Ray Bradbury, in his novel Fahrenheit 451, not only suggests the wrongs of censorship but also approaches the idea of equality. The corresponding movie, directed by Francois Truffaut illustrates the ideas of Bradbury that words cannot express. The power of technology’s ability to put forth a work of art is beyond imagination. Charles Taylor exemplifies the idea of equality in his book Modern Social Imaginaries. Theodor Adorno and Max Horkeimer, in their piece, “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception,” address the result of new technology and the effects of the technology on art, in this case, literature. Bradbury addresses issues with technology and politics that hinder social practices and effect equality among a modern generation.
Ray Bradbury conveys that equality among the masses can be acquired with the elimination of a freedom or opportunity. In this case, the complete annihilation of books and literature to decrease inferiority among a society. This also suggests the idea that technology will soon take over and books will no longer be used. Francois Truffaut is able to capture and illustrate what Bradbury is ultimately trying to convey. In the movie, the scene that seems to capture the true essence of Bradbury’s theme is in fact the parlor scene. During this scene, the audience is able to see exactly how lack of thinking and thought will be taken over by technology. Mildred believes that her involvement in the decision- making is vital when really they are merely talking about seating arrangements. The scene encompasses Bradbury’s idea that technology will hinder social consciousness. Books are no longer used for thought and imagination and technology merely manipulates society into thinking that it takes thought to utilize. Bradbury’s ideas are addressed and fully illustrated by Francois Truffaut’s adaptation of the book.
Charles Taylor’s book Modern Social Imaginaries can be related to the more social aspect of Bradbury’s book. The riddance of books promotes equality with the decreased inferiority between people that read books and people that do not read books. Taylor suggests that politics should not work toward any specific ordering of the world, but it should merely do whatever needs to be done for the happiness of society (Taylor, 93). In other words, politics should not try to control society but simply make available and create activities and organizations that promote opportunity for the betterment of society and equality as well. The individual in society should have the opportunity to obtain his or her own happiness through their own thought and imagination. Bradbury addresses this issue when he comments on lack of thought and manipulation of the government. Taylor’s idea of “the social imaginary” primarily expresses the lived practices in which people in society engage in everyday life among one another developing a social understanding of one’s self (Taylor). These practices are illustrated through the restrictions that Bradbury uses in his novel. Equality is not really reached in the novel and Charles Taylor’s book explains why.
Ray Bradbury’s notion that technology hinders social consciousness is also exemplified through Theodor Adorno and Max Horkeimer’s piece, “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception.” This piece discusses the effects of technology on art, rather literature. Bradbury’s thoughts on the negativity of technology are clear throughout the novel. Adorno and Horkheimer exemplify and further Bradbury’s ideas. “This is the result not of law of movement in technology as such but of its function in today’s economy. The need which might resist central control has already been suppressed by the control of the individual consciousness” (Adorno). Adorno conveys that technology replaces social skills and consciousness and also eliminates somewhat a sense of individuality. The media in forms of entertainment that do not require an extensive attention span replaces technology. Society is hindered when technology like this takes over social consciousness and art in its true form, in this case literature in no longer appreciated and acknowledged. Bradbury along with Adorno and Horkheimer agree that technology and its effects on society are negative and do not promote social awareness and individuality.
Ray Bradbury’s novel Fahrenheit 451, comments on the way government falsely tries to employ equality among society with taking away a certain privilege and opportunity. The elimination of books also eliminates thought and imagination among society. Rather than promoting individualism, politics negatively tries to control how equality is obtained. Charles Taylor exemplifies the right way in which individuality and equality can be obtained in his book Modern Social Imaginaries. Bradbury’s ideas on the effects on technology can also be related to Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer piece “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass Deception.” This piece comments on the effects of technology on art. Literature is a form of art, and the development of technology will hinder social consciousness and appreciation for art itself. Bradbury’s novel not only suggests problems with society but also acknowledges that technology and its on going development will definitely change the future of society and its social skills.
Works Cited
Adorno, Theodor and Max Horkheimer. “The Culture Industry: Enlightenment as Mass
Deception.” Dialectic of Enlightenment. 1998. 17 Nov.2009
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York: Simon and Schuster. 1967.
Fahrenheit 451. Dir. Francois Truffaut. Perf. Oskar Werner, Julia Christie. 1966
Taylor, Charles. Modern Social Imaginaries. Duke Universiry Press, 2004.
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