Major Artistic Revolutions of the 20th Century

I am writing this blog as part of the Thinking Activity assigned by Megha Ma’am Trivedi for Unit 2: Trends and Movements.This task helps me understand important literary movements like Expressionism, Surrealism, and Modernism in a deeper way.Through this blog, I am trying to connect theory with creative expression.It also allows me to reflect on my literature festival activities such as poetry and painting.

Introduction

Literature is not only a reflection of society, but also a response to the changes happening in history, culture, and human thought. Different literary movements emerged at different times to express new ideas, emotions, and artistic experiments. In the 20th century especially, writers and artists began to break traditional rules and explore deeper psychological and philosophical themes. Movements like Expressionism, Surrealism, and Modernism challenged old forms and introduced new ways of thinking and writing. In this blog, I will discuss these important trends and movements and understand how they transformed literature and art.

1) Expressionism

Expressionism is an important artistic and literary movement that developed in the early twentieth century, mainly in Germany. It emerged as a reaction against realism and naturalism. While realism tried to present life as it appears in the external world, Expressionism focused on the inner emotional reality of human beings. Expressionist artists believed that the world is not only what we see with our eyes, but what we feel inside our minds and hearts.

The movement became powerful during a time of social unrest, industrialization, and the approach of World War I. Many people felt anxiety, alienation, and spiritual crisis. Expressionism became a way to express these deep emotional tensions.

Meaning of Expressionism

The word “Expressionism” itself suggests the idea of expressing inner feelings rather than copying outer reality. Expressionist artists distort shapes, colors, and language to show emotional intensity. They are not interested in beauty or balance. Instead, they focus on fear, loneliness, suffering, anger, and confusion.

A very famous example of Expressionism in art is The Scream by Edvard Munch. In this painting, the face is distorted and the background looks unnatural. The aim is not to show a real landscape, but to show the inner scream of a human soul.

Historical Background

Expressionism developed in Germany around 1905–1925. It was influenced by:

• Rapid industrial growth

• Urbanization

• World War I

• Loss of faith in traditional values

• Psychological theories of the unconscious

Young artists felt that modern society was mechanical and spiritually empty. They wanted to protest against materialism and rigid social systems. So, instead of showing realistic scenes, they created exaggerated and symbolic works.

Two important German Expressionist groups were:

• Die Brücke (The Bridge)

• Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider)

These groups encouraged artistic freedom and emotional intensity.

Main Characteristics of Expressionism

1. Distortion – Figures and settings appear twisted or exaggerated.

2. Emotional Intensity – Strong feelings dominate the work.

3. Bold Colors – Artists use unnatural colors to express mood.

4. Subjectivity – Focus on personal experience rather than objective truth.

5. Themes of Alienation – Characters feel lonely and disconnected.

Expressionism often presents the world as chaotic and frightening. It reflects the psychological condition of modern humans.

Expressionism in Literature

Expressionism was not limited to painting. It also influenced drama, poetry, and fiction.

In literature, Expressionist writers:

• Focus on the inner thoughts of characters.

• Use symbolic language.

• Show fragmented or dream-like scenes.

• Present society as oppressive or cruel.

Characters in Expressionist works often feel isolated and helpless. They struggle against society, authority, or their own minds.

Expressionist drama became especially important. The stage design used sharp lighting, shadows, and abstract settings to create emotional impact. Dialogue was sometimes intense and poetic rather than realistic.

Major Themes

Expressionist literature deals with:

• Anxiety and fear

• War and destruction

• Identity crisis

• Spiritual emptiness

• Rebellion against authority

During World War I, many Expressionist writers expressed horror at violence and human suffering. Their works show the breakdown of moral and social order.

Style and Language

The language of Expressionism is powerful and dramatic. Writers use:

• Short, intense sentences

• Symbolism

• Repetition

• Monologues

Sometimes characters do not have proper names. They are called “Man,” “Father,” or “Worker” to represent universal human experience. This makes the work more symbolic than realistic.

