Analysis of Apples 1984 commercial
For analysis I am dissecting the famous “1984” Super-bowl commercial by Apple Computer Inc. The commercial aired during the Super-bowl in 1984. The title and the commercial itself reference both the year it was aired as well as the famous book “1984” by George Orwell. The opening setting shows a row of people in a drone-like trance, wearing matching gray clothing, walking down a hallway, marching in step with each other. After a few seconds of this, we see a woman running down a different, empty, hallyway wielding a sledge hammer. The scene flashes to the marching drones, the woman running, then shows a group of men chasing after the woman in what appear to be swat uniforms, presumably law enforcement of some type, attempting to stop the woman. After this, we see the face of a man, an authority figure, being broadcast in front of the room of drones. The woman runs in while the man gives the following speech:
"Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created for the first time in all history a garden of pure ideology, where each worker may bloom, secure from the pests of any contradictory true thoughts. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!” The woman throws the hammer through the screen, smashing the man, who is Big Brother from Orewell’s “1984”, ending his speech. The narrator then begins speaking, and the following words as they scroll across the screen: “On January 24th Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like '1984.'" The commercial itself makes two assumptions. Firstly, that most people would somewhat be aware of what “1984” is about or have read it, given its status as common required reading in most high school senior literature
"Today we celebrate the first glorious anniversary of the Information Purification Directives. We have created for the first time in all history a garden of pure ideology, where each worker may bloom, secure from the pests of any contradictory true thoughts. Our Unification of Thoughts is more powerful a weapon than any fleet or army on earth. We are one people, with one will, one resolve, one cause. Our enemies shall talk themselves to death and we will bury them with their own confusion. We shall prevail!” The woman throws the hammer through the screen, smashing the man, who is Big Brother from Orewell’s “1984”, ending his speech. The narrator then begins speaking, and the following words as they scroll across the screen: “On January 24th Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like '1984.'" The commercial itself makes two assumptions. Firstly, that most people would somewhat be aware of what “1984” is about or have read it, given its status as common required reading in most high school senior literature