Fiction Meets Reality: Dissecting 'The Giver' and Navigating the Dystopian Society in Our Digital Age

Do you ever wonder how closely the realms of fiction and reality collide? Prepare to have your curiosity piqued as we dissect the 2014 film 'The Giver'. We're peeling back the layers of its dystopian society, and you'll be astounded by the uncanny parallels we draw with our present world. Indeed, we're living in an era where digital communication, superficial relationships, and societal pressures often blur our individuality. We'll also unravel how this ethos submits us to an emotion-suppressing lifestyle not unlike the characters of 'The Giver'.

Technology - an unparalleled boon or a hidden curse? We're navigating this contentious debate as we explore the implications of our digital age. From the celebration of diversity and individuality to the potential threat against our privacy, join us in a thought-provoking conversation. We'll also be delving into the pressures of consumerism and popular trends that can sometimes subdue our unique identities. And as we wrap up this episode, we'd like to remind you how crucial your support is in keeping these discussions alive. So, settle in, pour yourself a drink, and prepare for an enlightening journey that will undoubtedly prompt you to question your reality.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey, welcome to the bartender's perspective. I'm so happy to have you here. Work is done for the day. Pull up a chair, have a seat, I'll pour you a drink and let's get started. All right, everybody.

Speaker 1: 0:16

In tonight's podcast we're going to explore the intersection of fiction and reality. Tonight, I want to compare and contrast between the movie the giver, starring Brendan Thwaites, against the world as we know it today. I am going to discuss the plot of this movie first, but if you want to get a better context, you can go watch the trailer on YouTube or IMDb. Just look for the movie on one of the streaming services. If you want to see the movie in its entirety first, then you can come back to this podcast episode. But by no means I'm not promoting these sites or the movie itself. I just want to give you a place to go look if you want better context.

Speaker 1: 1:03

Imagine a world where emotions are controlled, memories are erased and individuality is suppressed. This is the backdrop of the giver. It's a science fiction film from 2014, which was also adapted from the original novel. It captivated the audience with this depiction of a seemingly utopian society. But how does this fiction reality align with how it was in the world in 2023? Let's have a look. I put this description in here it's from the site just because it really is the most accurate, as I mentioned before. Here's the recap.

Speaker 1: 1:52

The plot of the giver Set in a distant future. A youth named Jonas lives in an equalized, colorless but pleasant society With no knowledge of love or pain, as the former world was destroyed and what was known as the Great Ruin. He has two best friends, asher and Fiona. They come of age, they receive their societal roles. So just a small side note on this y'all In their society, when you get to be a certain age, everybody is measured with certain characteristics and traits and then they're assigned their place that they'll do for the rest of their lives in this particular society. And then, once in a while, there is an individual in the whole bunch that has rare traits that are needed and with Jonas, the character of Jonas, he was given the rare position of receiver of memories. Because of this, he meets a mentoring elder receiver who's been the keeper of memories forever and who is later called the giver. They look at memories of the past world, of joy, pain and love. As Jonas receives these memories, he breaks this cardinal role against sharing them with others in the society. He got himself in a whole heck of a lot of trouble with the chief elder and then, as Jonas discovers, a lot of the babies in this movie have to meet a certain level or qualification and then, if they don't, this is crazy they're terminated, tossed into a box and thrown away like garbage. But Jonas, he saves an infant boy named Gabriel. His efforts to save him put him squarely against the very society that he grew up in. He decided that almost relearn to see color, feel pain and show and receive love. And Jonas became public enemy number one in a society that you know again, all he's ever known, or has he? You know it's so cool.

Speaker 1: 4:16

And the element of emotional suppression in this movie, emotions are carefully controlled just to maintain social harmony. So how does this resonate with our current world? So social media? You know it is an innovative way to facilitate, you know, facilitate connection. You know it was still a brilliant discovery to this day, you know, to help bring the world together.

Speaker 1: 4:47

But sometimes, you know, because of it, you know this can lead to superficial relationships and emotional detachment due to the digital nature of interactions. A superficial relationship on social media might involve two people. You know they only interact. You know things like liking and commenting on each other's post, but they don't have any meaningful conversation or a real connection outside of the platform. You know the interactions are primarily focused, you know, on maintaining a curated online image rather than building a genuine relationship, and for many, you know, they can develop an emotional detachment due to the digital nature of social media interactions. So it's a good example.

