Using quotes, how does AF and V4V present opportunities to explore

powers use and abuse. (detailed references)

2015-06-22T13:08:18Z+10:00
Context greatly influences the ways in which composers perceive
paradigms of the use and abuse of power. Major events transform
perspectives of individuals and even whole societies, and this influences
the themes a text created during that time period. George Orwells novel
Animal Farm and James McTeigues film V for Vendetta are examples of
cross-generational texts that both deal with the political climates of their
times and the cost of apathy towards propaganda, injustice and fear. V
and Animal Farm compare and contrast in many ways due to the diversity
of their contexts yet the themes in each observe a universal continuity.
Orwells novel was created at the beginnings of Russias social
experiment where the government embezzled the people whereas V is
situated in a future dystopia where the people turned to a fascist
government for protection from unknown threats, sacrificing their liberty
for safety. Both texts make political on power and are influenced by the
historical and personal context of composers.
Orwells allegory Animal Farm warns how the abuse of power is used as
a tool to control and manipulate society. Animal Farm is an allegorical
representation of Orwells outlook on the Russian Revolution,
commenting on the nature of Stalinism and its effects on society. As the
pigs fill the power vacuum that was created after the expulsion of
Farmer Jones, the pigs take leadership of their new society in which all
animals are equal. Through Orwells sarcastic tone it was natural that
the pigs should take leadership, it immediately becomes apparent to
the audience that the pigs are already manipulating the other animals
and corrupting their power. Orwell critiques the nature of power,
implying that they are depreciating the utopian ideals of Animalism.
Furthermore, using the allegoric characters of Squealer, who represents
the Soviet newspaper Pravda, and the nine attack dogs, who represent
the precursor to the KGB, the NKVD, Orwell conveys the manipulation of
society and abuse of power through fear. The juxtaposition of Squealer
spoke so persuasively dogs growled threateningly.they accepted his
explanation without further question, Orwell makes a social
commentary on how the NKVD kept the working class obedient through
fear. The allegoric relation demonstrates how the utopian ideals initially
established are quickly deteriorated through the abuse of power and
the manipulation of the working class. Orwell turns Animal Farm into

more than just a fairy story. It is a commentary on the relevance of

independent thought, truth and justice.

Similarly, V for Vendetta examines the manipulation and abuse of

power by the corrupt Norsefire government and the totalitarian ideals
the self-proclaimed High Chancellor, Adam Suttler. V the main
protagonist commits acts of terror in order to gain the attention of the
oppressed people and wake them up to the governments precocious
lies. V dedicates his attack on the Old Bailey, symbolic of law and
justice, to madame justice, in honour of the holiday she has taken
satirising the impostor who stands in her stead. V attempts to remind
the people of their power, Remember remember the 5th of November,
a direct low shot of V conveys direct historical allusion to the failed
revolutionary Guy Fawkes, who like V, sought to kill the corrupt
politicians running an oppressive society to begin a better era for their
nation. V himself is the representation of freedom, and by not revealing
his identity and wearing a Guy Fawkes mask he believes that anyone
can become what he represents- a political statement that symbolises
freedom and opportunity. These words will always retain their power,
and it reinforces the freedoms which the people have given up to the
government and the will to risk it all for liberty.

Furthermore, Orwell explores the flaws of Animalism which depicts the

ideal utopian world where all animals are equal, and satirises the
conflict for leadership between Stalin and Trotsky as a rivalry between
the two pigs, Napoleon and Snowball. In Soviet history, a similar battle
raged and Stalin triumphed, eliminated all of his rivals and consolidated
his power, largely through tactics of terror. Napoleons massacre is an
allusion to Stalins Great Purges, where the pigs confess then had
their throats ripped out. The visual imagery of the executions portrays
the corruption of absolute power and its role in manipulating and
oppressing the animals through fear. Orwell states his concern through
Benjamin, Windmill or no windmill, he said, life would go on as it had
always gone on- that is badly. The cynical tone illustrates the cyclical
nature of tyranny, one tyrant is replaced by another shows the dangers
of the nave working class who are susceptible to the abuse of power
and oppression, and the idea of false hope. This is further exemplified
through Orwells message of All animals are equal but some animal are
more equal than others, is a paradox to the utopic ideals of Animalism,
the injustice of society has emerged through the corrupt human-like
nature of the pigs. The pigs have now become more like the human

masters they once sought to overthrow, and Orwells heightened use of

irony in the last chapter culminates in a dramatic and unsettling
conclusion where the animals looked from pig to man and back again
and it was already difficult to tell which was which. This is the pinnacle
that power has as it ultimately exposes the truth that absolute power
corrupts absolutely, and Orwell warns that the ideology of a utopian
world will be abused and used to manipulate the populace.

Correspondingly, McTeigue portrays V as a protest against absolute

power, and its ability to corrupt absolutely. V and the Norsefire
government recognise that an influential idea can cause an individual
to act against human nature- an instinct to survive and avoid pain and
suffering. V enters the British Television Network (BTN), who like
Squealer in Animal Farm is a purely under its masters control, and
takes control of the whole network. McTeigue is able to use Vs
revolutionary speech to end the totalitarian regime. Through this
speech, where V speaks to the nation he is able to inform the audience
the manipulation and corruption of the Norsefire government. Initially V
introduced himself, with a calm tone in conjunction with soft victorious
trumpets playing in the background, through this he is able to relate
himself to the audience, and letting them know they are alike. However,
he notifies the audience that they have been deceived by the
government, and explains that there is something terrible with this
country and together with negative connotations of cruelty and
injustice oppression he successfully planted the seed of doubt into
the minds of the audience. Ironically, this doubt is what the Chancellor
fears to be the downfall of the government. Moreover, technology has
been used against the government, where they use media to supress
the people, V is now giving back power to them and is evident where he
states words will always retain their power words offer meaning is
juxtaposed to censors of surveillance coercing your conformity. This
attempt to not only inform but to anger the people so that doubt will
start to grow in their minds, and to rebel against those who robbed their
right to speak freely. Therefore, Vs revolutionary speech, to inform the
people the wrongs the Norsefire party have done to them, and
motivating them to end the regime to get back their rights.

In conclusion, it is clearly evident in both Animal Farm and V for

Vendetta that context influences the composers view of manipulation
and ultimately the abuse of power.