[marden]

How Well Does "A Clockwork Orange" Predict The Future?

Here is a wikipedia snippet of a synopsis of the first chapter of the novel. If you don't want to know anything about the plot I will reveal this under spoiler cover.

 

Set in a dystopian future, the novel opens with the introduction of protagonist, fifteen-year-old Alexander DeLarge who, with his gang members (known as "droogs") Dim, Georgie and Pete, roam the streets at night, committing crimes for enjoyment.

Essentially, the first part of the novel is a character study of our protagonist. We learn that Alex is articulate and clever, enjoys classical music (that particularly of Beethoven) and finds amusement during the evenings in committing crimes and acts of sexual violence — justifying himself through his narrative voice. We learn that Alex and his "droogs" have their own language known as Nadsat, and their own hierarchy, in which Alex is the leader. There is a general disregard for the law or for older generations — creating an image of a youth movement which is taking control of this fictional future. (This of course being the exaggeration of the concern that came with the changing values of the 1960s, in which teenagers were becoming decidedly more unruly and rebellious.)

Part 1 involves Alex reflecting on his illegal activity (which involves the rape of two 10-year-old girls, and also the wife of writer F. Alexander) and describes the treachery of the droogs which results in Alex's arrest and then later, prison sentence.

The use of lyrical language and Nadsat somewhat masks the horrible imagery of Alex's actions, and, to some extent, Alex is able to draw empathy from the reader, through his friendly nature towards his audience (referring to them as his "only friends", etc.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Clockwork_Orange

I believe that the lead characters' committing crimes for enjoyment and their sexual depravity despite a certain level of sophistication (which makes their activities seem incongruous) perfectly foreshadows what we already experience but even more so what we WILL face as the bookstores and movie theaters make our children see the types of things gulmatan so aptly described in this post.

http://forums.macnn.com/89/macnn-lou...s/#post3333677

Not everything Mr Steve "Yuppie Idiot" Jobs does is the best idea since Newton discovered gravity. Mr. Jobs needs to realize that he is not the authority on what's cool or what everyone likes of his creations. Furthermore, I have the same issues with places like Barnes & Noble and Borders who SHOVE, PUSH ad naseum this Harry Potter witchcraft for kids when all I'd like to do is go into the store, give them my business and buy a Sherlock Holmes novel or a great sci-fi novel. Instead, before I get to the fiction section or DVD part of the store, I'm bombarded with junk ranging from Britney/Christina whoredom, Harry Potter satanism or some rapcrap Jim Jones malarky-besides, why are these rapper/hip-hopper thugs looking like they should be serving jail time instead?

We have allowed our standards and boundaries to be so beaten down that we accept EVERYTHING as OK.

And that is what allows Alex and his Droogs to become such hybrid villains. And who is to say that the government wasn't only trying to devise a suitably humane method of countering such a new type of evil from America's progressive hot house when they invented the special treatment?

Many of you think it's crazy to decry today's shlock and awful! In your eyes anyone who is dismayed at how casually we sew the seeds of tomorrow's evil is outside of the norm. Well maybe you are right and that right there is proof that we are on the expressway headed to that dark and scary future.

But maybe you are wrong. Maybe this is like the 2004 elections where you thought you represented a majority but you really didn't. Maybe traditional values still hold sway, but Gulmatan has reason to be angry and alarmed. Figuratively speaking, maybe you all are just the Zombies' interim beings walking around on Earth thinking you are normal humans but you are really here to prevent any disruption in the Zombie's subsequent takeover.

AND AND AND

[analogika]

I dunno.

Does anyone get banned in Clockwork Orange?

I don't seem to remember that bit.

[andi*pandi]

rehabilitation works!!!!11!!

[analogue SPRINKLES]

i didn't like the movie that much. Kinda disturbing but it looked cool.

[moonmonkey]

As far as I remember those 10 year olds were up for it, he never raped the wife of F Alexander (he just smashed her head in) and Alex actually stopped a girl from getting raped in a later scene.

[marden]

Originally Posted by moonmonkey 

As far as I remember those 10 year olds were up for it, he never raped the wife of F Alexander (he just smashed her head in) and Alex actually stopped a girl from getting raped in a later scene.

It was so long ago that I saw the film it's all quite hazy except for some bits of the plot and lesser characters, the evil sadism and the 'cure.'

Could the novel be different from the film?

I don't remember the film well and never read the book.

Here is a wikipedia snippet of a synopsis of the first chapter of the novel.

[Wiskedjak]

Does "Lounge" actually mean "Political Lounge" in "A Clockwork Orange"?

[moonmonkey]

Originally Posted by marden 

It was so long ago that I saw the film it's all quite hazy except for some bits of the plot and lesser characters, the evil sadism and the 'cure.'

Could the novel be different from the film?

I don't remember the film well and never read the book.

The book has an extra chapter at the end, and there are a few differences, but it the same story.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by marden 

How Well Does "A Clockwork Orange" Predict The Future?

It's an early 70s nightmare, in every sense (that wallpaper! ).

How much has a Clockwork Orange contributed to the future it represents? Eh? Eh?

I think kids should be kept away from violence as entertainment, and adults who enjoy it should get their heads checked. The fact that gore movies tend to be popular says more about people than filmmakers IMO.

As the philosopher Bon Scott said: "If you want blood, you got it".