Speaker 1: 5:43

I thought about this. So let's say we have two people, alex and Aiden. You know they used to have deep conversations and share their feelings in person, but over a period of time, as they became more active on social media, the interaction started to change. They began communicating primarily through text messages, emojis and, you know, comments on each other's post. One day, you know Alex, he shares excuse me, she shares a vulnerable post about a person's struggle she's facing, instead of reaching out in person, you know, or through our heartfelt message. You know Aiden simply responds with a thumbs up emoji and a brief comment like you'll be fine. You know Alex expecting more emotional support. You know she feels emotionally attached and misunderstood, you know, and it's then that she realizes that the digital nature of their interaction on social media has made their friendship less genuine and emotionally distant, as meaningful conversations have been replaced by superficial interactions. You know, this digital format of social media has led to emotional detachment between Aiden and Alex, as their once deep connection has been reduced to shallow online exchanges, you know, which impacted their ability to truly understand and support each other's emotions.

Speaker 1: 7:25

I've seen this a few times over the years. Social networking, while it was meant, again meant to better connect the world, you know, for some I drove them apart from each other. So another aspect of this movie, you know, that is controlled with drugs, that, you know, in the form of an injection machine, you know, at the exit of, you know, the dwelling or the home that everybody gets you know it's a injection they get every day before they leave could be contrasted to how societal norms and even the pressure to present a perfect life, you know, can sometimes lead to emotional suppression and a lack of authentic connection. Today, our pursuit of societal order sometimes risks sacrificing the richness of human experience for the sake of conformity. An example of societal norm, you know, that can lead someone to suppress their emotions, you know. And again, this lack of authentic connection and it's the expectation of something called stoicism and, you know, in some cultures and in some societies individuals may feel pressure to hide their vulnerabilities and appear strong and unemotional, which can hinder genuine emotional expression, you know, and connection with others In the movie.

Speaker 1: 8:55

If ever there is anything that could lead to be taken away as an offense, an apology is immediately followed, with the group as a whole, always without fail, accepted their apology out of what seems like a sense of obligation I hear this one a lot and hello's, goodbyes and sadly, you know what has become a very shallow expression today the question of how are you? I'm good. How are you, I'm fine? Thanks, I know most, but not all, not all you know of the time people say you know they're so out of necessity, conformity, and don't necessarily actually have any feelings and or care about how that person is actually doing. Oftentimes, you know, when I ask someone how they're doing and they tell me they're fine, I will ask again. You know my intent is to let people know I am actually interested in how they are doing and many times, like the floodgates opening up, you know again, with my position, it's a regular thing. You know they'll spill out a problem or even a success that they weren't going to share with anyone that day but then found surprise that someone actually cared. I say every day at the bar, so many people, you all, are afraid to be their authentic selves, but many avoid doing so Because being their authentic selves, you know, might upset the pond of conformity by making a ripple in the water. So this one's interesting.

Speaker 1: 10:40

The concept of a single individual holding the memories of an entire community is central to this film. The Giver, you know, the Giver of Memory in the movie holds all of the history and offers counsel and wisdom without sharing where or how they got that information with that utopian society. So, you know, how does this relate to our own collective memory? It's interesting to think. You know, history, both positive and negative, you know, shapes our perspectives but also the dangers of forgetting or distorting the past. So let's see, you know, relating to the concept of a single individual holding that memory, you know, is the role of elders. You know, historians and archivists. Historians and archivists work to collect, preserve and document the history. God, I remember history class. I used to think it was so boring, but I mean now, today, really exploring this, documenting the culture and experiences of a society or community, the elders of a tribe or group, you who live long lives, you know, will share the wisdom to the young and old of that particular tribe. You know, as we know, they're custodians of collective memories, ensuring that the important events and knowledge are not forgotten.

