“Why Modern Civilization is a Dystopia”

George Orwell’s 1984 is famous for describing the extremities of a corrupt government,

but today’s government production of propaganda is disturbingly similar to that being described

in the dystopia. The book is set in a society named Oceania, and it illustrates the extremities of a

totalitarianism government. Among these extremities is the problem of overproduction of

propaganda and how it brainwashes citizens. For example, the types of propaganda being

mentioned in the book are the worship of a figurehead, the constant rewriting of history, and a

rebel leader used to spread fear and hatred among the people. The spread of government issued

propaganda in present society is beginning to mirror that described in 1984 through the usage of

technology, the usage of “fake news,” and the lack of legislation regarding production of

propaganda.

The usage of technology in Oceania and today’s society helps to spur the government

spread of propaganda. In 1984, technology is used to control its citizens by the usage of telescreens.

Telescreens are monitors that pick up any sound and can watch citizens at all times, even when

they sleep. The telescreens force people to follow the law because since they don’t know when

they are being watched, “[They] had to live - did live, from habit that became instinct - in the

assumption that every sound [they] made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every moment

scrutinized” (Orwell 3). Because of the constant fear of the government catching citizens breaking

the law, technology is a very effective propaganda tactic in Oceania. In today’s society, technology

is also very effective as propaganda because people today have become very reliant on technology

and use it constantly throughout the day. Instead of fear of being watched, however, modern day

citizens are confined by technology because of censorship. A prime example of this is the Chinese

government and its chief online censor, Lu Wei, who is “treated as a celebrity” for his control of
information. The reasoning behind these strong online controls is this: “The prominence of censors

and regime flacks is testimony to the high priority modern authoritarians give to information

control. Dictators regard control of information as more critical than control of the political

opposition, since the former will considerably simply the latter” (Puddington). Governments know

that by restricting access to the vast resources online, citizens’ political viewpoints are likely to be

influenced in the way the government chooses. The idea that citizens are being monitored by

technology and that citizens are being given a limited access to technology demonstrates how the

government propaganda in 1984 is similar to that of today.

Today’s society’s obsession with the concept of “fake news” demonstrates the increase of

government spread propaganda. In 1984, “fake news” is extremely prevalent. Leaders of society

are constantly writing and rewriting history to fit in with the current society, and after they have

changed history, they erase it from their minds and the minds of the people so that no one knows

the change ever happened. For example, when Oceania changes from being at war with Eurasia to

Eastasia, the government is careful to make sure that every mention of being at war with Eastasia

is erased. “A mighty deed, which could never be mentioned, had been achieved. It was now

impossible for any human being to prove by documentary evidence that the war with Eurasia had

ever happened” (Orwell 183). Oceania employs “fake news” to ensure that the citizens believe that

the government’s past political actions align with the present actions, giving citizens the illusion

of a perfect government. Rarely a day goes by in current America where the phrase “fake news”

isn’t heard, its usage increasing as a result of the 2016 presidential election. Along with being a

commonly used phrase, “fake news” is becoming an element of propaganda. “Fake news” used to

be “headlines about UFO landings, secret celebrity illnesses, and other specious claims from

tabloids. . .” but “When you add the element of a social or political message behind a story that is
fabricated, ‘fake news’ begins to cross into the territory of propaganda” (Mai). The popularity of

“fake news” shows that fake stories are no longer being shared for comedic effect, but to evoke

emotion and political action. “Fake news” is being employed to produce emotions from citizens

similarly both in 1984 and today.

The absence of clear legislation regarding the legality of propaganda is allowing the

government to lawfully spread it. In Oceanica there are no laws, and the government can do

whatever it pleases, such as publish outright lies as facts. “On the other hand his actions are not

regulated by law or by any clearly formulated code of behaviour. In Oceania there is no law”

(Orwell 211). Oceania is allowed to produce mass amounts of propaganda because of the absence

of laws regarding it; however, it is concerning to realize that the same thing happens in our current

government. The main problem is the lack of a precise definition for what propaganda is. “The

GAO defines ‘propaganda’ very narrowly as government information that is not labeled as such.

Unfortunately, it otherwise has proven all but impossible to write a law that absolutely

differentiates information from advocacy” (Hamilton and Kosar). This quote is saying that even

though the government isn’t allowed to produce propaganda unless it is clearly stated as being

propaganda, the government can get away without labeling it by claiming it is “advocacy.” In

both 1984 and in today’s society the scarcity of rules allows for the increased production of

propaganda, because there are no consequences for doing so.

Today’s current government is becoming similar to that described in 1984 because of the

large usage of propaganda as a result of technology, spread of the term “fake news,” and the lack

of legislation on production of propaganda. Technology in Oceania gives the citizens fear to

conform, while in the countries around the world it is censored to cause citizens to have the desired

political viewpoint. “Fake news” is being employed in 1984 to make citizens believe that their
government has always behaved perfectly, and today the previously harmless “fake news” has

molded into a dangerous way of writing stories in order to cause people to react in a certain way

and change their political opinions. In both worlds there is barely any legislation regarding

propaganda, which allows governments to produce mass amounts of it without consequences.

Today’s society must fight back against government issued propaganda in order to prevent it from

becoming a dystopian esque society where the entire civilization has become brainwashed.

Works Cited

Hamilton, John Maxwell, and Kevin Kosar. "How the American Government Is Trying

to Control What You Think." Washington Post, 24 Sept. 2015,

www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/09/24/

the-new-propaganda-how-the-american-government-is-trying-to-control-what-you-thin

k/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.8525ea57f0b3. Accessed 3 Oct. 2018.

Mai, Lina. "When Is Fake News Propaganda?" Facing Today, 29 Jan. 2018,

facingtoday.facinghistory.org/when-is-fake-news-propaganda-. Accessed 3

Oct. 2018.

Orwell, George. 1984. New York, New American Library, 1949.

Puddington, Arch. "Propaganda Used to Be a Source of Shame. Now Governments Take

Pride in It." Washington Post, 13 Dec. 2016, Opinion sec.,

www.washingtonpost.com/news/in-theory/wp/2016/12/13/
propaganda-used-to-be-a-source-of-shame-now-governments-take-pride-in-it/

?utm_term=.068954ceb868. Accessed 3 Oct. 2018.