Module A - 1984, Metropolis

[dannimoussa]

Is it possible for the HSC to ask extremely specific themes like on technology and women or is this unlikely?

[frog1944]

I'm curious about this as well. E.g. could they ask "To what extent has your comparative study of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four provided an intertextual commentary on the misuse of technology?"

[elysepopplewell]

Yes I believe they could. Looking at past questions we can see that this plot-based specific questions aren't common, but aren't non-existent either. In fact frog1994, I think the question you proposed is in fact a very reasonable question!

[Lachlan Morley]

I'm curious about this as well. E.g. could they ask "To what extent has your comparative study of Fritz Lang’s Metropolis and George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four provided an intertextual commentary on the misuse of technology?"

Hi there,

Yeah I saw a practise question very similar to the one above. I have also seen one specific to rebellion or specifc to power and i have even seen one in relaton to the figurative or literall use of machines

[thesvs]

How would you answer form-related questions for 1984/Metropolis?

[Checkmate123]

If they ask about power, is it recommended to talk about the power of the Party/Fredersen over the workers, or should I also mention power of the workers to enact change. If you were a reader, which one would you give higher marks to, provided both similar levels of context/techniques/link to question/sophistication?

[rodero]

If they ask about power, is it recommended to talk about the power of the Party/Fredersen over the workers, or should I also mention power of the workers to enact change. If you were a reader, which one would you give higher marks to, provided both similar levels of context/techniques/link to question/sophistication?

Personally I think that the first suggestion that you mentioned, i.e. power of the Party and Fredersen, would probably be the approach that the majority of the course will take. I think that mentioning the power (or in 1984, the powerlessness) for workers to enact change would allow for that extra layer to add to your sophistication. That would be a great idea as it flows onto the perspective of Lang who emphasises the necessity for a balance of power in light of an industrialised world.

[dannimoussa]

If they ask about power, is it recommended to talk about the power of the Party/Fredersen over the workers, or should I also mention power of the workers to enact change. If you were a reader, which one would you give higher marks to, provided both similar levels of context/techniques/link to question/sophistication?

I would do both and structure accordingly
P1: Metropolis - the use of power in instilling oppression
P2: 1984 - same idea but how contextual differences lead to a more extreme implementation of power
P3: Metropolis - the ability for revolutions to aid in the attainment of some power for the lower class
P4: 1984 - the same idea, grappling with how Winston tried to attain personal power. However, due to Orwell's context, the Party will always sustain power and control.

[Checkmate123]

Having a bit of a problem understanding Lang's purpose. While he does condemn the dehumanizing effects of use of technology, he still shows how this can have economic benefits (the skyscrapers, the fancy dresses, Yoshiwara). Especially given the economic turmoil of his context, wouldn't his film been interpreted by his contemporary audiences as optimistic about technology? Of course, he does warn about the need to keep the workers' wellbeing in mind as well. So I'm unsure of how to capture his overall intention into one sentence. 

[dannimoussa]

Having a bit of a problem understanding Lang's purpose. While he does condemn the dehumanizing effects of use of technology, he still shows how this can have economic benefits (the skyscrapers, the fancy dresses, Yoshiwara). Especially given the economic turmoil of his context, wouldn't his film been interpreted by his contemporary audiences as optimistic about technology? Of course, he does warn about the need to keep the workers' wellbeing in mind as well. So I'm unsure of how to capture his overall intention into one sentence. 

I would first say that the skyscrapers are influenced by the fact that he had a passion for New-York type architecture. However, he only uses these skyscrapers, fancy dresses and the nightclub to demonstrate the fact that society is dehumanising and deterring from Christian values as a result of the exploitive use of technology. This links to his concerns about the industrialising society of his time.