Equilibrium (2002), directed by Kurt Wimmer3After a third world war the world decides emotions are the root After a third world war the world decides emotions are the root of all violence so scientists invent a drug to block all emotion, including that persnickety emotion, curiosity which leads to original thoughts and the desire to question the current authority, “Father”. Under Father’s totalitarian regime, everyone must take their medicine or be hunted down and burned alive by the special police force. However, as intimidating and savage as Father’s police force is, the emotionless people feel savage as Father’s police force is, the emotionless people feel no fear of them. Instead, the people, lead to believe that emotion will only result in senseless violence, monitor themselves. Neighbors, friends, lovers, and family members notify the appropriate authorities when someone forgets to take their medicine. In effect, the drug keeps individuals submissive, the people spy on one another in order to maintain the peace, the police handle the troublemakers that could the peace, the police handle the troublemakers that could initiate rebellion, and Fathers perpetuates the lie that binds his autocracy together.

Representations of Big Brother in modern media often appear as a science fiction retelling of history centered on the question, what if the world was ruled by a totalitarian

regime? Media creators focus on this inquiry in order to push people to examine how dominate their government is and how submissive they are on “democracy’s” leash. However, the opposite can also be seen, where media is generated as

subtle propaganda for a totalitarian dystopia.subtle propaganda for a totalitarian dystopia.

Movies are a fertile medium for illustrating totalitarian worlds with a recent slew of films about society as tightly controlled and regulated by all-powerful governments. For example:

Battle Royale (2000), directed by Kinji Fukasaku1 and The Hunger Games (2012), directed by Gary Ross2

I cite these two films together because their totalitarian premises are almost exactly the same. The current governing body

intervenes in the daily lives of their citizens and claims a group of young people and places them in an isolated area to duel it out

amongst themselves. Last man standing wins.In both movies, the dictating power holds these “ultimate In both movies, the dictating power holds these “ultimate

challenges” to re-establish and replenish the fear that maintains order and keeps workers docile within a dystopian society. Complete control over the “games” is also exhibited in both

movies. The isolated area is rigged with cameras, booby traps, and other high tech or low tech means of sustaining constant control over the contestants. The ability to control everything

during these challenges is key to upholding authority, because it during these challenges is key to upholding authority, because it is derived from the planned outcome of the battle. If the contest goes wrong or not as planned then the capability of the current totalitarian regime to lead will be questioned and the people may begin to resist absolute dominance under their leader(s).