Peter. Marx: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2001. Print.

Your Last Real Kiss is Mine

Your Last Real Kiss is MineThere's an age in my life that is yours, dear,One day of your days that is mine,One hour that forever restores, dear,The mem'ry of moments divine;Just a message came out of the gloaming-A message for you and not me-And over the hills you went roamingAnd over the far-away sea.
You had lived in many placesIn those isles across the sea,Oft you met familiar facesAnd by chance with me;Oldtime friends may all mistake youAs the days and years declineBut if Fortune should forsake you,Let your last real kiss be mine.
In your eyes the dear lovelight was shining,Your promise seemed tender and true,And now as each day is decliningI wait for you sunrise and you;I am hoping and longing, yes, praying,That I may just meet you again,No matter what others are saying,My heart only knows one refrain.
You may wander on forever,In those lands across the sea,And your path in life may neverBring you back to me;Other arms may yet enfold you,Other lips may cling to thine,But my love alone can hold you-And your last real kiss is mine.

The Importance Of Reading "Brave New World" and "1984"

“An Informed Citizenry is at the Heart of a Dynamic Democracy”- Thomas Jefferson -
            In the books 1984by George Orwell and Brave New Worldby Aldous Huxley, describe two very different forms of oppression in future societies.  1984 depicts a world that is controlled by hate and fear, which is compounded by continuous monitoring, lack of public knowledge, and separation of individual connections.  While, in Brave New World the population is controlled by a drug induced form of superficial happiness, conditioning of individual classes, and abundance entertainments.  As these books convey a futurist society, it will remain the employment of the masses to ensure that these works of fiction do not become the reality of tomorrows generations of Americans. These books have been a form of entertainment for generations but, they are so much more, for they are a warning, that is summarized best by President Regan in his famous speech, California and the Problem of Government Growth:  Freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction. It is not ours by way of inheritance; it must be fought for and defended constantly by each generation, for it comes only once to a people. And those in world history, who have known freedom and then lost it, have never known it again. (Reagan 86)            In Brave New Worldthe use of soma, which is a drug that everyone uses to feel happy during life circumstances that bring trivial moods of unhappiness, a similar phenomenon can be seen in today’s American society.  As a report in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry states: Some 69 percent of people taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the primary type of antidepressants, have never suffered from major depressive disorder (MDD). Perhaps worse, 38 percent have never in their lifetime met the criteria for MDD, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, or generalized anxiety disorder, yet still take the pills that accompany them. (Weller)With medical science continuing to advance in the recovery and treatment of mental disorders, Americans should keep a watchful eye on the potential miss use of psychiatric drugs.  Ackerman, Spencer. Optic Nerve: millions of Yahoo webcam images intercepted by GCHQ. The Guardian News , 28 February 2014. Online Article. <https://www.theguardian.com/world/201..., Kristine. Here's Why Millennials Aren't Choosing to Get Married. Business Insider, 30 November 2016. Online Article. <http://www.businessinsider.com/heres-..., Karen. The paradox of millennial sex: More casual hookups, fewer partners. Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2015. Online Article . <http://www.latimes.com/science/scienc..., Catherine. Bad news for older folks: Millennials are having fewer babies. The Washington Post, 4 May 2015. Online Article. <https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio..., Michael. In the Words of Ronald Reagan: The Wit, Wisdom, and Eternal Optimism of America's 40th President. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2008. Print.Weller, Chris. Antidepressants Aren't Taken By The Depressed; Majority Of Users Have No Disorder. Medical Daily, 2 April 2015. Online Article. <http://www.medicaldaily.com/antidepre..., Kim. HOW TO KEEP THE NSA FROM SPYING THROUGH YOUR WEBCAM. Wired. 13 March 2014. Online Article. <https://www.wired.com/2014/03/webcams....

The Sound of Silence

The Sound of Silence The silence returns Like the plague, it grows A familiar feeling takes hold My old friendHas come to visit againAs fog rolls in, the visions returnThe angels close their eyesAnd confusion sets in
Running from the past And hiding from the manifestationsI drown in sorrow Silence feeds on my soulThat is forever lost to sinThis misery of shame and regretThat my old friend Won’t let me forget
Somehow, I’m neither here nor thereThe torment is too much to bearFor what is killing meAre all these things I cannot forget? When my old friend comes and visits  In the Silence of regret 

In the Epidemic of Disease

In the Epidemic of Disease
The old needles lay used
Upon the freshly cut grass
Where children once played and laughed
Upon the cluttered and dirty streets
Where friends once talked in peace
Where a mother would listen
To the sounds of little trampling feet
And couples would walk
 In moments of loving retreat
Oh, how times have changed
And so, it seems that this disease
Has taken more than anyone can recount
For no memory has gone unscathed
Where everyone has lost so much
To an epidemic of disease

Clickadee Click Clack

Clickadee Click Clack

Clickadee click clack
The chills run down your back
For what you have taken
Seemed to ensure
More than you can handle
As the nightmares become reality
And you question your own insanity
You’ll plead with God
 Praying death
For, it is easier than dealing with reality
As your prayers go unanswered
Who will save your soul?
When you forget how to smile
And love has lost all hope
With overwhelming pain and sorrow
That tearing your soul apart
Welcome to the world of torment
And the dreaded
Clickadee Click Clack
Clickadee Click Clack
Clickadee Click Clack
Clickadee Click Clack

