Question

In which ways does the government in Oceania distract its citizens from their own problems similar to the ways that our own government or media/social media/tech corporations distract us? a) Constant surveillance and monitoring of citizens' activities

b) Censorship of information and controlling narratives
c) Promotion of nationalistic propaganda and patriotism
d) All of the above

Answer 1

The government in Oceania, as depicted in 1984, uses surveillance, censorship, and nationalistic propaganda to distract citizens, which parallels certain tactics employed by modern governments and institutions to shift public focus away from pressing issues.

Step-by-step explanation:

In George Orwell's 1984 and contemporary society, the government and other institutions employ various methods to distract and control the populace, thereby diverting attention from critical issues and internal problems. These methods include:

• Constant surveillance and monitoring of citizens' activities, leveraging technology to track movements and communications, similar to the panoptic surveillance described by Orwell.
• Censorship of information and controlling narratives, deciding what information is disseminated to the public, which can shape perceptions and beliefs.
• Promotion of nationalistic propaganda and patriotism, using symbols, rituals, and media to foster a sense of unity and distract from domestic issues.

All these tactics combine to steer the attention of citizens away from societal problems and towards a common government-approved focus.