Question

Brainstorming

What do we censor in our society?
nudity , language, drugs, internet, magazines, violence, facial expressions, clothing, writing, books,
gestures, voices, art, tobacco, movies
Why do we Censor?
protect, maintain innocence, avoid offense, control the masses, control feeling, control or impact
opinions, power, and influence
What is censored in 1984?
feelings, thoughts, sex, food, the past, music, tv, sleep, books, movies, people, exercise, information,
food, hobbies, writing, everything
How do they censor?
Telescreen, Thought Police, microphones, memory hole, rewritten history, Junior Anti Sex League, spies,
Newspeak, double think, control of record, fear, propaganda, 2 minutes of hate, big brother
Creative Prompt: Please write a 2-4 paragraph narrative response. This response should tell end story of
a time when you felt censored ie: curfew, school dress code, eating your vegetables ect..
You should be thinking of the questions What is being censored, Why might it be being censored
according to the censor? How is it being censored? Why is it really being censored? You could also
choose if nothing personal comes to mind to write about the state of the society in 1984 and something
they are being censored from using ideas and descriptions from the book. You could also if you don’t
feel censored think of something people in 1984 lost the right to do that you would not want to lose and
write your response about what the loss would be like. I.e. ability to read or ability to feel emotion.

Answer 1

I remember the time when I was in high school and our school implemented a strict dress code policy. It was said that the dress code was being enforced to maintain a professional environment and to prevent any distractions in the classroom. However, I felt like it was a form of censorship because we were not allowed to express ourselves through our clothing choices.

The dress code required us to wear collared shirts, khaki pants or skirts, and closed-toe shoes. We were not allowed to wear any clothing that showed our shoulders, midriff, or any clothing that was too tight or too baggy. I felt like our individuality was being suppressed and we were being forced to conform to a certain standard.

Although the school claimed that the dress code was being enforced for our own benefit, I couldn't help but feel like it was a way for them to control us and limit our freedom of expression. It was frustrating to not be able to wear what we wanted and to be constantly monitored by teachers and staff to ensure that we were following the dress code.

Looking back, I realize that the dress code was a small form of censorship compared to what is portrayed in the book 1984. In the book, the government censors everything from thoughts to emotions to information. It's scary to think about living in a society where every aspect of your life is controlled and monitored by a higher power. It makes me appreciate the freedoms that we have today and reminds me to always fight for them.