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Intro To Fahrenheit 451

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559 views

Intro To Fahrenheit 451

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Intro to Fahrenheit 451

Lecture Notes, Background, and Themes



Ray Bradbury (1920-2012)



As a child, Bradbury recalls an
intense fascination with
monsters, magicians, and
adventure films.
He began writing stories at the
age of 12.
He wrote for Alfred Hitchcock
& the Twilight Zone.
Bradbury is the author of more
than 500 published literary
works that include short
stories, plays, novels, poetry,
and screenplays.










The Life of a Writer
In 1940, Bradbury sold
his first story.
In 1942, he was able to
quit his newspaper job
and write full-time.
His first novel was The
Martian Chronicles and
describes humankinds
first attempt to colonize
the planet Mars.
This novel combines
science fiction with social
commentary an
approach that
characterizes much of his
work.
Social Concerns
Bradburys works
explored the threat of
nuclear war, censorship,
racism, conformity, and
the dangers of
technology issues that
still concern us today.

What do You
Think?

Despite its benefits,
technology can have
unpredictable
consequences on our
society.
What are some of
these potential
consequences?
The Novel:
Fahrenheit 451 was
published in 1953.
Its a novel of social
criticism that warns
against the dangers of
suppressing thought
through censorship.
It uses the conventions
of sci-fi to convey a
message that
oppressive government,
left unchecked, can do
irreparable damage to
society by limiting the
creativity and freedom of
its people.
What is Social Criticism?
Social criticism analyzes
(problematic) social
structures, and aims at
practical solutions by
specific measures,
radical reform, or even
revolutionary change.
F451 is a social criticism
that warns against the
danger of suppressing
thought through the
censorship of books.


Historical
Context

Fahrenheit 451 was
developed in the years
immediately following
WWII.
It condemns not only
the anti-intellectualism
of Nazi Germany (book
burnings), but America
in the 1950s the
heyday of McCarthyism,
and a growing fear of
communism.
Other influential social
criticisms of the time
include Orwells 1984
and Animal Farm.
The 1950s
By mid-century, nearly
60% of Americans were
members of the middle
class; they had more
discretionary income.
Consumerism = Success
The electronics industry
became the 5
th
largest
industry. Television had
a widespread impact in
American homes.
The US became an
automobile culture.

The increase in
prosperity after the war
led to an increased
passivity and conformity.
Jobs were plentiful and
the common adage of
the time period was:
follow orders, and you
will succeed.
Personal
Context
On a more personal
level, Bradbury used
F451 as a means of
protesting what he
believed to be the
invasiveness of editors,
who, through strict
control of the books
they printed, impaired
the originality and
creativity of writers.

Bradbury Was Right
In Fahrenheit 451,
Bradbury tries to
prevent the future, not
predict it, but he actually
does anticipate the
future.
Seashell Radios
Parlor Walls
Population Explosion
A reliance on technology
to mediate all social
experience

What Else was
Bradbury Right About?
A rise in violence (including gun
violence)
The use of televised surveillance
footage for many purposes.
Growing illiteracy
And the condensation of
information into what we now
call sound bites.
Themes: Censorship

Censorship is defined as
the removal or
withholding of
information from the
public by a controlling
group or body.
Typically done by
governments, religious
and secular groups,
corporations, or the
mass media.
Censorship in the Novel
In the world of F451,
books are burned
because they trigger
thought and discontent,
two things that are
unwelcome in this
happiness oriented
society.
Whats unexpected about
the censorship in F451 is
that it seems to have
originated with the
people, not the
government.
Theme: Ignorance vs. Knowledge
What does true
happiness consist of?
Is ignorance bliss, or do
knowledge and learning
provide true happiness?
In this world, firemen
promote ignorance by
destroying books and
with them knowledge.
Theme: Technology Deadening
Human Experience
Technology in Bradburys
24
th
century is highly
advanced and dominates
society.
TV, radio broadcasts, fast
cars and atomic weapons
dominate peoples
experiences at the
expense of things like
nature, music and
poetry.

Theme: Dystopias
The Dystopia motif,
popular in science fiction
that of a technocratic
and totalitarian society
that demands order at
the expense of individual
rights is central to the
novel.
Dystopias
Characteristics

Propaganda is used to control
citizens.
Information, independent
thought, and freedom are
restricted.
A figurehead or concept is
worshipped by citizens.
Citizens are under constant
surveillance.
Citizens feel trapped and
struggle to escape.
The natural world is banished
& distrusted.
Citizens are dehumanized.
The society is an illusion of a
perfect utopian world.


Types of Control
Corporate/Economic: large
corporations control
society through products,
advertising, and/or the
media.
Political: red tape,
relentless regulations and
incompetent government
officials.
Technological: society is
controlled by technology
robots, computers, etc.
Philosophical/Religious:
ideology is enforced
through a dictatorship or
theocratic government.
Can you think of any additional
examples of Dystopias in film or
literature?

Activity: Dystopia Movie Trailers
I am going to show you several movie
trailers from a variety of dystopian films.
As you watch each trailer, jot down any
dystopian characteristics that you see.
Also, identify which type of control you
see taking place.

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