Influence on Later Movements

Expressionism influenced many later artistic movements, including Modernism. It also shaped cinema and theatre. Early German films used Expressionist techniques such as shadows, unusual camera angles, and exaggerated acting.

In literature, Expressionism helped writers explore psychological depth. It opened the path for stream of consciousness and experimental narrative styles.

Importance of Expressionism

Expressionism is important because it changed the purpose of art. It proved that art does not need to copy reality. Instead, it can express hidden emotions and mental states.

It also reflects the crisis of modern civilization. Through distortion and exaggeration, Expressionist artists showed the pain and confusion of their time. Even today, Expressionism feels relevant because people still experience anxiety, loneliness, and identity struggles.

 Expressionism is a movement that focuses on inner emotional truth rather than external reality. It developed in early twentieth-century Germany as a reaction against realism and materialism. Through distortion, symbolism, and intense emotion, Expressionist artists and writers expressed the psychological struggles of modern life. This movement not only influenced literature and art but also helped shape the direction of modern creative expression. Expressionism teaches us that sometimes the deepest truth is not what we see outside, but what we feel within.

2) Surrealism

Surrealism is an important artistic and literary movement that began in the 1920s in France. It developed after the First World War, during a time when people felt shock, confusion, and disappointment with traditional values. Surrealism aimed to go beyond reality and explore the deeper layers of the human mind. The word “Surrealism” means “beyond realism.” Instead of showing ordinary life, Surrealist artists tried to present dreams, imagination, and the unconscious mind.

The movement was officially started by André Breton, who wrote The Surrealist Manifesto in 1924. He believed that true creativity comes from freeing the mind from logic and rational control.

Historical Background

Surrealism grew out of the earlier Dada movement, which rejected logic and traditional art after the horrors of World War I. However, Surrealism was more organized and philosophical. It was strongly influenced by the psychological theories of Sigmund Freud. Freud explained that human behavior is shaped by unconscious desires, hidden fears, and dreams. Surrealist artists wanted to explore this hidden part of the mind.

After the war, many artists felt that rational thinking had failed humanity. Science and logic had not prevented destruction. Therefore, Surrealists turned toward imagination and the irrational as a way of understanding truth.

Meaning and Aim of Surrealism

Surrealism tries to combine dream and reality into a “super-reality.” It believes that dreams are not meaningless; they reveal deep truths about human nature. Surrealists wanted to remove the boundary between conscious and unconscious experience.

The main aim of Surrealism was:

• To free imagination

• To challenge social norms

• To break artistic rules

• To express hidden emotions and desires

Surrealists believed that society controls human behavior through rules and traditions. Art, according to them, should liberate the mind.

Main Characteristics of Surrealism

1. Dream-like Imagery – Scenes look like dreams or nightmares.

2. Illogical Combinations – Unrelated objects appear together.

3. Fantasy and Imagination – Reality mixes with impossible elements.

4. Automatic Writing – Writing without conscious control.

5. Symbolism – Objects represent deeper psychological meanings.

For example, in The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí, melting clocks appear in a strange landscape. These melting clocks symbolize the fluid and uncertain nature of time in dreams.

Surrealism in Literature

In literature, Surrealism encouraged writers to use free association and automatic writing. They wrote without planning or logical structure, allowing thoughts to flow freely from the unconscious mind.

Surrealist poetry often includes:

• Strange images

• Sudden changes in scene

• Emotional intensity

• Unexpected metaphors

The language may appear confusing at first, but it tries to reflect the inner workings of the mind. Surrealist writers believed that poetry should not be limited by grammar, logic, or moral restrictions.

Themes in Surrealism

Surrealist works often explore:

• Dreams and nightmares

• Love and desire

• Fear and anxiety

• Freedom from social control

• Mystery and imagination

Surrealism sometimes appears shocking or strange because it breaks conventional expectations. However, its purpose is to reveal deeper psychological truths.

