Brave New World and Modern Society: a Cautionary Parallel

In 1931, Aldous Huxley penned Brave New World to articulate his skepticism about the trajectory of human progress. At the time, humanity was grappling with the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash and the devastation wrought by World War I (Dacre). While new technologies and scientific advancements offered an optimistic vision of the future, Huxley presented a cautionary tale about their potential misuse. His novel introduces a dystopian universe where technology is harnessed to brainwash the population, conditioning citizens to adhere to the agenda of the World State's elites.

The Allure of Artificial Contentment

Central to Huxley's dystopia is the use of soma, a meticulously engineered drug that offers the populace a deceptive sense of happiness. This drug, alongside technological conditioning, maintains a superficial contentment that keeps citizens complacent. Alarmingly, modern society seems to be inching toward this dystopian reality, as evidenced by the increasing normalization and legalization of various mood-altering substances, the prevalence of subliminal messaging and advertising, and an insatiable appetite for entertainment. The growing acceptance and proliferation of drugs in contemporary society are particularly concerning, reflecting the world Huxley envisioned, where pharmacological manipulation suppresses genuine human emotion.

The Rise of Drug Acceptance

In recent years, society has increasingly embraced the legalization of substances like marijuana, a trend indicative of shifting cultural attitudes. Abigail Geiger notes that a Pew Research Center study found that in 2000, only 31% of American adults supported marijuana legalization, a figure that nearly doubled to 61% by 2017 (Geiger). This mirrors the mantra in Brave New World, "a gramme is better than a dam," suggesting that people prefer the escapism provided by drugs over the complexities of conscious life (Huxley 61). The World State's reliance on soma parallels the modern world's burgeoning relationship with similar substances.

This trend extends beyond marijuana. Ecstasy, known for inducing euphoria, is undergoing phase-three clinical trials for MDMA legalization for medical purposes in the U.S., Canada, and Israel (Riggs). The testing and prospective legalization of such mood-enhancing drugs indicate an increasing dependency on pharmaceuticals to regulate emotions. This reliance fosters an inability to manage emotions independently, creating a cycle of escalating drug use. The character Lenina exemplifies this dilemma; when confronted with intense emotions during a savage ritual, she laments, "Oh, I wish I had my soma" (Huxley 110). Lenina's inability to cope with her feelings without chemical assistance underscores the dangers of this dependency.

In the contemporary United States, one in six Americans consumes psychiatric drugs, primarily antidepressants (Fox). As pharmaceuticals become more accessible and socially acceptable, individuals increasingly seek out quick fixes to manage their emotions. This reliance can lead to a surrender of personal autonomy and self-governance, as individuals unknowingly relinquish their humanity to these substances. Ultimately, the societal acceptance and increased consumption of drugs risk undermining individual control and the capacity to genuinely care about one's life.

Conditioning and Subliminal Influence

Huxley's depiction of conditioning through hypnopaedia in Brave New World is eerily reminiscent of modern subliminal messaging and advertising techniques. Mustapha Mond's assertion, "as if one believed anything by instinct! One believes things because one has been conditioned to believe them" (Huxley 210), highlights the extent to which conditioning can reshape thought processes, replacing instinct with imposed beliefs. Similarly, in today's world, corporations leverage advertising to sway consumer behavior, often without conscious awareness.

Mlodinow discusses how seemingly innocuous events, like hearing a catchy song in an advertisement, can influence decisions because the message is absorbed subliminally (24). An example of subliminal messaging is the alleged presence of a Coca-Cola logo in the Lord of the Rings film, which, even if unnoticed, can still impact viewers subconsciously ("Examples with Subliminal Messages"). When audiences leave the theater, reinforced advertisements amplify the subliminal message's power.

Advertising aims to reshape consumer thoughts, echoing the role of conditioning centers in Huxley's novel, which indoctrinate the masses with the World State's ideology. This manipulation of individual thought processes through subliminal messaging parallels the novel's depiction of conditioning, drawing modern society closer to Huxley's dystopian vision.

Entertainment as Escapism

The modern obsession with entertainment mirrors the World State's mandate for perpetual happiness, which ultimately enslaves its citizens. Generations raised with instant gratification through technology, particularly millennials and Generation Z, have become addicted to entertainment. Anderson aptly notes that while entertainment isn't a drug, "it might as well be," drawing parallels between contemporary dependence on entertainment and drug addiction. She explains that the brain's response to entertainment, marked by excessive dopamine release, is akin to its reaction to addictive substances (Anderson).

This overstimulation leads to dissatisfaction and unfulfillment, fostering reliance on technology for distraction. Anderson's comparison of entertainment to drug addiction is literal in Huxley's world, where soma is the substance of distraction (Huxley 62). The World State's elites strip citizens of their humanity by diverting attention from reality to soma, eroding individual independence and free will. The correlation between entertainment obsession and soma addiction stems from the pursuit of genuine happiness, yet both result in enslavement to their addictive qualities.

Conclusion

While the world in the 1930s remained hopeful about the future, Huxley maintained a skeptical perspective on technological evolution's impact. In Brave New World, he foresaw humanity's potential forfeiture of self-sovereignty through reliance on drugs like soma. The novel also warned of the alteration of beliefs through advertising and subliminal messaging, akin to the conditioning centers. The dependence on entertainment resulting from technological advancements further subjugates individuals to an unfulfilling cycle of addiction. In today's society, the rising popularity of drug use, subliminal messaging, and entertainment echoes Huxley's dystopian vision. As we navigate this trajectory, it is crucial to reflect on the implications of these parallels and strive to preserve our autonomy and humanity in the face of technological and societal advancements.

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