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Animal Farm

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“Absolute power… corrupts absolutely” How is this explored in Animal farm and film Antz

To a large extent absolute power… corrupts absolutely. Total control perverts governments unequivocally, as the consequences of power versus powerlessness are explored. Composers have used varied literary and film techniques to highlight totalitarianism, the abuse of power and propaganda. Animal Farm and Antz firmly demonstrate this.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely. In Animal Farm satire is used to demonstrate the impacts of totalitarianism. The faults of the government system dictating Manor Farm are exposed as being a totalitarian dictatorship; echoing the effects of the 1917 Russian Revolution. Napoleon as well as Snowball compose “The Seven Commandments” for all animals to follow. However power gets to Napoleon and he chases away Snowball to have complete control. His psyche becomes corrupted with the leadership and simultaneously all the pigs, go against “The Seven Commandments”. Biblical allusions of the Commandments are used to emphasise the pig’s outrageous behavior where satire is used to reflect how they obtain absolute power and in becoming corrupted. This pretty much echoes the human condition!

Moreover, total control perverts governments unequivocally. This is illustrated via the use of allegory portraying the abuse of power. Animal Farm is an allegory depicting the Russian Revolution in a more childish yet ominous manner. Power was abused during the Russian Revolution by Stalin. He initially espoused of an “equal” society for all the populace but he became obsessed with his own power; hence the rot set in where he ended up completely abusing his position. In the novel, Napoleon symbolises Stalin and the pigs represent the upper class in Russia, where they received greater privileges than the lower classes. “…Pigs did not work, but directed and supervised others…”The use of powerful verbs “directed...supervised” enforces this institutionalized abuse. As with communism in Russia’s history, in Animal Farm “…all animals are equal…” but then the leadership becomes thwarted hence “…all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others….”; the conversion of “equal” elevated to “more equal” highlighting this abuse of power.

Comparatively to Animal Farm, the film Antz also aptly depicts how absolute power corrupts absolutely. Close ups of General Mandible’s face are used to enforce the violent impacts of establishing a totalitarian state. General Mandible plans to kill everyone in the colony in order to establish his dictatorship. He tells the princess “….I believe history will believe that differently…” His authoritative and manipulative tone demonstrates how he is conspiring to manipulate the colony into thinking that he is an ethical leader. Moreover the low angle shot shadowing half his face displays his true motives and his insatiable desire to establish his reign of terror.

Furthermore in Animal Farm, dramatic irony is employed to illustrate how total control perverts governments unequivocally through the use of propaganda. Napoleon uses propaganda to manipulate the farm into doing anything he desires. This firmly entrenches the pig’s sovereignty. False propaganda is dramatically and ironically utilised to “brainwash” the animals into thinking that their lives are good if they continue supporting Napoleon’s desires. But sadly nothing could be more further from the truth! Boxer is manipulated into blindly accepting that “……Napoleon is always right…” and “…I will work harder….”; the alliterative “w” consonants enforcing how his way of thinking has being violated through propaganda and all his efforts end in vain as he is shipped off to the glue factory.

As was seen in Animal Farm, Antz continues to depict how absolute power corrupts absolutely through the use of propaganda. Once again, dramatic irony is used to show the viewer how psychologically manipulated the ant workers were. General Mandible propagates lies to condition the workers to dig a tunnel which horrifically leads to their innocent deaths; an ultimate act of betrayal. As viewers we instantly become aware of the dramatic irony of the situation. In the tunnel opening ceremony scene, a sign displays “….nothing satisfies like work…”. This use of persuasive language enforces how false propaganda is used against them and symbolically it falls into the water, as the ants perish.

In conclusion, it has been demonstrated how absolute power corrupts absolutely. The composers of Animal Farm and Antz have skillfully used literary and cinematic techniques as the consequences of power versus powerlessness are explored. This has been illustrated by the concepts of totalitarianism, the abuse of power and propaganda.

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