- Select one (1) of the two topics below
Topic 1
In unit 3, you learned that there are two main types of social control, informal and formal, both intended to leverage consensus in order to maintain societal order and harmony.
Explain in detail the method of social control used in Brave New World and compare it to the methods of social control used in Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four and Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451. As part of the comparison, discuss the effectiveness of the methods and whether any aspects of them are apparent
OR
Topic 2
The term, literary merit, refers to certain qualities of excellence in fiction that validates it as a serious work with what is termed aesthetic value. (Feel open to look up this term). Often, books that are banned have this quality of literary merit which is what allows them to withstand the test of time - that readers will enjoy and find them worth reading long after they have been written. Works such as Howl and Whitman’s poetry have withstood this test of time. Censored in their day, they are now regarded as legitimate works of literature.
Brave New World (BNW) was censored and banned for a variety of reasons, including the portrayal of a society that promoted unrestrained sexuality, drug use, and disrespect of religion.
Apply the concept of literary merit to it BNW; consider what its literary qualities are, what insights a reader might gain from reading it, and whether these redemptive aspects outweigh the criticisms for which it is challenged and, at times, banned.
