Sometimes I see unfathomable beauty while dreaming. Other times I capture it digitally on my phone. I used to see it often while visiting museums or going to places like Longwood Gardens. And occasionally, I find it on TV or film. The city depicted in the new TV series Brave New World was unfathomably beautiful until it wasn’t.
When the new Peacock streaming platform announced the launching of Brave New World, I was more than excited, I was held in a state of anticipation. This anticipation lasted for a few months until it aired on July 15th. Based on the 1931 novel by Aldous Huxley ( during a Saturn Pluto opposition), the story asks what happens when an outsider is brought into a contained technologically – controlled society that stresses conformity, frowns on monogamy, forbids procreation, and manages emotional fluctuation with designer drugs.
I must admit I rather liked the idea of living in the utopian New London during the first couple of episodes. Everyone seemed happy and happiness is highly valued. No one got ill, everyone had a job they loved, and every night was a party. I quickly realized I would only be happy if I was designated an Alpha or a Beta. This concept reminds me of my high school, where each student was assigned an academic track. Maybe this arrangement started earlier, but I don’t think I was aware until entering high school. I was in the A track, meaning I took the most difficult classes with the smartest students. Maybe this was decided by test scores, it was never explained or discussed with me. I did belong there, mostly. I performed miserably in Biology, and was relegated to B track for Science classes going forward. I enjoyed meeting new friends in B Chemistry and actually learned more there. However, I cannot see myself being happy as someone considered “average” or less than. I was raised to be studious and intelligence was how I was recognized. It was “my thing”, said my ego. With higher ranking there is more privilege in New London, but freedom does not exist. Embryos are designed to be different as each subtype is needed for the greater functioning of the whole. We naturally have diversity within our species, but we lack equality and basic living standards in this “modern” world of 2020 AD. To say this is problematic is to state the obvious.
Upon completion of Season 1, I was eager to reread the novel. Fairly certain I had a copy at home, I found one hidden away with some other Sci-Fi classics such as 1984 and Walden 2. While perusing the forward of the 1946 edition, the author concludes that world totalitarianism is imminent, it is just a matter of when and in what form. The story was set in the 2500s. However, Huxley reveals that this was inaccurate and that a fascist state is most likely to happen in the early 21st century.
And here we are….
Images courtesy of wikiart.org and wikipedia.com, public domain
litebeing chronicles 
Here we are indeed… I have not seen the series (yet) but I get the gist from your post… yes, several future-oriented books seem to have been (almost) overtaken by reality at this point. 1984, Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 (this one made a great impression on me). I keep myself going by realizing every day that we can still choose and create our own reality… I see and experience proof of this every day, sometimes in the little things. Sometimes in the big things. We are master creators, even if we don’t realize it yet. But being confronted by the measures of an increasingly hostile takeover in the material world, it can take a lot of concentration and inner cool… to stay focused on what I DO want to manifest.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I also was influenced by Fahrenheit 451 and the premise I found heartbreaking. Much of that story ( like censoring and interactive media) has come to pass. I buy the I create my reality narrative but find most people I know are not very good at it, myself included. t requires bypassing extesnive social programming and negative thought patterns. Not impossible but I do not agree with those claiming it so easy to do.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I absolutely agree we create our own reality, but it does take work and patience to weed out the tonnes of programming that we have had since day 1, or even past lives…. I found it helps to switch off the conventional channels as often as I can, so no news, being very selective in what I watch on TV and internet, spending lots of time in nature, with art, music, meditation and… theta healing. The latter helps in releasing and ransforming whole chuncks of unwanted programming, fast! I like it fast, I am not the most patient of people 😉 Been a non-conformist since for ever, it does mean some people, for instance certain family members will find it harder to relate to you and vice versa… and friends who want to hang onto the old programmes. But the freedom you gain is priceless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha, you reminded me of my obsession with Huxley when I was 18. Yes, here we are indeed…
LikeLiked by 1 person
So you were obsessed? How did this happen? I read various future oriented books as teen and young adult, I was so curious about what’s ahead. It is interesting that I enjoy history and the future probably equally. Since time is not real, maybe it doesn’t really make a difference. 🙂 See the show if you can access it.
LikeLike
It started with Jim Morrison, who quoted him, somehow and then I read all of Huxley’s books in the Polish translation at the time. He was a tremendous writer. I like movies set in the future, too. The last obsession of mine in that respect was Westworld.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the doors of perception. I have not read anything other than Brave New World, but there is much to dig into. Yes, Westworld, I was obsessed with first season, thought it speaks to our planet and our future, But I was a bit underwhelmed with what followed, It became so complex and confusing. Yet I will watch Season 4!
LikeLike
Totally – season 2 was quite disappointing but it did pick up in season 3, which I loved again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on Blue Dragon Journal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for your goodwill. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person