Political Ideology in the Disguise of Academic Literature

Political Ideology in the Disguise of Academic Literature            In Jane Tompkins’ essay “At the Buffalo Museum, June 1988,” she theorizes (420) at one point in her museum experience, that the observing of museum representations of acts of violence is a form of self-gratification and vicarious identifying for some observers.  Coaxing the reader to narrowly form their own opinion, which strongly influences the reader towards a conclusion that violence observed begets violence and in restricting the viewing of violence could result in a better society.  However, the idea that violence observed causes more violence is not valid; moreover, restricting violence in media infringes on Constitutional rights.             The theory that violence observed causes more violence is debunked in recent video game research
Works CitedCitizen X. Dir. Chris Gerolmo. 1995. Netflex.Scutti, Susan. "Do video games lead to violence?" News. 2016. Online. <http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/health/..., Jane. "At the Buffalo Bill Museum, June 1988." Parfitt, Matthew. Writing in Response. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 252-258. Print.

Perspectives

Political Ideology in the Disguise of Academic Literature

            In Jane Tompkins’ essay “At the Buffalo Museum, June 1988,” she theorizes (420) at one point in her museum experience, that the observing of museum representations of acts of violence is a form of self-gratification and vicarious identifying for some observers.  Coaxing the reader to narrowly form their own opinion, which strongly influences the reader towards a conclusion that violence observed begets violence and in restricting the viewing of violence could result in a better society.  However, the idea that violence observed causes more violence is not valid; moreover, restricting violence in media infringes on Constitutional rights.             The theory that violence observed causes more violence is debunked in recent video game research
Works CitedCitizen X. Dir. Chris Gerolmo. 1995. Netflex.Scutti, Susan. "Do video games lead to violence?" News. 2016. Online. <http://www.cnn.com/2016/07/25/health/..., Jane. "At the Buffalo Bill Museum, June 1988." Parfitt, Matthew. Writing in Response. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2013. 252-258. Print.

Immigrant Assimilation - Importance of the Formal Education Process

Immigrant Assimilation
Importance of the Formal Education Process           With all the constant debating about the correct policies needed to address the current issues that arise from large numbers of immigrants arriving in the U.S., the nation’s leaders are left asking, which path does the US take in response to the rising needs brought about by the influx of immigrants? With “current estimates placing annual immigration (legal and undocumented) to the United States at approximately one million persons per year” (Alba 3), many Americans worry if this current trend of migration to the U.S. is sustainable.   Current U.S. policies reward assimilation by “encouraging the new immigrants to ‘Americanize’ to achieve social stability and economic success” (Holohan), and these policies do so by means of the formal education process, specifically in first and second-generation immigrants.  Giving priority of importance to the formal education process can potentially benefit the immigrant group and the nation.             The formal education process can lead to improved economic conditions for the immigrant.  By learning English and abandoning their native language the immigrant gains cultural capital. Cultural capital is defined as “proficiency in and familiarity with dominant cultural codes and practices…” (Peter and Morgan 428).  The gaining of cultural capital by the immigrant enables them to perform better in school and potentially gain increased income over their lifespan.  With current “college graduates, on average, earning 56% more than high school grads in 2015” (Rugaber), gaining cultural capital will enable the immigrant to be self-sufficient.            Giving priority to the formal education process also leads to increased job stability for immigrants.  Increasing the skills and cultural capital of the immigrant by means of the formal education process has been shown to increase immigrants’ likelihood of having a job.   According to Christopher S. Rugabe, “Just two-thirds of high school-only grads ages 25 through 64 were employed in 2015, compared to college graduates in the same age group, employment was 83%.”  Therefore, gaining cultural capital brings stability to immigrants’ lives in America. But the formal education process goes even further in securing economic stability for immigrants by means of providing stable housing.   By focusing on the mastery of cultural capital, an immigrant increases their ability to own real estate.  In Rugaber’s article he mentions that “According to real estate data firm Zillow, high school-only grads are less likely to own homes. 64% are current homeowners, down from 70% in 2000. By contrast, three-quarters of bachelor's degree holders are homeowners, down slightly from 77% in 2000” (Rugaber).  By getting a formal education, immigrants and their families improve their chances of home ownership.
Works CitedAlba, Richard. "Immigration and the American Realities of Assimilation and Multiculturalism." Sociological Forum 14.1 (1999): 1-25. Print.Anderson, Stuart. "3 Reasons Why Immigrants Are Key To Economic Growth." Article. Forbes, 2016. Online.Fillmore, Wong Lily. "Loss of Family Language; Should Educators Be Concerned?." Bacon, Nora. The Well-Crafted Sentence. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013. 259-273. Print.Holohan, Siobhan. "Assimilation." Encyclopedia of Global Studies (2012). Online.Peter, Collier J. and David L. Morgan. ""Is that paper really due today?" : differences in first-generation and traditional college students' understanding of faculty expectations." Higher Education 55.4 (2008): 425-446. Print.Rugaber, Christopher S. "Pay gap between college grads and everyone else at a record." Article. The Associated Press, 2017. Online.