It is known that fear is a very good stimulus for working hard towards a goal. But how far is going too far? Is it okay to induce fear and pain to push oneself? Is it okay to fidget with with our primal instincts (directly or indirectly) to achieve perfection?
In 1984, O'Brien used fear to convert Winston to Big Brother's side. O'Brien knew that fear is the key to controlling people and he used it when he threatened to unleash wild rats on Winston. Every person has a fear and something that disgusts him to the core. That fear can be used against the person to achieve things. Abhishek, a friend once reasoned that it's probably the reason why society is always suspicious of love and passion. It's love and passion that takes a person to what he is. When a person is in love, he is not scared of anything. Nothing can intimidate him. Well, nothing except that most disgusting thing. That is one reason why society keeps check on love and how far it can go.
Obviously, there have been examples when love and passion have gone too far. Hitler was madly in love with idea of a perfect Aryan race ruling in Germany and it being over every other country. He used this idea to instill a wrong sense of patriotism in the minds of people. He used fear to keep them working towards the goal. Again, the use of fear is so strange here. He himself worked hard to undo what fear could do to Hitler and he himself subjects his citizens to fear. As they say, one becomes a monster while trying to fight a monster :)
Historical contexts aside, the whole thing came to my mind because I recently saw Black Swan and it reminded me of how fear and anxiety can be used. Nina is afraid Lily might snatch her position of prominence. It's like an authority who refuses to relinquish his power. He induces fear in the minds to make sure, he is not threatened. Nina in her wake to achieve perfection does things which she dearly pays for in the end. It is strange, how one can bear and undergo the idea of doing bad to oneself and others to smell and taste that slice of perfection...
From the way I see it, it is being considered okay to channel one's anxieties and fears to work towards the goal. It is becoming okay to adopt the sith philosophy and embrace the dark side to get something done... It is only when we give in to our fear and hatred do we really work towards what we desire and bring in our most violent side to make things happen.
In 1984, O'Brien used fear to convert Winston to Big Brother's side. O'Brien knew that fear is the key to controlling people and he used it when he threatened to unleash wild rats on Winston. Every person has a fear and something that disgusts him to the core. That fear can be used against the person to achieve things. Abhishek, a friend once reasoned that it's probably the reason why society is always suspicious of love and passion. It's love and passion that takes a person to what he is. When a person is in love, he is not scared of anything. Nothing can intimidate him. Well, nothing except that most disgusting thing. That is one reason why society keeps check on love and how far it can go.
Obviously, there have been examples when love and passion have gone too far. Hitler was madly in love with idea of a perfect Aryan race ruling in Germany and it being over every other country. He used this idea to instill a wrong sense of patriotism in the minds of people. He used fear to keep them working towards the goal. Again, the use of fear is so strange here. He himself worked hard to undo what fear could do to Hitler and he himself subjects his citizens to fear. As they say, one becomes a monster while trying to fight a monster :)
Historical contexts aside, the whole thing came to my mind because I recently saw Black Swan and it reminded me of how fear and anxiety can be used. Nina is afraid Lily might snatch her position of prominence. It's like an authority who refuses to relinquish his power. He induces fear in the minds to make sure, he is not threatened. Nina in her wake to achieve perfection does things which she dearly pays for in the end. It is strange, how one can bear and undergo the idea of doing bad to oneself and others to smell and taste that slice of perfection...
From the way I see it, it is being considered okay to channel one's anxieties and fears to work towards the goal. It is becoming okay to adopt the sith philosophy and embrace the dark side to get something done... It is only when we give in to our fear and hatred do we really work towards what we desire and bring in our most violent side to make things happen.
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