Honestly that’s because privacy/surveillance is not really the point of 1984. Like many tools of the party the telescreens may not even be real. Big Brother himself is likely (maybe explicitly, can’t quite remember) not even real himself. Emmanuel Goldstein’s anti-party books are written by the party itself. The point is that the citizens of Oceania believe Big Brother is always watching, just as they believe they have always been at war with Eastasia, and that the Brotherhood and Emmanuel Goldstein are constantly plotting against Oceania. Winston and Julia aren’t even eventually caught by any surveillance technologies, they were caught because they unknowingly exposed their activities to an undercover thought police agent in person throughout the novel. Afterwards, they aren’t killed, imprisoned forever, or have their activities forever monitored, they are reeducated and reintroduced to society as normal citizens. The surveillance apparatus is really just one relatively small aspect of the psychological control the party has over society, and the psychological control is what it’s really about.
The Party is not interested in the overt act: the thought is all we care about.
That’s a good pull. Might feel a bit antiquated with how far mass surveillance has evolved, but a great watch regardless.
Someone recommended this to me last week. Will have to give it a watch, I suppose.
My pick for sci-fi is Children of Men. Less surveillance focused but I find it to be an interesting perspective, and an absolute masterpiece of cinematography.
OH! I just remembered another one and I feel stupid for forgetting it.
Westworld (2016-2022)
You’ll learn why this is more privacy related than anything but great sci fi too! Only first two seasons are worth watching (which is the general consensus) but I like it all.
Definitely watch this if you can find it. Same showrunners as Person of Interest who is also the brother of Christopher Nolan.
Agreed. Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy did a great job. The only gripe I had with season 1 was the absurdity of one of its story lines, which actually became the main story line of season 2. Nevertheless, the second season is indeed very much worth watching.
Season 1 is a masterpiece similar to how True Detective S01 is considered one. And just like The Sopranos and other prestige TV is. Westworld S2 is also fantastic I agree and has some of the best rated TV episodes ever produced. I’m just saying the the circles and the fandom, S1 is still considered better than S2. Doesn’t mean S2 is not good. Just means S1 is that good.
But honestly I feel the acting and sci fi elements make it it a better show than the reason behind all it’s existence which we learn in the show that’s privacy related. I won’t spoil it anymore.
I put together a similar list (including documentaries, books, and podcasts) that are focused on Surveillance specifically. Has a few good additions that I don’t see on the compiled list above.
I’ll highlight a few of my favorites:
Malcolm X
MLK/FBI
1971
Zero Days (not exactly personal level privacy, but I think about it often when thinking about how state hacking works in general)
The Plot Against America - miniseries that isn’t primarily about surveillance but its is a pretty big theme
I guess it’s my own bias to Orwell being a notorious snitch and allegedly basing the character of Julia on a woman he tried to rape, but I consider his books pretty hack compared to how state oppression is actually done.
In reality the oppressive state is closer to Brave New World or Children of Men where things nominally seem to be functioning as normal as stupid trivial distractions of mass media and consumption keep us busy. You have people taking the train, hanging out in cafes and pubs while we push the visible signs of growing barbarism to the back of our minds.
Not sure if these have been mentioned but I didn’t see them in the top post and as a die-hard sci-fi nerd I have to add them. I’m limiting this to “related to privacy or security in some way” or else I’ll be listing everything ever made. (Except Passengers.)
Documentaries:
Kill Chain: The Cyber War on America’s Elections
Coded Bias
Nothing to Hide
Terms & Conditions May Apply
The Perfect Weapon (2020)
Movies:
Kimi
Shows:
Andor (it’s about rebellion/resistance and lots of privacy experts praised it when it came out as an accurate depiction of what it’s like to be part of a long-term struggle like the fight for privacy rights, so I’m counting it)
The Handmaid’s Tale (again, more about resistance and how people in power usually aren’t true believers but just corrupt jackoffs)
Inside Job (animated comedy about “what if every conspiracy theory was true,” so sometimes has jokes or plot points revolving around surveillance)
Severance (not “privacy” per se but heavily about tech and control)
The X-Files has many episodes that touch on surveillance or government control
Totally unrelated but really good and I think are worth mentioning anyways as a Sci-Fi nerd:
Three Body (preferably the Chinese version but most people like the Netflix version. Books are always better)
Silo
Pluribus
Dark
The Expanse
Travelers (2016), not a “must-see” but has a really interesting take on time-travel
Pandorum
Tenet
Willy’s Wonderland (2021), basically a FNAF knock-off but it’s so dumb and absurd and fun
I’m not super active around these parts but god I love sci-fi. Anyone is always welcome to ping me to make a recommendation
Ethan Hawke and based on Heinlein. Def in for that one.
Primer is noted for its….complex technical dialogue, which Carruth, a college graduate with a degree in mathematics and a former engineer, chose not to simplify for the sake of the audience.
Oh dear. Let’s hope I can keep up. Math is not my strong point under the best of conditions
Nevertheless, the second season is indeed very much worth watching.