Speaker 1: 12:11

You know, a great example of this, you know, history positively shaping perspectives, you know, was the women's suffrage movement. You know this led to the granting of women's rights to vote in many countries, including the United States, with the 19th Amendment in 1920. This movement not only expanded democratic participation but also challenged societal norms about gender roles and promoting gender equality and changing perspectives on women's roles in our society. You know, and this is something worth remembering, you know, and had a really positive impact on our society today. But in other instances, forgetting the past can be dangerous because it robs us of valuable lessons. In historical context, you know, a consequence of distorting the past and it can lead to the repetition of past mistakes, as people may not recognize the warning signs or patterns of true historical events were misrepresented or forgotten. Well, that will express the knowledge as power.

Speaker 1: 13:25

So in this movie, individuality is suppressed in the name of sameness. How does individuality thrive or suffer in a world today? Now, individuality thrives in today's world. You see it again in the realm of social media and online content creation. You know platforms like Instagram, youtube, tiktok and Power Individuals to express man. There are a lot of them. They're unique personalities, no talents and perspectives. Yeah, one of those Instagram posts that I see a lot of the people with the bottles. You know the bottles with water. They flip them. Or you know, I think it's bottles. Yeah, they flip them and then try to bounce and flip a bottle and it lands on top of the other bottle. It's just funny stuff like that.

Speaker 1: 14:21

You know, content creators can build large and diverse audiences by embracing their individuality. You know, whether it's through showcasing, you know, their unique hobbies, fashion styles or sharing their personal stories and experiences. Yeah, unique hobbies are pretty cool. What's a good one? Oh, yeah, I know everybody's heard from the Texas Bushman. You know that's. You know, made a. It's just that's super cool. You know, build this great community and followers of people. You know, just having a good time. So, yeah, unique expression.

Speaker 1: 14:57

But, on the other hand, you know our world often works against sameness through the celebration of diversity and inclusion. Organizations, you know, educational institutions, governments, you know, promote diversity. You know, and actively work to. You know. Eliminate, you know, as best they can, discrimination based on a lot of factors. You know this inclusive approach, courage, people from various backgrounds and identities to contribute their distant perspectives and ideas to our society, fostering a richer, much more vibrant global community. I think it's interesting to note, you know, overall, the digital age and the societal shifts have created opportunities for individuality to flourish, while also emphasizing, you know, the importance of embracing diversity and uniqueness.

Speaker 1: 15:55

But you know individuality has also suffered in our world today. You know there's mass consumers and commercialization. I see it on the TV and at the bar all the time. Many people are influenced, you know, by advertising trends and the desire, you know, to conform to societal expectations. You know this can lead to individuals purchasing and, you know, recklessly consuming products or pursuing lifestyles, you know, that may not align with their true preference or values, compromising their unique identities in the process. The pressure to conform, you know, to popular brands, you know fashion, consumption patterns overshadow personal expression and individuality.

Speaker 1: 16:47

I've often seen people wearing, you know, hats with the same logo or only drinking certain liquors. I've asked over the years you know some people well why people do this. You know I'm curious, and the response is generally the same. I don't know. I just do you know so in the Giver there was a lot of drones, there were cameras everywhere. There was just everything was being tracked. There was tons of surveillance and I mean it's just interesting how it compares to our world today.

Speaker 1: 17:27

You know, because there are so many trade-offs, you know, between convenience and, like, personal privacy, on this God, continuously changing technological integration of our world, like smart devices. You know smart speakers, thermostats. You know cameras. The offer convenience I mean it's just ridiculous. And you can pay your bill on your phone. You know, never mind talking on the phone or sending a text, you can change the thermostat. You know from wherever you are, from your phone now, and man, it's just amazing how far this world has come. But anyways, you know smart speakers and thermostats and things like that. They collect data about your habits and conversations. You know which. I mean, honestly, y'all that's kind of. You know it's a privacy concern.

Speaker 1: 18:19

You know, in keeping along lines, have you ever noticed on social media? You know you share personal information. You know while it does on social platforms and while it does enhance connectivity. You know they can harvest your data for targeted ads. I mean, I've seen that on both Instagram and YouTube. You know I'll go watch. I don't know an article about like. You know those funny things where, like you know, oh hey, if you get $2 million, you know and live on the island with the first person in your share list like, I see that a lot you stop to look at one of those like five seconds and next thing, you know every single post is the same thing. You know different questions, right, it's kind of crazy. You know YouTube as well and I'll watch an article. Just watch an article on like cryptocurrency. And next thing I know, like everything in my list is you know recommending different things about cryptocurrency. I mean it's, it's creepy.

