Tuesday, March 27, 2012

This Is the Year of our Ford?

Maybe it's just me but I have noticed certain economical themes that are portrayed in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. A great example of this is the replacement of the word "Lord" to "Ford" one of America's greatest industries even during the Great Depression which is referenced in the book as "the great Economic Collapse" on page 48.
"In the nurseries, the Elementary Class Consciousness lesson was over, the adapting future demand to future industrial supply. 'I do love flying ,' they whispered, 'I do love flying, I do love having new clothes, I do love...' (Pg. 48)"
This idea of consumption is prominent throughout the book. On chapter 5 part 2 Huxley mentions a place where an immense T is shone. This T could represent the image of a cross, and instead is replaced by T which signifies Ford Model T. Society replaces religion with materialism.
Also, has anyone noticed the sign that represents years, "A.F."? Well to us it would normally be A.D. or B.C. but in the book it probably means "After Ford". My question is, who exactly is this Ford?

4 comments:

  1. I too noticed the Economic association. It seems that the era of Industrialism played an impact on the setting and state of mind. Maybe Ford was THE person who started the whole utopian soceity, the creator, the person they aspire to be like.

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  2. I agree with Chelsea, I think "Ford" is a direct reference to Henry Ford. Although it does mean as Aida stated,"Society replaces religion with materialism," Ford is just used to support the idea of it, contradicting myself, it could just represent a concept.

    -by: Mario Hernandez

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  3. I'm not going to disagree with what was said. The constant mentioning of "Ford" could just be a reference to Henry Ford. He was greatly credited for the creation of the efficient assembly line model which allowed for mass production of his model "T" Fords. Their society was revolutionized by this ability to mass produce, and they have it engraved that he was their "savior".

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  4. True. But Jorge why would they give so much power or reverence to just One Man if it didn't have a deeper meaning?

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