Big brother isn’t watching you The expression, Big brother isn’t watching you is a directly parallel to the English author and journalist George Orwell’s book, 1984. Originally, the book was written in the year 1948 and is about an insignificant young man, named Winston Smith, who works for the state. His job is to paraphrase historical documents to promote propaganda in the society. The book is about Winston’s attempt to rebel against the totalitarian state, he lives in. People today, still consider the book to be a terrible illustration of the surveillance society, Big Brother society.
There's a specialist from your university waiting to help you with that essay.
Tell us what you need to have done now!
order now
The British comedian Russell Brand, who now lives in Los Angeles (USA), has written a critical comment on the riots in England, where he states; by using his point of view of the expression, Big brother isn’t watching you that no one is really watching any one. He here describes the conditions of the many rioters and takes their side in the conflict. The riots in England have been a huge problem since 2011 in specially London, emotions run high, and the general emotions in the society becomes fight or flee.
The comedian Russell Brand is also well known for his jokes about celebrities in Hollywood comedies, where he himself has stared in ex. Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Why Russell has written this commentary, is to find in the text, where he reveals that he is from London, England, but doesn’t live there anymore but has moved to L. A. The distance can’t keep him from commenting on the current situation in his homeland, because he has been affected emotionally and even though rioters keep rebelling and vandalizing streets and stores, he is still proud to be English. I feel proud to be English. ”[1] In the text occur there many explanations from Russell where he tries to come up with a reason why the riots are occurring in such matter, as we see in London. “I naturally began to wonder what would make young people destroy their communities. ”[2] Russell is an upcoming comedian in L. A. and isn’t a part of the economic class as he used to be back in London. This bothers him, because the economic class is exactly the class the rioters come from. “In fact, it isn’t my absence from the territory of London that bothers me; t’s my absence from the economic class that is being affected and itches in my gut […]” [3] In addition to that, while he lived in London, he was part of the economic class and lived in a community where many riots occurred. In Russell’s early twenties, he also participated in several demonstrations and protest. By using his own experience, he thinks that he still can relate to the rioters, which in that matter creates ethos. The British background of his in such matter, added something the emptiness by participating in the demonstrations.
Another point Russell makes, is the way the politicians deal with the rioters by stating their riots as unjustifiable and unacceptable. “[…] The Behaviour is unjustifiable and unacceptable. ” [4] The statement, which comes from Theresa May, the minister of the Interior, is insolent and intolerant, according to the British comedian Russell Brand. He urges people to go to the core of the problem, and not command them to stop but to ask a whole other different question; why are these riots occurring?
Russell’s mission is to include the lost youth who are at the margins of the society to the society. “If we want to live in a society where people feel included, we must include them [… ]”. [5] The relations he feels with the rioters are extremely strong and he, as mentioned earlier, several times searches for a motives and explanations behind the disturbances. Ex. “No education, a weakened family unit, no money and no way of getting away”. [6] The way Russell presents the youth make you sympathize with the rioters and furthermore make the bad guy the government and the upper-class.
The argument works and so does pathos in this context. We sense his mistrust towards the government and the politicians throughout most of the text. Especially when he expresses, following “I’ve heard Theresa May and the Old Etonians whose hols have been curtailed (many would say they’re the real victims) saying the behavior is “unjustifiable” and “unacceptable”. Wow! Thanks guys! ”[7] The above-mentioned quote is a good a central quote because it clarifies the sarcasm of Russell and the skeptical and cynical he feels.
According to Russell there is not really a purpose of statement in this quote, and that’s why he’s sarcastic by saying ”Wow” Thanks guys! ” to support his argument, that the government doesn’t really care about the underclass nor the rioters. Precisely Russell’s Background reflects his attitude and style of writing in the text. He is not being objective but emotional and beside his sarcastic posture, he uses the phrases such as “fucking” more than one time to clarify his point but in a very careful way. Ex. ses Russell the word “fucking” in connection to claim that society has developed away from the youth and left thousands of people behind. “No wonder they have their fucking hoods up. ”[8] – In that way, he doesn’t abuse the word. The way Russell expresses himself is in a very various and wide because he for example uses expressions such as “political idealism or rationalism”[9] and the neutral and everyday-language such as “I feel proud to be English, proud to be Londoner (all right, an Essex boy)[…]”[10] .
He also uses slang, which has an influence on the text – words like “Old Bill” instead of the police. His use of the two languages creates a feeling that is aware of his subjectivity, not only on the personal level but also on the educational level. ———————– [1] Page 8, line 35 [2] Page 8. line 36-37 [3] Page 8, line 29-30 [4] Page 8, line 51. [5] Page 10, line 114 [6] Page 9, line 83-84 [7] Page 8, line 49-51 [8] Page 9, line 90 [9] Page 8, line 40 [10] Page 8, line 35
