Could "Big Brother" gaslight you into believing that "war is peace"? Sandra Newman's retelling of the novel 1984 offers a new opportunity to reflect on the limits of mind control.
Opinion
The article mentions how George Orwell's 1984 explores the concept of "brainwashing" in a totalitarian regime, where the government seeks to control individual thoughts and beliefs. While the CIA's Cold War-era mind control experiments with LSD proved unsuccessful, the piece acknowledges the potential for subtler forms of psychological manipulation and the impact of trauma on personal identity.
To me, it's clear that humanity is all about subtle forms of brainwashing. We are so thoroughly conditioned that we just call it "culture." I think some religious beliefs could also fall under this category.
While looking over this article I remembered how St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto has a physical sign at the entrance: MEN REMOVE YOUR HATS. As someone who has an ear supersensitive to cold - even the slightest chill from AC can give me a wicked earache - I take exception to whoever is behind this silly, sexist sign.
The whole idea is premised upon the cultural belief that it's rude or disrespectful for men to wear hats indoors, whereas ladies may don fancy chapeaux - or even plain hats - whenever they feel like it.
If that's not a soft type of brainwashing (and a blatant form of sexism), I don't know what is.
Although complete mind control may not be feasible, 1984 serves as a powerful warning about the dangers of totalitarianism and the erosion of individual freedom.
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