2005
"They know the truth, and yet do nothing about it."
"Indeed," said the
Realtre. "That is the magic of that monitor. What they see hypnotizes them ... and the individual chooses what to be hypnotized by! Damn, I love modern technology!"
***
1985
Two friends sitting in the upper deck of Shea Stadium on
Mets Duffle Bag day, watching the players warm up on the field.
"I thought it would be boring."
"Phil! How could you think 1984 would be boring? What a movie," said Al.
"Okay."
"I mean, sure, the real 1984 was a whole lot different than what George Orwell imagined ... but you can definitely see how it could happen, you know?"
"Uh huh."
"Man, Richard Burton had this incredible line in the movie: 'If you want a vision of the future, imagine ... a boot stamping on a human face forever.'"
"Your British accent is weak."
"Aah. You're just mad because you missed it."
From two rows behind, the Icon known as the Nihilist spoke up: "George Orwell got it wrong."
"Excuse me?" said Al.
"The vision of the future."
"Well, yeah, we can all see that!" Al turned and said under his breath, "Jerk."
"You don't get it. That future came to pass, just not how Orwell imagined it. He offered us a vision, but the controls aren't based on brute force and a drone-like reality. I wonder how much he actually knew ... perhaps he was just a tool used by the Icons, much like
Goldstein was used by the Party, to introduce people to the idea that they would be controlled, so that when it actually happened, it would be palatable...."
"Shut up, jackass," said Al. "We're here to enjoy a ball game."
"My point exactly. We sit here, watching this meaningless event, when...."
"Dwight
Gooden isn't meaningless, jerk! You say one more word, and I'm going to slug you in the mouth!"
Al stood, fists clenched. The Nihilist stared, sighed, picked up his
duffle bag, and left.
***
1955
A conference of potentates, outside Zurich. A picture of a family in front of a radio is projected on a screen. A speaker, to the side, stands behind a podium.
"Ladies and gentleman, what once required imagination to enjoy has been ..."
A picture of the same family, sitting in front of a television set.
"... improved upon! Thought is no longer required. The mind is hypnotized, drawn to the pictures displayed on the tube. In time, based on our studies,a person cannot help but be drawn back to the television set ... like the father here, coming home after a long day at work. It is as if images the father watches, entering through his eyes and into his mind, replace imagination with hooks ... the father is reeled in at the same time every night, to watch his favorite programming...."
"And some sponsors," said the
Realtre, standing off-stage. "Who hired this poetic prattler? These execs are already buying -- he needs to shut up!"
"You hired him, sir," stated a faceless assistant.
"Really? Well. I'll just have to take care of that, won't I?"
"Yes, sir."
The
Realtre loosened his tie and smiled. The faceless assistant would have to go first, of course....
Labels: hooks, hypnotize, monitors, television
