What makes you want freedom? Is it due to excessive control or insufficient power? I will explore these two ideas through the analysis of two texts, the famous “1984” by George Orwell and the science fiction “Elysium” by Neill Blomkamp. These two works offer comparable insights into a desire for freedom and represent diverse individual and collective human experiences. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why violent video games should not be banned'?Get the original essayGeorge Orwell establishes the paradoxical nature of constant surveillance despite the absence of regulation under the control of the governing party, the Party. As a political satire, the constant reminder that “Big Brother is watching you” forces citizens to self-surveil and internalize surveillance, resulting in diminished personal freedom and submission to ruling authorities. But we understand later that “nothing was illegal, since there were no more laws”. This forces us to question how the Party exercises extreme control even though it has no laws, because in today's society, laws reinforce authority. The panopticon correlates with this idea, explaining the concept of higher authorities in a prison possessing the ability to see all "inmates" at all times, but the prisoners are unable to see them. As French philosopher Michel Foucault explains, “the ultimate goal of the panopticon is to induce in prisoners a state of conscious visibility.” This objective is certainly parallel to that of the Party; to convince people that they are visible at all times, thus reinforcing the idea that individuals never enjoy complete freedom. Comparably, in Blomkamp's Elysée, we are offered a glimpse of how neglect can spark a desire for freedom, but also for protection. Our initial view of Earth, shown through a panoramic shot, is a poor and gloomy land, contrasting with the futuristic and advanced utopia of the Elysée. Likewise, from the opening credits, we understand that “the richest inhabitants of Earth have fled the planet to preserve their way of life”. These opening scenes show the inconsistent human behavior of neglecting those who belong to the lower social divisions of society, regardless of their inherent desire for freedom from oppression. Additionally, the protagonist, Max, is arrested and beaten by robots for making a crude joke. As the robots are subjected to those at the Elysée, humanity's negligence is once again depicted. Abnormal behavior regarding the mistreatment of humanity for personal gain is also reinforced by the exploitation of labor for the benefit of those at the Elysée. Throughout 1984 we can see that the extortionate control of the Party reveals no capacity for autonomy and therefore a desire for autonomy. freedom. “Whatever the Party considers to be the truth is the truth. It is impossible to see reality other than through the eyes of the Party.” The malleability and impressionable nature of knowledge is highlighted through the high modality of the statement, which in turn accentuates the paradoxical nature of humans as they aim to rebel, but always end up conforming. This is further emphasized by the famous paradoxical statements: “War is peace; freedom is slavery; ignorance is strength. These phrases appear countless times, involving pairs of 2 contrasting words to indoctrinate citizens. As I read this, I wondered if it was simply poor judgment that caused individuals to believe these statements. However, the repetition of these.