1984 and Metropolis context (1 Viewer)

[Amina]

hi all,
does anyone have any context for 1984 on the perspective - women?
thankyou
to be more specific, i need context on sexualisation of women (Julia) as i am doing a VR, comparing the perspective of women in 1984 and metropolis.

 

[eyeseeyou]

1984 was written in 1948. Think of what was going on at the time

 

[Nailgun]

Published in 1949 actually lelelele but yeah

 

[Amina]

nazi germany

 

[Nailgun]

We have for metropolis and 1984

weimar republic/ww2/nazi germany/beginnings of the cold war/strong anti-fascist + anti-communist feelings/post war period for ww1 (metropolis) and ww2 (1984)
propaganda machine is running everywhere following war time
world is also just learning about the holocaust

 

[ishfish]

Hi Amina,

I high recommend that this aspect of the texts be kept to minimum. Essentially these texts showcase the nature of power wholely and solely as as opposed to being of an substantial feminist work. In fact that's the reason you may not find much on the role of women in either text. Nonetheless, there is an interesting element in metropolis where the Machine Man is blatantly disregarded as a woman. Perhaps this could be a spring board for your research.

 

[WriteWayUp]

An interpretation along feminist lines could work if you consider Maria and Julia as catalysts for Freder and Winston's deviation from the establishment. This is both in line with and subverts traditional representations of women as sources of corruption. Subversive because ultimately the message is that the establishment itself is highly pernicious, and it's the women who make the protagonists realise this.
ishfish is right in that both texts are deeply rooted in the shifting political power structures of the day - though this was by far more a concern of Orwell's, than it was Lang's. see http://sleightofpen.com/2016/02/16/george-orwell-1984-hsc-english/ for a summary of the key political movements of Orwell's context.