Government Control in Utopian Societies: Stifling Creativity Analysis

This essay examines the theme of government control and its impact on creativity within the context of utopian societies. The author argues that control mechanisms implemented by governments stifle creativity, using examples from Lois Lowry's 'The Giver,' the film 'Pleasantville,' and Ray Bradbury's 'The Flying Machine.' The analysis of 'The Giver' illustrates how a seemingly utopian society, marked by equality, suppresses individual freedom and choice, leading to the loss of creative talent. 'Pleasantville' demonstrates the oppressiveness of authoritarian control and the importance of breaking social norms to achieve freedom. 'The Flying Machine' directly presents the idea that authoritarianism is harmful to innovation, as thinking differently is perceived as a threat to the status quo. The essay concludes that freedom of thought and expression are vital for human well-being and development, and suppressing these freedoms, even with the intention of maintaining social order, can lead to societal disintegration and the destruction of talent.

Running head: UTOPIAN SOCIETY
Utopian Society
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1UTOPIAN SOCIETY
The very nature of the government in the present times is that of non-interference. In
other words, the government is required not to involve itself in the activities of the organizations
and in the private lives of the people. However, the reality is quite different; when observed it is
seen that the government of the various states of the world are trying to play a more active role
within the personal lives of the people in a very subtle manner. The chosen thesis statement that
the control mechanisms implemented by the government are responsible for the stifling of
creativity shall be proven on the basis of three chosen modes of expression to the masses
consisting of a book, a film and a story. The following sections shall be discussing about the
connection of the thesis statement as expressed in the chosen book, film and story. The ideas
expressed in them shall also be connected to the ideas of utopian society and the evils of
dictatorship.
“It's the choosing that's important, isn't it?” (Freeman, 2016).
The chosen book for the purpose is titled ‘The Giver’ Lois Lowry. The theme of
authoritarianism of the government and the problem of suppressing of the creativity of the
masses is shown to belie the promise of a good life in a utopian society. Through the
imaginations of the protagonist, a teenage boy named Jonas the utopian society is constructed as
a society being marked by equality and no competition. It is unfortunately at the cost of losing
one’s freedom of choice. All who dared to act against the code of conduct were punished with
death. Hence Jonas and his friend Gabriel had escaped to a land where they could enjoy freedom.
That was a loss to the society to which they belonged and a loss of creative talent (Freeman,
2016). The book tried to show how the pervasive activities of the government led to a serious
harm to the society. The loss of two talented people had a serious negative impact on the growth
and development of the human mind.

2UTOPIAN SOCIETY
Up until now everything around here has been, well, pleasant. Recently certain things have
become unpleasant. Now, it seems to me that the first thing we have to do is to separate out the
things that are pleasant from the things that are unpleasant ("Pleasantville (part 2) 1998 - video
dailymotion", 2019).
The chosen film for the purpose is titled ‘Pleasantville’. The plot is about a brother and a
sister named David and Jennifer. The brother was quite conservative and conformist, more than
his sister which caused problems in between them. Both of them by mistake enter the land called
Pleasantville where the rules repress them a lot, and both search for some freedom. One day they
discover a red rose in the black and white world when they realize the beauty of breaking the
social norms. Through that the element of the oppressiveness of authoritarian control is proven,
and freedom seemed like a utopia in such circumstances ("Pleasantville (part 2) 1998 - video
dailymotion", 2019). Through this movie, the director tried to show that there are instances in a
person’s life when he or she will be provided with a fleeting opportunity to try to break the
oppressive system. What is required is that of courage and the faith that the reality can be
modified. However, this endeavor can prove to be quite difficult as it is against the very
institution of the State.
"But there are times," said the Emperor, more sadly still, "when one must lose a little beauty if
one is to keep what little beauty one already has." (Bradbury, 1953).
The chosen story for the purpose is titled ‘The Flying Machine’ by Ray Bradbury. It is
based on an emperor of China who executed an innovator for having created a flying machine.
Despite pleading for mercy, the innovator was put to death and his flying machine was burnt.
This story quite very directly presents the fact that authoritarianism is harmful to innovation.
Thinking differently is considered to be harmful as it hurts the status quo. It instills the fear of

3UTOPIAN SOCIETY
losing of control (Bradbury, 1953). The director tried to show how innovation can prove to be a
threat against the authority of the state.
The book, film and the story respectively deal with the aspect of proving the fact that
freedom of though and expression is vital to human well-being and development. When that is
taken away on the pretext of the concern that the society shall disintegrate, it actually increases
the chances of disintegration like it has been shown in ‘The Giver’ and ‘The Pleasantville’. Also
that destruction of talents and innovations as shown in ‘The Flying Machine’ proves that it is a
loss to the society and authoritarianism is harmful to progress, as mentioned in the thesis
statement.

4UTOPIAN SOCIETY
References
Bradbury, R. (1953). the story flying machine - Google Search. Retrieved from
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-
d&ei=pBdhXNWSCcH49QOY_pPQBA&q=the+story+flying+machine&oq=the+story+f
lying+machine&gs_l=psy-
ab.3..0i7i30j0i8i30l8.3113.4006..6332...0.0..0.217.925.0j4j1......0....1..gws-
wiz.......0i71.NLOHWMBh9Hw
Freeman, E. B. (2016). Lois Lowry: A Giver of Books for Children. Bookbird: A Journal of
International Children's Literature, 54(4), 34-37.
Pleasantville (part 2) 1998 - video dailymotion. (2019). Retrieved from
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6ic8yh