Black Mirror, By Suzanne Collins, And Harrison Bergeron Essay

The cautionary tale that is the dystopian narrative has appeared in some of the world 's most prominent works of fiction, be they literary or cinematic. It is through this type of narrative that the writer attempts to make a criticism about societal issues by exaggerating said issues to the point where any and all semblance of individuality within the imagined civilization is stripped away. Over the course of this essay, I intend to analyze the major societal issues that Harlan Ellison chooses to critique in his short story " 'Repent, Harlequin! ' Said the Ticktockman" while simultaneously attempting to prove that the perils humanity may someday face stem from the constant clash between individuality and the propensity to maintain a sense of order through totalitarian power.

The stand-alone series “Black Mirror”, features an episode titled Nosedive directed by Joe Wright. In the show, a seemingly ideal woman named Lacie Pound lives in a status-obsessed world, and struggles to express herself. At first, Lacie is described as this merry, popular, and fun person to be around. But then we see that Lacie tries to fit in with everybody else, and struggles with that objective. So she begins to have courage in herself to say and do whatever she wants, even if society disagrees with her defiance. In the end, Lacie is finally able to find her voice and express her individuality, even though ultimately she is put behind bars. Therefore, Joe Wright suggests that even though social hierarchy is valued in society, it does not promote one’s self expression or individuality. In other words, Nosedive displays the negative impact of social standings on people who are not a true fit with what society views as perfect.

In the story Harrison Bergeron in the year 2081 everyone is equal, no one is smatter, better looking, stronger, faster, etc. than anyone else, but rather everyone is “average”. This story raises the idea of tall poppy syndrome. A derogatory term used to describe a social phenomenon in which people are resented, attacked, put down, and criticized by society because their talents or achievements place them above and distinguish them from their peers. This is evident in the characters Harrison Bergeron, George Bergeron, and the ballerina whose talents are being hindered by the government (handicapper general) in the story. Harrison Bergeron is and absurdly handsome, strong, genius who outpaces his peers.

Imagine a world where an oppressive government captures what many call diversity. Where ugly is known as beauty and intelligence is insignificant. “They weren't only equal before God and the law. They were equal every which way. Nobody was smarter than anybody else. Nobody was better looking than anybody else. Nobody was stronger or quicker than anybody else.” (Vonnegut) This is the future that Harrison experiences, in the short story “Harrison Bergeron,” by Kurt Vonnegut. It is the year 2081 and the government handicaps every citizen with make up or weights to create equality. Where there are over than 200 amendments and the government has full control of all citizens, this is indeed against what America had been

Ray Bradbury's “The Veldt” is a powerful and dreadful story about the impact of technology on people that is easily compared to the modern world. Bradbury states that the existence of technology itself affect people's behavior, while its misuse can lead to dire consequences such as developing an addiction, psychological alienation, family disruption and even

In today's culture people use technology to their advantage all the time. They use it to hack, to learn the latest gossip, or to see breaking news around the world. But, sometimes they get obsessed and instead of a handy tool, it becomes a necessity and a lifestyle. In the story, The Veldt, Ray Bradbury uses imagery, symbolism, and internal conflict to express that misuse of technology can lead to unforeseen disadvantages.

Harrison Bergeron is a story written by Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut’s story is a warning to the world about the quest of equality, which is spreading all round in many nations with America on the lead. The story shows the reader how the equality issue can have negative impacts on people’s individuality, and the society. The story revolves around the protagonist, Harrison Bergeron who is an archetypical symbol that represents defiance, and individuality. He is used to represent the people who will stand up, and protest against cruel laws imposed by the state on equality, and encourage others to protest with him. Through the characterization of Harrison, George and Hazel, Vonnegut shows how the equality idea can go to the extreme. The

Do you control your technology, or does it control you? Written in 2002, M.T. Anderson’s Feed shows the world as a technology based society much like the one we live in today. The characters in this book use it an internet like service called the feed to communicate with each other, buy things, and even go to school. The feed in the story not only serves as the main point of conflict, but also symbolizes Anderson’s fear of the future in an age where technology is on the rise.

