1984 & Banksy's Girl Frisking Soldier PDF

Introduction The field of inquiry present is Power, politics and justice and my global issue regards how regimes affect individual freedom and innocence. The literary text choosed is “1984” by George Orwell published on June 8 from 1949. He is renowned for his keen observations and critiques of poli...

Introduction The field of inquiry present is Power, politics and justice and my global issue regards how regimes affect individual freedom and innocence. The literary text choosed is “1984” by George Orwell published on June 8 from 1949. He is renowned for his keen observations and critiques of political ideologies and totalitarianism through works. Orwell's writing often explored themes of social injustice, oppression, and the dangers of authoritarian regimes. My second work is Banksy's artwork Girl frisking Soldier painted in 2007 and located in the West Wall of Bethlehem. This non-literary work depicts the effects of militaristic authority on innocence, symbolized by a young girl confronting a soldier, which serves as a commentary on the psychological impact of oppressive systems on vulnerable individuals. Banksy is a British graffiti artist known for his acerbic and antiauthoritarian art, often done in public places. Although he is particularly known for his stenciled art featuring policemen and rats. Literary work The extract that I take from the book was chapter 3, page 43 to support my argument. In 1984, Orwell used the Party’s manipulation of truth to demonstrate the psychological control authoritarian regimes exert over individuals, impacting their freedom and identity. When Orwell writes, “The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth,” he uses repetitive syntax and cumulative phrasing to mirror the Party’s systematic erasure of history. Each phrase, from “erased” to “forgotten” to “became truth,” follows a progression that shows how the Party transforms a fabricated reality into an accepted one. This gradual shift illustrates how individuals become passive recipients of whatever reality the Party imposes. By making each clause passive, Orwell emphasizes the removal of agency from citizens, suggesting that the people, stripped of autonomy, become vessels for the Party’s lies. The cumulative structure, with each phrase building on the previous one, creates a sense of inevitability, as if the Party’s control over truth is inescapable and unchallengeable. Orwell wants readers to see how, in a society where lies replace truth, individuals lose their grip on reality, which is essential for personal identity. The Party’s language used concepts like “doublethink” that highlights the psychological cost of totalitarian rule, where citizens lose their ability to resist and to even recognize oppression. Orwell’s larger message about the Party's power to rewrite history serves as a terrifying reminder of the fragility of truth in an authoritarian society. In the passage, “If the Party could thrust its hand into the past and say of this or that event, it never happened that, surely, was more terrifying than mere torture and death,” Orwell’s choice of words like “thrust” and “into the past” creates a violent, intrusive image, portraying the Party’s actions as an assault on reality itself. The phrase “more terrifying than mere torture and death” suggests that the psychological terror of losing one’s grip on truth is a fate worse than physical suffering. Orwell uses hyperbole here, contrasting the horrors of physical punishment with the even greater horror of psychological manipulation. Through this disturbing comparison, Orwell emphasizes that the Party’s control over history is not just oppressive; it’s dehumanizing. If individuals cannot trust their own memories or perception of reality, they are left in a state of psychological helplessness, completely dependent on the Party for their sense of self and understanding of the world. This idea of "historical amnesia" means that the citizens of Oceania are rendered pliable and powerless, unable to conceive of alternatives to the Party’s reality. Orwell’s work thus critiques how authoritarian regimes weaponize history and memory, underscoring the devastating impact this has on personal autonomy and identity. Non-literary work In Banksy’s Girl frisking Soldier, the critique is focused on the loss of innocence and the psychological impact of militarization, particularly on children and civilians. In this artwork, Banksy shows a young girl patting down a soldier, reversing the traditional roles of authority and innocence. The soldier, typically a symbol of power and control, stands submissively as the child representative of innocence and vulnerability takes on a position of authority. The girl’s innocence, symbolized by her small stature and gentle demeanor, contrasts starkly with the harsh military uniform of the soldier, emphasizing the unnatural intrusion of militarism into civilian life. Through this juxtaposition, Banksy uses irony to critique how militarization infringes upon spaces of innocence, like childhood. The fact that the soldier, a figure of control, submits to a child highlights the absurdity and unnaturalness of military power in everyday civilian settings. This artwork suggests that children growing up in militarized societies are deprived of their innocence, forced instead to engage with the harsh realities of authority and control. Banksy's portrayal invites viewers to question the impact of such environments on young minds, emphasizing that exposure to authority and suspicion at a young age robs children of the freedom to experience trust and innocence. This message serves as a broader critique of authoritarian regimes and their tendency to militarize society, undermining the psychological well-being of the most vulnerable. Looking at Banksy’s broader body of work, his art frequently critiques systems of power and challenges viewers to reconsider the impact of militarization and control on individual freedom and societal innocence. In other works, like The Flower Thrower, Banksy depicts a protester throwing a bouquet instead of a weapon. This imagery subverts traditional notions of protest and violence, suggesting that resistance should be met with peace rather than force. In Dismaland, his satirical theme park, Banksy creates a dystopian "amusement park" where familiar symbols of joy are twisted into critiques of consumerism, government control, and corporate influence. These works use irony and satire to comment on how societal structures and norms can be manipulated by those in power, often to the detriment of individual well-being and autonomy. Through these recurring themes, Banksy’s work pushes viewers to question the ways in which power and authority infiltrate even the most personal aspects of life, from leisure to protest. By turning symbols of innocence and joy into tools of resistance, Banksy critiques how authoritarian regimes transform and corrupt these spaces. His art suggests that the line between innocence and authority is constantly blurred in societies under authoritarian influence, where even moments of joy and resistance become symbols of oppression. Banksy’s satirical, subversive approach in these pieces serves as a call for awareness and critical thought, urging viewers to recognize and resist the militarization of civilian life and the psychological toll it takes on society. Conclusion In conclusion, both 1984 by George Orwell and Banksy’s Girl and Soldier illustrate the global issue of how authoritarian regimes impact individual freedom and innocence by manipulating truth, controlling identity, and militarizing society. Through Orwell’s depiction of a world where the Party erases history and dictates reality, we see the devastating effects of a regime that denies individuals their personal truths, trapping them in a state of psychological subjugation. Similarly, Banksy’s artwork, which portrays a young girl confronting a soldier, powerfully symbolizes how militarized authority intrudes upon the innocence of civilian life, forcing even children into roles of suspicion and control. Together, these works serve as potent warnings about the dangers of unchecked authoritarian power. Orwell and Banksy remind us that regimes which control truth and impose militarization not only restrict external freedoms but also erode the inner autonomy that defines personal identity and innocence. Furthermore 1984 and Girl frisking Soldier compel us to critically examine and resist any force that seeks to control our minds and lives. They emphasize the urgent need to protect individual autonomy and innocence, urging us to value empathy, critical thought, and personal freedom in a world increasingly influenced by powerful systems of control.