Similarities Between 1984 And Into The Wild Journey
Q: We compare texts because by looking at one it casts light on the other. How has the study of your two texts in journeys been furthered in this way?
Journeys allow us to encounter transitions from place to place whether it is physical, mental or emotional. Comparative texts cast light on one another; likewise through examining the journeys that protagonists undertake within texts, our understanding of journeys as responders are also furthered. Sean Penn’s 2007 film Into the Wild (ITW) and George Orwell’s 1948 novel 1984, albeit different in terms of form and expression, both explore the concept of Journey. Orwell uses dystopian expressions to capture the tribulation of Journey through Winston Smith, whereas Penn through his pragmatic film techniques presents Christopher McCandless. Both texts present a physical and mentally engaging journey where widely accepted societal norms deviate from the characters’ inner beliefs & values. The milieus of both texts play a significant role in expressing the journey, as seen in ITW’s 90s backdrop of a rapidly growing American consumerist driven society. Conversely Orwell demonstrates the political fears of the 40s …show more content…
The flashback home video scenes of Chris’ parents’ unconditional worship of their new car represent their superficial values on life. This can be seen with their over reactive gestures that clearly depict their greed for material wealth e.g. when Chris’ mum rubs her finger tips as a way of expressing ‘money money!’ Through delivering the exaggerated scene by means of a home video camera, Penn fabricates a sense of reality; and in doing so Penn raises the question of how society should balance between materialism and nature. External influences are initially seen as a potential to facilitate order but its persistence in suppressing life and reason ultimately destroys aspects of
Journeys allow us to encounter transitions from place to place whether it is physical, mental or emotional. Comparative texts cast light on one another; likewise through examining the journeys that protagonists undertake within texts, our understanding of journeys as responders are also furthered. Sean Penn’s 2007 film Into the Wild (ITW) and George Orwell’s 1948 novel 1984, albeit different in terms of form and expression, both explore the concept of Journey. Orwell uses dystopian expressions to capture the tribulation of Journey through Winston Smith, whereas Penn through his pragmatic film techniques presents Christopher McCandless. Both texts present a physical and mentally engaging journey where widely accepted societal norms deviate from the characters’ inner beliefs & values. The milieus of both texts play a significant role in expressing the journey, as seen in ITW’s 90s backdrop of a rapidly growing American consumerist driven society. Conversely Orwell demonstrates the political fears of the 40s …show more content…
The flashback home video scenes of Chris’ parents’ unconditional worship of their new car represent their superficial values on life. This can be seen with their over reactive gestures that clearly depict their greed for material wealth e.g. when Chris’ mum rubs her finger tips as a way of expressing ‘money money!’ Through delivering the exaggerated scene by means of a home video camera, Penn fabricates a sense of reality; and in doing so Penn raises the question of how society should balance between materialism and nature. External influences are initially seen as a potential to facilitate order but its persistence in suppressing life and reason ultimately destroys aspects of