Speaker 1: 19:25

I'll tell you GPS location services. I mean it really really does help. I mean improving navigation and I mean it's aeons beyond the old paper map. Or and I'm carbon dating myself by telling you this you know the old map, questcom. You know you punch in the address and you print out the directions and you look on the paper map and then you review everything to make sure you're going to get where you're going and then hope to God you don't miss a turn or the roads haven't been changed. Oh, anyways. But yeah, gps location services. I mean that's a great thing. We got Google Maps and ways and all that today.

Speaker 1: 20:10

But that information, you know, sometimes can potentially be misused, depending on the hands that it makes it into. I Was like to Remember and talk about my trip I took to the Czech Republic and you know I thought of everything. And when I got there, you know I bought this phone, you know that had the biometric, you know, fingerprint thing on the back of it so that way, you know, I could open it if the code didn't work. And I Get there, the code didn't work At one point and then I couldn't get on. The biometric print didn't work. I mean it was terrible, but anyways, I'm getting off in a tangent. You know that kind of stuff. It stores sensitive biometric data that could be vulnerable to breaches. So, yeah, it's just amazing what a little bit of a convenience could also become the most dangerous thing.

Speaker 1: 21:14

Yeah, all night shopping e-commerce sites. You know they remember your preferences. I mean making shopping I'm doing quote fingers convenient. But they're also tracking your browsing history and buying habits, you know, impacting your privacy. But yeah, I, I'm gonna looking for movies. You know I like to watch documentaries sometimes and I Will literally look at one documentary and then, like, amazon is just giving me nothing but recommendations for documentaries.

Speaker 1: 21:51

Anybody out there have a fitness tracker watch, fitbit, apple watch, you know, whatever the case may be, and and you got that health app and it monitors everything, tracks your steps. There was a one time I have an Apple watch and I was just going for a walk one day and it vibrated and I looked down and it's like we've detected that you're Going, you know, for a walk. Do you want us to record the data? I'm just like, wow, creepy, but anyways, point being, you know that kind of thing can expose your health data. You know it's a third parties when, without your consent, no, during the pandemic.

Speaker 1: 22:36

You know those contact tracing apps. You know that help control the spread of the disease. You know, for those of you who didn't know, though, they collect data on individual. You know their movements, their contacts, and I mean, really that could be, you know, another, yet again a cause for a privacy debate. You ever had that. You know connected vehicle offers remote start navigation, you know, but may record. You know driving behavior in location data which could be accessed or shared. You know I've got my insurance companies got one of those driving apps. You know that measures your driving To help you improve your health. You know those driving apps. You know that measures your driving to help you improve you know and reward your good driving. You know things like that. It's just amazing how far this world has come.

Speaker 1: 23:30

So how about the internet a thing you know things. Devices, you know that make your home smarter. You know they can create vulnerabilities of not secured, potentially leading to privacy preaches. I've seen those Instagram posts are YouTube videos of people that were just in their home, my own business and the privacy of their home and all of a sudden they hear someone start talking out of their their smart devices. You know, because their stuff was hacked and people just seem to think it's funny to stick it in there and just scare people. So I mean I, it's just amazing to me.

Speaker 1: 24:03

Lastly, the virtual assistant, the famous and infamous Siri and Alexa, simplifying our tasks, you know, but in some ways inadvertently recording private conversations. You know we've triggered accidentally At least things can happen. So, balancing convenience and privacy. And then you know you can just go back and forth to the internet and you know. So, balancing convenience and privacy. It requires individuals to make informed choices, you know, understand the risks and manage their digital footprint carefully. Additionally, regulations and privacy laws are evolving to address these concerns and protect individuals data. But imagine in a world with cameras and drones everywhere and it not mattering?

