"Today, we have no crime, no disease, no war, no aging, no suffering.
Each of us is genetically designed to fit perfectly into our place in society."
Brave New World is a futuristic film based on a novel written in 1931 by Aldous Huxley.
Although this film's plot was ahead of its time, it succeeded in anticipating a series
of human rights violations that people around the world are confronted with today.
"Everyone is happy and we all have fun. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. Everyone belongs to everyone else."
In the movie, a global government controls society through invasion of privacy, censorship,
and indoctrination, among other things.
In this scene, we see as children are brainwashed through an audio recording that plays as they sleep.
This is reminiscent of the children's songs and stories that the North Korean regime uses
to indoctrinate citizens.
"Respect Deltas and Gammas and Betas. Everyone is useful. But I'm glad I'm an Alpha.
There's a place and a purpose for everyone. So everyone is happy."
Those who resist receive a drug that relaxes them into a submissive state.
This is symbolic of Communist regimes such as Soviet Russia using psychiatric institutions
and drugs to try to control dissidents.
"Everyone is useful. But I'm so glad I'm an Alpha. I'd hate to be as dull as a Delta, or
have to take orders like a Gamma, or to keep track of things like a Beta. But everyone is useful."
"I mean, why all these notes?
Why all these tests?
What's the point?
I thought everything here was supposed to be perfect."
"We have our problems too.
But with your help, I can design programs that'll give people happier lives."
John is considered a savage to the leaders of the regime when he refuses to submit to
government control.
So the government seeks to study and manipulate John's behavior in ways that have an eerie
similarity to how oppressive regimes are beginning to use digital technology against dissidents
and opponents.
"Oh brave new world, that has such people in it."
"Don't you know what they're doing to you?
What you're doing to yourself?
It doesn't make you happy, just enslaves you.
You're not happy.
Listen to me.
You're just numb."
In the movie, the concept of privacy or individual personality is treated as a crime against
the state and social stability.
People are dumbed down into believing that everyone belongs to everyone else, and if
they disagree, they are being antisocial.
John attempts to resist this lack of individuality and uniqueness, and is punished for threatening
the social order.
"Throw it away, wake up!
Wake up!"
John prefers to return to his non-conformist condition, which is depicted by the government
as savage.
He struggles to achieve individuality and dignity, but his efforts end in a tragic death.
"Wondering why you haven't seen the savage lately?
It's because he hasn't been here."
"We'll show you where he's been when the news continues."
"Stay tuned for more details-" "There's more to come."
"Let's go behind the scenes."
"More, when we come back."
"Authorities say it is difficult to imagine anyone choosing to isolate themselves from
society, but our savage John Cooper has done just that."
"You're looking at a live picture from the abandoned microwave tower."
"What do you want?
What do you want from me?
I have nothing to give you!"
"What about you, John?
What do you want?"
"I want pain.
I want freedom."
Unlike a Hollywood movie with a happy ending, John's death is Huxley's ultimate warning
about the challenges that individual citizens will face in the future when they seek to
resist an increasingly powerful state.
This is reminiscent of the stories of millions who died in Soviet gulags.
But even more tragically, one wonders how many will even seek to resist future governments
armed with data, technological tools, and power never before seen in history?
"To be awake is to be alive."