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Big Brother Is Watching You Adestria is a band that was formed in 2009, and wrote the song "1984" which is from their album Chapters. This song is named after the book Nineteen Eighty-Four. The band is considered post-hardcore/metalcore, post-hardcore being a genre that developed from hardcore punk which in turn came from the broader punk rock movement. Metalcore is a subgenre of metal. In this song the speaker is a member of the current generation and for most of the song speaks in first-person plural, but switches to singular at the end. By using this tense, the song sends a message that this generation is in the same predicament as in Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the book, the government constantly watches the citizens and displays what happens when government becomes too powerful. Borrowing themes from a book which was written many years ago and implementing them in a modern song, Adestria illustrates that Nineteen EightyFour will soon be reality if it is not already . Throughout the song "1984," themes of increasing government control and decreasing privacy parallel those found in Nineteen Eighty-Four, effectively warning that our world is becoming the world from the book. First and foremost among allusions within the song is the relation to the book Nineteen Eighty-Four. In this book, there is extreme government control and the populace is being watched at all times by Big Brother. Published in 1949, the book is over half a century old. However, by singing in the present and past tenses Adestria asserts that the dystopian world in the book is transpiring in the modern world, if it has not already taken place. Furthermore, throughout the song 'they' are mentioned over 10 times, referring to either the government, or Big Brother from Nineteen Eighty-Four. One example of this is the following: "They've put our minds to sleep, our dreams are not our own" (1984 line 13). This is a clear reference to communism, as communist governments often brainwash their citizens. No longer do they think

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for themselves; they cannot even have their own dreams. The first line of the chorus, "We simply nod and agree, we are bred to be lazy," (1984 line 7) means that 'they' have created a world where the masses are trained to be complacent. A society in which everyone does what they are told without questioning, and they "simply nod and agree," (1984 line 7) is the definition of totalitarianism. Subsequently, the line in the chorus, "They set the world on fire, and we are the gasoline," (1984 line 8) is a brilliant combination of symbolism and a metaphor to emphasize the previous notion. Setting the world on fire symbolizes humanity heading towards its end. In addition, 'we,' the current generation, are the gasoline that is igniting the fire. Adestria claims the world has essentially been set aflame by the increasing government influence which oppresses and controls the public. The lyrics as scream a forceful warning against communism and totalitarianism. Comparing people to animals they sing, "They teach us to walk with blinders/ like the horses they wish we were" (1984 lines 3-4). A blinder is something that prevents clear vision or understanding. Similarly, horses wear blinders which obscure their vision to the sides, and simply go where they are told. Also, the speaker's statement, "these man-made morals, like perfectly paved sidewalks/ force direction and safety, as they watch us like hawks," (1984 lines 1-2) also denotes control of people. Direction can be defined as the control and supervision of a group or person. The parallel between horses walking with blinders, and safety and direction being forced maintains the theme of a strong ruling force. The recurring theme of government power in "1984," is reflected in America with the Patriot Act of 2001. Privacy infringement is again a result of the state's influence. When the song states "they watch us like hawks," they are right. With the ability to monitor web surfing records and monitor phone calls, it is evident that the populace is being watched closely. Even with no

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established link to terrorism, "several of the Act's provisions can be used to gain information about Americans in the context of investigations" (Ramasastry), demonstrating a disturbing lack of privacy. One of the messages found within the song "1984" is that privacy is being eradicated. Privacy is something that virtually every human would agree is a vital necessity, as no one wishes for their personal life to be encroached upon. However, in the song it points out the same thing from Nineteen Eighty-Four is occurring. In the second line of verse one the simile, "they watch us like hawks" (1984 line 2), signifies that 'they,' the government, are watching 'us,' the citizens, just as Big Brother watched the populace. One instance of this is the government's increased use of surveillance cameras. Evidence of this is found by the growing number of cameras in major cities. While these security cameras were initially intended to increase public safety, they also undermine the right of privacy. Not only can they capture a person committing a crime, but it is also possible for the cameras to identify the print of a book or newspaper someone is reading (The Right of Privacy). Although only briefly addressed in the song, this is a big part of the message being conveyed in the song. With the government's rule multiplying, the privacy of individuals is being diminished. For these surveillance cameras there is limited recognition in law regarding places they are not allowed to intrude (The Right of Privacy), again exposing the consequences of unrestricted abilities of the state. Social conformity is the focus of the last several lines of the song. The last two read: "And if to stand for something that's not a trend leads me to my end/ then I'll smile as I leave, because I fought for something that I believe" (1984 lines 24-25). Too often do people follow trends and do as others are doing for fear of rejection. Stating "They cast me out because I don't feel the same," (1984 line 22) the speaker exemplifies this very concept. However, they also

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boldly declare that even if dissenting were to lead to their death they will not conform to trends they do not believe in. The allusion to our culture in the first line of the chorus is linked to these lines. "We simply nod and agree," (1984 line 7) also implies that everyone does the accepted thing and follows the rest of the crowd. With an increased number of surveillance cameras, it is important to note that life on the street changes when one is constantly monitored. Even "the mere presence of cameras induces social conformity" (Surveillance). Adestria's message of nonconformity and privacy being intruded upon are interrelated, as the surveillance cameras can affect the conformity of those being watched. Throughout Adestria's song "1984," the lyrics which include allusions, metaphors and symbolism all support a main theme: totalitarian government. Not only can their lyrics be compared with communism in the world, but there are even relationships to America's surveillance cameras and wiretapping which erode privacy. Finally, being watched incessantly can cause the public to be more vulnerable to conforming. Making use of ideas from a book over half a century old, Adestria reminds the world of what happens when government power morphs out of control. Socialism, communism, and any form of totalitarianism have never been successful and never will, and digging into the lyrics of "1984" it is clear that is what Adestria believes.

Works Cited Adestria. "1984." Chapters. Razor & Tie Direct, LLC, 2012. LP American Civil Liberties Union. "Surveillance Equipment Does Not Reduce Crime."Crime and Criminals. Ed. James D. Torr. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2004. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "D.C. Video Cameras vs. Live Community Police in Our

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Neighborhoods." Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 3 Apr. 2013.Ramasastry, Anita. "The Patriot Act Should Be Amended to Respect Fourth Amendment Wiretapping. Ed. Sylvia Engdahl. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Rights." Domestic Current

Controversies. Rpt. from "The Important But Flawed USA Patriot Act." Findlaw.com. 2005. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. "The Right of Privacy Is Destroyed by Video Cameras in Public Places." Who's Watching? New York, NY: The New York Civil Liberties Union, 2006. Rpt. in Are Privacy Rights Being Violated? Ronald D. Lankford, Jr. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2010. At Issue. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. Neighborhoods." Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Apr. 2013. "Warrantless Wiretaps Are Not Needed to Protect Against Terrorism." The U.S. Intelligence

Community. Ed. Noah Berlatsky. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2011. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "King-George-Gate: Myths v. Realities." The Left Coaster 5 Jan. 2006. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 2 Apr. 2013.