“In the last 50 years, up to 100,000 Americans lost their lives due to inactivity leading to some sort of conditional disease such as heart disease [including the laziness within people of society]” (Wise 12). So many people have died from becoming lazy, doing nothing but go on their phones, devices, rather than doing everyday things. Technology has changed the way society approaches life, always depending on it rather than themselves and others. The society today consists of nothing but TV screens, telephone, smartphones, iPads, and items the 19th century would consider a dream to lay hands on. A book written by Bradbury presents lack of effort people put into their lives and society; Bradbury predicts how the future will become later on in the society. Becoming more similar to the laziness and ignorance in the novel, Fahrenheit 451, the society today struggles the society today struggles with dependency on technology which results to lack of social interactions with one another and failure in becoming literate with books.

Have you ever wondered how how much our life have changed since technology modernized? Technology has advanced so much that it is present everywhere in our lives and there is almost no place on the globe where this important trend of the last two centuries has not entered. Technology has taken control of the world. This situation leads to the decline of the society, including human’s ability to think. The book “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury provides the interaction of the protagonist, Guy Montag, in a particular way with the technology. Guy Montag is a fireman whose job is to to burn books. Fahrenheit 451 presents a world where, under the motto, “...the books says nothing” (Bradbury 51-63), people start burning them and bookless happiness is illustrated by the empty streets of the city, people could not detach for a moment from the screens that give the images of a perfect world. The science fiction film “Wall-E” (2008) is the story of the last robot on Earth, whose job is to clean up the trash left by hymans. Meanwhile, the planet had to leave the planet. As a consequence, the robots take the control of it. So, technology changes the ways in which people interact with each other that does not move humanity forward.

In Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag, the protagonist in the book, lives in a period of time where television is imperative while literature is on the verge of eradicating. Bradbury portrays a society where entertainment is not only a distraction, but it becomes a dominant aspect in the way individuals function in society. Furthermore, Montag’s ideal world is a world that sees a concept in books rather than television. We live in a world full of advanced technology, however there are drawbacks in the midst of the benefits. Fahrenheit 451 is an example that depicts the disadvantages that comes with the overuse of technology.

In this fast-paced society where our lives are surrounded by technology and it is a part of our everyday lives, it is of the utmost importance that we consider and are able to understand the role of technology, not only on our lives but also on society. In his 1953 novel Fahrenheit 451, author Ray Bradbury demonstrates the damaging role that technology has on society. Throughout his novel, he constantly reinforces the negative impacts that technology has on us, namely how it replaces meaningful relationships, keeps us oblivious and controls us. As stated, Ray Bradbury uses the novel Fahrenheit 451 as a canvas to show and argue the negative role that technology has on society.

When you look at it, the perfect society is what Russia was looking to achieve

Written by English satirist Charlie Brooker, “Black Mirror” is a contemporary British reworking of Rod Serling’s “The Twilight Zone.” Featuring tales of techno-paranoia inspired by our thoroughly technological age, “Black Mirror” taps into a “collective unease with the modern world.” While the Netflix television series, like many works of science fiction, centers on the dangers of technology—the “black mirrors” that are our phone and computer screens—its warnings diverge drastically from those present in canonical mid-20th century works, like George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four. In Nineteen Eighty-Four, man uses technology to oppress others. In “Black Mirror,” man uses technology to enslave himself.

Black Mirror is a British TV show on Netflix created by Charlie Brooker which represent the modern society with technologies and the side effects in positive and negative ways. Since memory is malleable and it interprets our memories based on our feeling in the present, technology in Black Mirror helps to navigate the imperfection of communication, relationship and our memory in the society. The technology such as “the Grain” in “The Entire History of You” episode and the “Z-eye” in “White Christmas” episode have interfered human being’s life in some aspects. Black Mirror has showed us the consequences of using technology in our lives. As long humans exist in these lives, consequences will never go anywhere. It still exists and people cannot deny that because it is the cost of being human, indeed they cannot separate good and bad.