1. B RAVE N EW W ORLD By Aldous Huxley Introduction Lecture

2. What does the “perfect” or “ideal” society look like? How does it function?

3. “O WONDER ! H OW MANY GOODLY CREATURES ARE THERE HERE ! H OW BEAUTEOUS MANKIND IS ! O, BRAVE NEW WORLD T HAT HAS SUCH PEOPLE IN ’ T !” -M IRANDA, T HE T EMPEST

4. G ENRE : D YSTOPIA Utopia: an ideal society possessing a perfect social and political system Dystopia: a society where the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror Often futuristic Often under the guise of being a utopia Often totalitarian 1

5. P OPULAR D YSTOPIAS Earliest Literary Dystopia: Plato’s Republic Government had a deep suspicion of literature Viewed educated men as potentially subversive Genre became extremely popular in the 20 th century… 2

6. P OPULAR D YSTOPIAS 20 th century popularity Attempts to put utopian ideals into place resulted in real-life dystopias: Soviet Communism German Nazism Western Consumerism Modernism Technological mass production 3

7. S OVIET C OMMUNISM Political system of social engineering working for a classless society of equals Individual liberties were taken away from citizens because the government thought people could not be trusted to make decisions for themselves Atheist worldview: Religious worship was suppressed 3

8. G ERMAN N AZISM Movement led by Adolph Hitler to lead Germany out of its post- WWI depression A pure race (Aryans) were thought to be superior “Final solution” included eliminating whole races of people (e.g., Jews) and religion The Aryan military class executed Jews, disabled people, the elderly, Catholic priests, an all dissenters Doctors carried out experiments on non-Aryan patients (including pregnant women), treating them as sub-species animals 3

9. W ESTERN C ONSUMERISM A social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. People purchasing goods and consuming materials in excess of their basic needs Characterized by propaganda and advertising everywhere “Who owns you?” 3

10. M ODERNISM A group of movements in the 20 th century that sought to break with the past To eliminate traditions To live without dependence on the family, the Church, and the community Only novel and innovative ideas were considered worthy Technological advancement was worshiped without questioning the possible ill consequences 3

11. M ASS P RODUCTION Product of the Industrial Revolution Production of large amounts of standardized products, including and especially on assembly lines Contributed to consumerism Henry Ford’s Model T was the first Mass produced car. 3

12. T HE D YSTOPIAN W RITERS Reacted against one or more of the many 20 th century movements to alter human society Believed “the more man controls nature, the less he controls himself” Warned against the “evil ends” that our technological advances would be used. Created futuristic worlds that showed the potential dangers of the new 20 th century movements. 3

13. S OME F AMOUS /I MPORTANT D YSTOPIAN N OVELS

14. B RAVE N EW WORLD Portrays a society that has been socially engineered for a mindless happiness. No need for a totalitarian state because everyone is so “amused” and entertained by sex and drugs. Technology drives the culture and takes away one’s humanity A critique of consumerism, technology worship, mass media hypnotism 3

15. B RAVE N EW WORLD Human beings are treated like different model cars trundling off the Ford assembly line. Babies are bred in bottles for designated roles in society comparable The family is seen as unnecessary and revolting. 3

16. Setting: 2540 AD; referred to in the novel as 632 years AF ( “ After Ford ” ), meaning 632 years after production of the first Model T car Narration: Third-person omniscient Point-of-View: Narrated in the third person from the point of view of Bernard or John, but also from the point of view of Lenina, Helmholtz Watson, and Mustapha Mond

17. A LDOUS H UXLEY WAS BORN IN E NGLAND IN 1894, GRANDSON OF THE PROMINENT BIOLOGIST T.H. H UXLEY AND BROTHER OF J ULIAN H UXLEY, ALSO A BIOLOGIST. H UXLEY FIRST STUDIED AT E TON C OLLEGE BUT LATER WENT TO B ALLIOL C OLLEGE IN O XFORD. A T 16, HE SUFFERED MONTHS OF BLINDNESS BUT ONE EYE RECOVERED AND WITH SPECIAL GLASSES HE COMPLETED HIS STUDIES. H E MAJORED IN E NGLISH WHEN HE WAS UNABLE TO PURSUE HIS CHOSEN CAREER AS A SCIENTIST.

18. “Universal happiness keeps the wheels steadily turning; truth and beauty can’t.” - Aldous Huxley “Manmade utopia is an oxymoron.” - Mike Duran

19. A LDOUS HUXLEY INTERVIEW 1958 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TQZ-2iMUR0 As you watch and listen to this interview, answer the questions on the handout provided and be prepared for a discussion to follow.