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by marden 

[B]I believe that the lead characters' committing crimes for enjoyment and their sexual depravity despite a certain level of sophistication (which makes their activities seem incongruous) perfectly foreshadows what we already experience but even more so what we WILL face as the bookstores and movie theaters make our children see the types of things gulmatan so aptly described in this post.

Please tell me where you live, as we need to contact the local authorities, to let them know that your local bookstores and theaters are making you and your children see these things, and find out what they can do about this. There must be different laws in your community, as I go into bookstores all the time, drive by the theater regularly, and no one has ever made me look at any of these horrible things. You must have a very active NAMBLA chapter in your area (North American Movie and Book Lovers Association).

[marden]

Originally Posted by KarlG 

Please tell me where you live, as we need to contact the local authorities, to let them know that your local bookstores and theaters are making you and your children see these things, and find out what they can do about this. There must be different laws in your community, as I go into bookstores all the time, drive by the theater regularly, and no one has ever made me look at any of these horrible things. You must have a very active NAMBLA chapter in your area (North American Movie and Book Lovers Association).

Originally Posted by marden

Truth is incontrovertible; malice may attack it and ignorance may deride it; but, in the end; there it is. - Churchill

The truth is that our morals are being slightly and gradually, almost imperceptibly, worn away and you can attack the truth all you want but you know it is true.

Originally Posted by marden

"When the facts are against you argue the logic. When the logic is against you argue the facts.
When both the facts and logic are against you, call the opposition bad names." - anon

[marden]

Originally Posted by Wiskedjak 

Does "Lounge" actually mean "Political Lounge" in "A Clockwork Orange"?

"A C O" isn't about politics or war.

[marden]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

It's an early 70s nightmare, in every sense (that wallpaper! ).

How much has a Clockwork Orange contributed to the future it represents? Eh? Eh?

I think kids should be kept away from violence as entertainment, and adults who enjoy it should get their heads checked. The fact that gore movies tend to be popular says more about people than filmmakers IMO.

As the philosopher Bon Scott said: "If you want blood, you got it".

I agree with you. And the people who really love gory films and MAKE them are somehow excusable. Those who pander to those tastes for the money only are as in the same category as pimps, IMO.

[Face Ache]

Originally Posted by marden 

I agree with you. And the people who really love gory films and MAKE them are somehow excusable. Those who pander to those tastes for the money only are as in the same category as pimps, IMO.

Hollywood full of pimps?! NEVAR!!!

It's analogous to the cigarette companies selling lung cancer. As long as there's a buck to be made... shhh!

Here's to Capitalism, the Free Market and Keeping People Compliant (ie; stupid and happy).

The Romans had a term - "bread and circuses". Those romans knew how to please a crowd.

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by marden 

The truth is that our morals are being slightly and gradually, almost imperceptibly, worn away and you can attack the truth all you want but you know it is true.

I'm not debating that. I asked who's making anyone watch these movies or read these books. You dodged my question, which I should have expected. Please answer the question, and don't go off on diversionary tantrums.

[Uncle Skeleton]

It's his morals that are making him watch them. His morals are worn down to a nub, and without them he's left with no defense. The very fact that he did watch those things is proof of it.

[Powerbook]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

The Romans had a term - "bread and circuses". Those romans knew how to please a crowd.

And followed in today's America by "Fast Food and Cable TV"...


PB.

[swarmofkillermonkeys]

How to properly raise a child is a secret recipe that no one will ever perfect. Or even agree upon the ingredients.

But violence. Well, violence is. Just plain IS. Mother Nature will make darn sure of that. You don't have to approve of violence for it to rock your world (just ask the Dali Lama in his crappy apartment the Maoist rebels forced him to get in India, after they ate his country). But if it bothers you, you can just pay someone else to use violence to keep the OTHER violent folks away from you, and out of your gated community (or cult-compound in this case), right?

What I worry about is context + violence + kids. It is the context that matters, and that you can do something about. Clockwork Orange? Heck, I think society is too avoidant in regards for violence! But you have to do your job as parent/citizen and provide context. I guess I won't go into lack of accurate pictures from Iraq, but if you don't actually know what violence means or have to bloody your own hands, how can you make any decent decisions regarding the security of your person, family, or country? Too bad we aren't Bonobos I guess, although I can't say as I approve of negotiation through "fencing". Ahem.

BTW, I was really surprised that the first totally anonymous community on the internet is/was as darned NICE as it turned out to be! Sorry Kubrik, Clockwork as art is great... but as a realistic moral warning... meh. Given a choice to be a sexaholic (or pornaholic) or a voilence junkie -- hmm, I think we all know now which way most people jump on that one.

Now George Orwell, on the other hand... "bookstores and movie theaters make our children see" They do? Gosh, and all this time I thought that children were either the wards of their parents or the state. And Zombies? I don't think I'd mind being a Zombie! They're bulletproof and can bludgeon you about your head with their very own severed limbs! Did you know that Mila Jovovich spends a LOT of time around Zombies; almost a zombie groupie, that one. Now tell me that would be pretty darn nifty!!

And what in tarnation is "evil from America's progressive hot house" -- hydoponic GMO tomatoes grown by Al Gore? The image of fat, pale old ACLU lawyers with man-titties getting out of the sauna? Blech. Ok, maybe that phrase DOES make sense...

Hey, wait a minute, I do belive I've been trolled! You darn kids with your rock and roll! Why if this was back in '94 I'd give you a piece of my- zzzzzzzzz....

--- Crotchety 'ol Granpappy Monkey