Peer Pressure

In chapter 11 of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, John and Lenina attend the "feelies" which are sort of like movies. So in a sense, John and Lenina went to the movies for their date. After the feely, John and Lenina realize they like each other but even then they don't tell each other. Lenina was doubtful as to whether John liked her or not, and John refusing to have sex with her only confused her even more. This made Lenina seem sort of desperate to have sex with him maybe because it's the "right" thing to do--at least in the society of Brave New World. Everyone is encouraged to have sex as a way to keep everyone happy, and happiness is the main fundamental of the society making it "the perfect society." Since John is not used to the lifestyle of the people in the society, he doesn't feel the need to have sex right away, making Lenina seem desperate. This made me think about the movie "American Pie." This movie is about four teenage boys that make a pact to lose their virginity before their high school graduation. In this movie, the boys are desperate to have sex and they want to accomplish their goal before they graduate. They are willing to do almost anything to accomplish their goal and this reminded me of desperate Lenina. Just as Lenina wants to have sex, not just because she likes John but also because it's what they're taught or conditioned to do, the boys wanted a taste of what it was like to lose their virginity due to rumors about sex. I think all of this just falls into peer pressure.

Movies and Sex

A movie that had quite a bit of influence on me was "Youth in Revolt" in the movie the protagonist develops an alter ego so that a certain girl will like him more. He does this in hopes that the girl will eventually have sex with him. Although the movie is a comedy it kept stamping sex, sex, sex over and over into my head. The movie basically made me feel like i had to have sex and soon. This connects with the "feelies" in Brave New World because they are around to make the people feel like they have to have sex, it is common and natural and disliking them the way John does is considered queer and antisocial. Both these movies make the watcher feel like sex is something that must be achieved and that not acheiving it is a failure.

Feelies and the Media: Amerika

I found the video influential in many ways. It made me think how America or the U.S in particular influences the world. In the video, you have people around the world eating fast food and using TVs. I find the ending of the video the most hilarious. It mocks the U.S. by saying they staged the moon landing.(The band takes the role of U.S. citizens.) That was my first thoughts on the video. When I watched it a couple more times, I began to think more of how it mocks the U.S. First, it represents how the U.S. thinks it rules the world and how it treats others worse. It brings me back to an idea of history class. One excuse major powerhouse countries (back int the day) took lands was that they think they needed to be civilized. In other words, they colonize lands in false pretenses. The U.S. does do this by introducing capitalism, fast food, etc. to other countries that are behind. This will in turn, change their culture and their way of life. The visit of the "feelies" with Lenina made John feel horrible. The video makes Americans feel horrible as well. John is horrified by the way the BNW society experiences feelings. Americans are horrified by the way the video expresses the American "control" of the world. Both relate to the fact that Americans and John are horrified.


- Amerika by Rammstein

Lovely Bones

Lovely Bones changed my mind frame about the world and the people who live in it. It reassured me of the dangers that await me once I leave the comfort of my home. People pretend to be something their not to lure young prey into their domains. My mother always taught me to be alert and pay attention to my surroundings and the people in it, but over the course of years I let that moral slip in between my fingers.

The movie is about a vivacious, friendly, young girl who has been raped and killed by an older man. Lovely Bones was very touching and it brought me to tears, because I saw similar characteristics in the victim that related to me. On a daily basis I'm very friendly and seem to talk to almost anyone I meet, but I never really think about what could happen as a result. There are so many dangerous people out there and it took a movie to actually open my eyes of the real world and the things that go on. Child molesters, kidnappers, and rapist are my biggest fears at this point. Now I'm always looking around to check my surrounds and staying alert. I feel some strangers that treat you the nicest and offer you things might just be the ones that try to manipulate you and hurt you badly. I hate that things like this happen; it makes me feel unsafe in my own environment, but with the advocacy and assistance of my mother's knowledge I'm sure I’ll be just fine.

I noticed that when Lenina and John went to the feelies it had a similar affect on him that changed his mind frame. Naturally, John doesn't believe in having sex just for fun; john felt that he should get married first. This just goes to show how media affects how we feel about certain things. It can also make you second-guess yourself about your moral beliefs. Although John thought differently for a moment, he is a great example of what people should do; he didn't display the actions from what he thought about the feelies. This only applies and relates when negative media influences you. Do you think good media can be harmful to a certain extent?

Don't let negative television influence you.

http://i.huffpost.com/gen/80500/thumbs/s-FUZZY-TV-large.jpg