Speaker 1: 24:59

Hmm, so the character of Jonas you know. He abarcks on a journey. He discovers the true meaning of life. You know what and how does that parallel our ongoing search? Know for purpose and fulfillment? You know his character embarks on a journey to discover the true meaning of life. In a highly controlled and regulated society, I, parallel to our current world, could be individuals who venture outside their comfort zones, traditional beliefs or societal norms. Yeah, and I've talked I talked about this a couple episodes ago about learning the uninteresting, but in doing so to seek a deeper understanding of life's purpose. You know meaning happiness, personal fulfillment, justice. Jonas challenges the status quo in his world. These individuals challenge conventional thinking, you know, and they explore, you know, different paths and their quest for meaning.

Speaker 1: 26:01

The advantage for us over Jonas is that we don't have to discover, you know that which was forgotten or lost. It is there, waiting for us to find, at the touch of a button or the first handshake of meeting somebody new and I mentioned this one a couple of podcast episodes back and finding a job or career, you know, that aligns with your passions and values, you know can help you find a sense of purpose and happiness. I mentioned before you don't travel exploration, you know there are new cultures, experiences, joy and personal growth best thing ever, I know, when you're not sure what to do in life. I mean build a, nurture meaningful relationships with friends. You know family, romantic partners can contribute to happen it's as well.

Speaker 1: 26:46

Find a hobby you like painting, writing, playing music, you know, whatever their outlet and it can bring you joy in a sense of accomplishment. You know you should look into it, always watch your health. Exercise new, nutritious eating. I mean self care. You know I'm get, you know, drinking a lot of water and I'm watching what you eat. You know that helps you. You know gives you a better, more of a sense of happiness. You know gives you a better, more energetic life, you know. Pursue mental health and do mindfulness, you know. For those of you who don't want to go see your bartender and Need an actual licensed, you know. Therapist, you know go get therapy, even meditation. Meditation, that's a great way to improve emotional well-being.

Speaker 1: 27:33

You know, let's not forget, the pursuit of knowledge Can be a fulfilling and lead to personal growth. I don't always learn, learn what you can, why you what the time you still have, volunteering, you know. Acts of kindness, you know. Go pay for the coffee of the people behind you in line at the Starbucks or contribute to your community. Yeah, our cause you care about. You know, give you a sense of fulfillment For some who really want to see. You know, reap the benefits of their. You know, selling Financial security and freedom, you know, achieving that can alleviate stress, you know, contribute to a more happier life, you know, and never forget, explore, you know, an understanding your own values, beliefs and goals. It's that can be a transformative journey Towards happiness. Don't forget, though, the pursuit of happiness, you know, and meaning it's unique to each individual, you know, and, unlike this movie, you know, it's what brings joy to one person and it may differ from another. It's about finding what resonates with you and it brings a sense of contentment. You know, well-being in your life.

Speaker 1: 28:55

Now the giver and its stark contrast with the real world today, and it's revealed and parallels, and you know, different distinctions, while the novel and its film adaptation, you know, offer a chilling glimpse into a dystopian society devoid of individuality and emotion. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of preserving preserving human connection, you know, diversity and free will. As we close this podcast, as we reflect on the world we inhabit today and recognize that, despite its imperfections, it stands in stark contrast to the controlled and emotionless world depicted in the giver, our society is characterized by its diversity of thought, you know, emotions and experiences, but we have the privilege of making choices, even if they come with challenges. But this comparison, you know, should not be, you know, not merely serve as a point of contrast, but also as a reminder of the fragility of our freedoms and the responsibility we bear to protect them. It calls on us to remain vigilant against the erosion of individuality, you know, the manipulation of truth and the suppression of dissent. In the end, the giver serves as a timeless reminder that the choices we make as a society have profound consequences and encourages us to cherish the richness of human experience and the importance of preserving our freedom, you know, to think, feel and choose as we move forward. Let us hear the lessons from this dystopian tale and strive to build a world that values individuality. You know empathy and the beauty of diversity.

Speaker 1: 30:52

So you know I've been in closing. If you like my podcast I work very hard on this one, you know please feel free to tell at least three people about my podcast if you think they will get something out of it. If you really enjoyed me, you can go to my website and support the show I've got a digital tip jar there if you'd like to leave me a tip and or got a function where you can buy me a coffee, as I drink a lot of it. So but unless you wanted to drink, thank you for stopping in. Here's your check. My regular podcast hours there's always every Sunday night at 7 pm, so you can come back and see me then. Have a great night.