1984 Post Two

I believe the biggest thing impeding Winston's ability to trust in the One State is his job. Winston sees the lies the government is spreading every day in his task to change history. Winston is one of a handful of people who know the truth: the One State is not infallible, nor is it eternal. Winston knows that the One State makes mistakes - they rely on him to correct them. Winston knows that what he's being told is a lie, and as a rational man he can't force himself to believe a known falsity. I think Winston's actions are a protest on a more personal level. It's not that he wants to take down the government, but more like he needs an outlet for his confusion. He wants to belong and conform to the pressures of his government, but given his job, he has doubts. His escapades with Julia and writing in a diary are not attempts to take down Big Brother, but merely endeavors to satisfy his curiosity about a world without Oceania. Winston's actions are a form of protest not seen in modern times. He doesn't just speak out, he acts out. He does things against the will of the empire. Modern protesters (at least in America) focus on marching, speaking their opinions, but rarely acting upon them. They rely on others to institute the reforms, but don't reform things themselves. The tradition of complacency in this country permeates even into their dissatisfaction. However, saying America has become Orwellian is incredibly extreme. While our government does have powers that extend well into our day to day lives, we still maintain a respectable level of privacy, freedom, and individuality that distinguishes us from Orwellian society.

Cultural Conflict - Individualism vs. Collectivism

1. In a collectivist culture, what personality traits are likely to be considered ideal? What about in an individualistic culture?

In collectivist cultures, traits such as loyalty, cooperation, respect, obedience, and other interpersonal, communicative, or socially beneficial traits are held in high esteem. In individualistic cultures, characteristics like perseverance, independence, and ambition are seen as ideal.

2. In some societies, your opinion is less likely to be challenged if you are from the oldest family in such a community or if you are the PhD with the most published books in your university. Do you think this is true for both individualistic and collectivist societies? If so, do you think status is defined the same way in both types of cultures? Explain.

For the most part, yes it is true.  Status is defined by accomplishment in both cultures, but the key is what type of accomplishment. For individualism, it's entirely about self-promotion and self-worth. However, collectivism focuses on society as a whole, and those with higher status are those who have provided for the entire community best and have given more to help society.

3. Create a specific conflict that may occur when a teacher from an individualistic culture goes to teach in a collectivist society or when a teacher from a collectivist culture goes to teach in an individualistic society. Identify the conflict as internal or external. Explain what clash of values caused the conflict and how it may be received.

An individualistic teacher might feel it fitting to congratulate individual members of a classroom on a test they scored particularly well on. However, other students and parents will most definitely be offended by what they perceive as a lack of respect and recognition for the rest of the class, which they see as sharing in the student's accomplishments.

4. What is an acquaintance? Does the word have a positive or negative connotation?

An acquaintance is an individual one knows on a casual basis in that while one is not close friends with them, they are (for the most part) on a first name basis and comfortable interacting. It's not a strong connection, but retains a positive connotation in that it still implies a certain level of friendship and trust.

Cultural Conflict - Introduction Blog

 Identify the conflict. Is this an internal or external conclict? How/Why does globalization create conflict? In the speaker's opinion, globalization has flown in only one direction what does she mean by this? Although the speaker feels globalization has been one-sided, she notes there has been one benefit related to the process. What benefit dies she mention? The speaker says muslims and westerners live by/are obligated to two different sources of truth. What two sources (two texts) does she mention?

The conflict is external, leading to internal. Society's inability to accept other traditions and practices leads to a conflict inside oneself over the value and importance of tradition and faith in one's life: is it better to live under the social norm or to retain the ideologies that have defined one's family and people for centuries. Globalization is a process that takes other cultures and Westernizes them. It's the process of taking unique "backwards" countries and righting them so that they mirror that of western Europe and North America. Those two regions, however, rarely incorporate the unique aspects of other cultures during this process. One great benefit, however, is the opportunity for Muslim women to gain powerful female role models in influential Western women. The role models give oppressed Muslims the drive to push forward and achieve what was once inconceivable for women of the Islamic faith. The Koran and the Constitution are the two primary sources of truth for Muslims and Westerners.

1984 Post One

Conformity is achieved in Orwell's society via two means: the threat of the Thought Police and government control over culture. The most powerful of the two is the Thought Police - an all pervasive force dedicated to the eradication of dissent with the totalitarian government. The Thought Police exist everywhere, from the minds of one's children to the surveillance apparatus in the telescreens. The added fear of not knowing if you've done something worth reporting only adds extra pressure towards conformity and complete subservience to the will of the dystopic ideals of the Oceanian government. Next most prevalent is the government control over culture, and its establishment of one set of beliefs. With no religion (save faith in Big Brother), no relationships, no opinions, no individuality, there is no conflict. No differences in opinion mean no arguments, nothing to differentiate between people. The simulated joy and contentment they have fostered also contributes to Oceania, specifically Airstrip One's, control and facade of utopia.