There has been an issue over the last 20 years with breaches of individuals privacy. Recently that trend has grown at a rapid rate and it has almost become the norm for an individual to be monitored. For example, nowadays we have cameras on every street, in every store constantly monitoring. We can see these features in the four dystopian societies, where there is a reoccurrence of surveillence, manipulation and control. These features are represented through camera techniques, language and a main/flawed/anti-hero character. To a certain extent, these features are all present in the four texts, the song by Radiohead, Fake Plastic Trees, a novel Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, Arkangel, an episode from the television series Black Mirror by Charlie Brooker and a film Minority Report by Steven Spielberg. The use of advanced technology is present in all four texts and we can see how similar they are to our society today.

One of the features found in a dystopia is the use of technology to manipulate and have control over an individual. Just like in Nineteen Eighty-Four, the song Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead presents us with a depressing image of society that has inserted its control over unaware people. In this case, Thom Yorke, who wrote the piece, has presented this by expressing how we live in a fake world, in a fake society where the pressures through technology are forcing us to conceal our true identities and be a different version of ourselves. This control and manipulation is represented in the song as vividly as in Orwell’s novel by expressing how we already live in and around plastic things without knowing it. How we live in a world governed by nameless multinational entities to whom we are all only units of consumption for their profit. Orwell presents control through Thoughtcrime where citizens are forced to hide their emotions, just like as Radiohead states “She lives with a broken man, A cracked polystyrene man, Who just crumbles and burns”. This quote explains that this man that she lives with, in this rubber town, is just as fake and plastic as the rest of her surroundings. This is a metaphor of how living in this plastic society has turned people into shelves of themselves. This is where technology takes over, social media and the media are platforms for people to broadcast their somewhat perfect life. Thus causing other people to create plastic versions of themselves to make their lives appear just as wonderful as those online. Our generation conforms to societies expectations which are formed through advanced technology. 

George Orwell’s dystopian society is heavily controlled through advanced technology such as the telescreens used for constant surveillance and the dismantling of privacy. This feature of dystopia is the main mechanism of surveillance that is presented throughout the novel to keep citizens obedient to The Party. In similarity to the episode Arkangel from Black Mirror, Orwell removes citizens right to privacy and individuality, the government controls every aspect of daily life, going to such lengths to turn families against each other in a society where everyone is used as a means of control by the Party. This is where we see a clear link to the show Arkangel, where Sarah is under total control by her mother who invades all aspects of Sarah’s privacy to an extent that their relationship comes to an end. Through the eyes of the protagonist, the reader is presented with what a totalitarian society based on constant surveillance can look like and how government structure keeps its citizens obedient. Telescreens are located on every wall, every street and in every home. They are the eyes and ears of The Party eliminating the chance of its citizens creating secrete conspiracies against Oceania. The telescreens can not pick up movement in the dark however, their microphones are incredibly sensitive and can pick up something as quiet as a heartbeat. As the protagonist, Winston Smith describes, “… even a back can be revealing…”. The purpose of the telescreens is to constantly reinforce the teachings of the party through propaganda and to constantly monitor the actions of the citizens. Orwell’s message then is one of alarm, the dystopian society he created is one so depressing and unpleasant, yet what he predicted is almost bang on to our world today.

The episode Arkangle from Black Mirror is very similar to Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, as the viewer is presented with a relationship based around control and manipulation through technology. Just like in Orwell’s novel, Arkangel by Charlie Brooker presents us with a society based around power over an individual. The episode focuses on the surveillance of a young girl by her mother who uses a tablet device named Arkangel to monitor her every move. Arkangel’s “parental control” and chip is its most layered and ultimately disturbing feature. The story follows the child’s life, one that is monitored by Marie Dewitt, the child’s mother, even when the product is discontinued. This control and manipulation over Sarah’s life is presented in the episode through the use of camera angles to reinforce the invasion of privacy and the projection of the eye on the Arkangel. Throughout the episode, Brooker presents his viewers with a symbol of an eye, this is the symbol that represents control and surveillence which becomes obvious to the viewer every time the Arkangel is activated. The device later opens to a button of an eye which Dewitt uses to explore the devices use. With the chip in Sarah’s head, it gives her mother and the Arkangel access to constantly manage what she hears, sees and touches. Thereby revoking her privacy and individuality. This feature of the device is a similar aspect to Iphones where we can locate anyone else with that same model and view what they view. In scenes throughout the episode, the viewer is also presented with a series of low angle shots of Sarah’s mother to represent her power and control in the relationship. This is extremely similar to the film Minority report by Steven Spielberg as the state is portrayed through camera angles and the constant projection of the eye. These features between both Arkangle and Minority report present an ongoing reminder of the power and control one has over another.  

Much like Arkangel, the film Minority Report, by Steven Spielburg is similar in that it uses the symbol of an eye to represent surveillence and invasion of privacy. Even though Arkangel focuses on one relationship, the use of advanced technology is implemented in the same way. This surveillence state is represented through the film with the use of camera angles to portray the power the state has over people. Just like Arkangel, it is no secret that the District of Columbia are being watched with the constant advertisement of the eye and iris scanners in all public places. Spielberg sets the film in a futuristic dystopian society where crime is rarely committed due to high security. Technology is heavily emphasised and demonstrates its heavy impact through control. The viewer can identify this through the camera angles, for example, a scene in the film involves ‘robot spiders’ infiltrating a building. The camera hovers above each apartment, giving a birds-eye view of every different encounter occurring in the rooms. As the viewer explores from above it, the angle shows the poverty within the building and the caste system often involved in dystopian societies. Viewing people from above shows the control the government posses as citizens privacy is seized by technology operated spiders. When the protagonist sits in the ice bath the viewer is shown with a high angle where the spiders perch over the main character, this represents a reminder that the controlled technology is more powerful than any human in the film. This idea is further developed with low angle shots of the police, placing the viewer in a smaller position than the government which thereby gives the viewer the impression that the government is higher than anyone in the film.

The main features often found in a dystopian society are manipulation, control and constant surveillence. What links all these features together is the use of advanced technology in Fake Plastic Trees, Nineteen Eighty Four, Arkangel and Minority Report. We are able to make conclusions of how these unifying elements of the genre are employed across the four texts by different authors to form warnings about the future. We can also conclude that these features act as a powerful mechanism for a totalitarian state or individual to impose on other peoples lives and break the barrier between someones privacy and individuality. We are presented with the same warning between all texts, that technology will take over in extreme ways and the government will hold enough power for constant surveillance and monitoring just like in the texts. And now when I pick up my phone to post my latest post on social media I am more aware of how easily I can be monitored or controlled by giving out my personal information, or how quickly one could feel like they need to conceal their identity through the pressures of social media. All these themes throughout the texts are almost exactly happening today, just enhanced in the texts.