Between Orwell and Huxley: How Dystopian Literature Mirrors Today's Reality

 

The surveillance cameras have their eyes on us. The government tracks our every step, and corporations pull the strings of regimes, controlling with quiet precision. In this era of monitoring, one cannot help but feel that we live within a dystopian novel.

Dystopian literature, with its fears for the future, reflects our anxieties. It showcases our deepest fears and how we view tomorrow. It tells us that our thoughts of pessimism are not the fragment of our imagination but a reality coming to get a hold of us. 

George Orwell and Aldous Huxley envisioned futures shaped by authoritarian control and social manipulation. Their works—1984 and Brave New World—may seem like polarized visions of dystopia; however, each aligns with today's realities.

Orwell's World: Surveillance and Suppression

In his book 1984, Orwell hinted at a future dominated by authoritarian regimes, where surveillance is ever-present, and the truth is overthrown by propaganda. Today, Orwell's fears stand as a reality. 

Governments and corporations invest billions of dollars in modern technologies to monitor populations under the guise of convenience and security. One can find themes of "Big Brother" and "doublethink" in facial recognition, data mining, and misinformation campaigns. The chilling reality? Many of us willingly trade privacy for digital conveniences, often unaware of how our actions are monitored and our thoughts shaped. 

For instance, have you ever wondered how your not-so-private Instagram algorithm shows ice cream ads just after you have told your friend that you are craving a popsicle?

Huxley's World: Pleasure as a Prison

On the contrary, Huxley's Brave New World imagines a dystopia where pleasure and distraction are used as a weapon to maintain control. 

In this society, individuals are pacified by entertainment, consumerism, and a drug called "soma" that numbs discontent. Look around today, and you'll find echoes of Huxley's warning in the shape of social media, where the pursuit of instant gratification and a culture that prioritizes consumption over critical thought has taken us over.

The Convergence: A Hybrid Dystopia

The 21^st century doesn't belong solely to Orwell or Huxley—it blends elements of both. We face Orwellian surveillance alongside Huxleyan sedation. While governments harness Orwellian tactics to control and suppress dissent, corporations employ Huxleyan strategies to distract consumers. The result is a population caught between fear and apathy, manipulated by overt and covert means.

EMA's Artistic Lens: A Contemporary Reminder

The works of EMA, as highlighted in his book, Promemoria (Sending Out an SOS), provide a vivid artistic response to these dystopian fears. By blending Orwellian cynicism with Huxleyan metaphors, EMA's art reminds us of our existential threats, such as climate change, nuclear war, authoritarianism, and a numbing consumer culture. In Radioactive Beasts, the animals of Orwell's Animal Farm grapple with nuclear devastation, echoing the futility of today's polarized conflicts.

Reclaiming Agency in a Dystopian Reality

Orwell and Huxley didn't write to predict but to warn. Their works challenge us to recognize the systems that disrupt our freedom and humanity. EMA's Promemoria urges similar action—through art, we are reminded of the importance of resistance, dialogue, and collective responsibility. It's time for us to come forward and reclaim what is ours – our privacy, our planet, and the freedom to think, act, and conquer. 

Pre-order your copy now or visit the author’s website to learn more.