Difference from Realism

Realism shows everyday life as it appears. It focuses on ordinary characters and social situations. Surrealism, on the other hand, goes beyond visible reality. It does not aim to copy the world but to transform it through imagination.

While realism depends on logic and observation, Surrealism depends on dreams and the unconscious.

Influence of Surrealism

Surrealism influenced many fields:

• Modern poetry

• Theatre

• Cinema

• Visual arts

Many later writers and filmmakers used surreal techniques to explore psychological complexity. Even in contemporary art and movies, dream-like sequences and symbolic images show the influence of Surrealism.

Importance of Surrealism

Surrealism is important because it expanded the definition of reality in art. It showed that imagination and dreams are powerful sources of creativity. It also encouraged artists to question social norms and authority.

The movement challenged traditional thinking and allowed freedom of expression. It taught that human experience is not limited to logic; it also includes emotion, fantasy, and unconscious desire.

Surrealism is a movement that explores the world beyond ordinary reality. It began in France in the 1920s under the leadership of André Breton and was influenced by Freud’s ideas about the unconscious mind. Through dream imagery, automatic writing, and irrational combinations, Surrealism tried to free the imagination and reveal hidden truths. This movement changed literature and art by showing that reality is not only what we see outside, but also what we experience within our dreams and subconscious mind.

3) Modernism and Postmodernism

Modernism

Modernism is a major literary and artistic movement that developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It emerged as a response to rapid industrialization, urbanization, and especially the shock of World War I. Traditional beliefs, religious faith, and moral values were breaking down. Writers felt that the old ways of writing were no longer suitable to express the complexities of modern life.

Modernism represents a break from tradition. Modern writers experimented with new forms, new techniques, and new perspectives.

Important modernist writers include Virginia Woolf and James Joyce.

Historical Background

The early 20th century was a time of crisis. Science and technology were developing rapidly, but society was facing wars and destruction. Many people lost faith in religion and stable social structures. This created a feeling of confusion, fragmentation, and alienation.

Modernist writers believed that reality is not simple or orderly. Instead, it is fragmented and complex. Therefore, literature must reflect this fragmentation.

Main Characteristics of Modernism

1. Stream of Consciousness – Focus on inner thoughts and mental processes.

2. Fragmentation – Broken narrative structure.

3. Alienation – Characters feel isolated.

4. Symbolism – Objects and events carry deeper meaning.

5. Experimentation – Breaking traditional grammar and structure.

Modernist literature often avoids simple storytelling. Instead of clear beginning, middle, and end, it presents scattered experiences.

Themes in Modernism

• Loss of faith

• Identity crisis

• Search for meaning

• Psychological depth

• Effects of war

Modernist works often show characters who struggle to understand themselves and their world.

Style of Modernism

Modernist writing is serious and complex. It may seem difficult because it does not explain everything clearly. Writers expect readers to actively interpret the text.

For example, stream of consciousness technique presents thoughts exactly as they occur in the mind, without logical order. This reflects the complexity of human psychology.

Postmodernism

Postmodernism developed after World War II, mainly from the 1950s onward. It emerged as a reaction against Modernism. While Modernism searched for meaning in a broken world, Postmodernism questions whether meaning even exists.

Postmodernism challenges the idea of absolute truth. It suggests that reality is constructed through language and culture.

Main Characteristics of Postmodernism

1. Irony and Parody – Humorous or playful tone.

2. Pastiche – Mixing of different styles.

3. Intertextuality – Reference to other texts.

4. Metafiction – Writing about writing itself.

5. Relativism – No single truth or fixed meaning.

Postmodern works often blur the boundary between fiction and reality.

Themes in Postmodernism

• Uncertainty of truth

• Cultural confusion

• Media influence

• Multiple identities

• Breakdown of grand narratives

Postmodern writers believe that history and reality are shaped by perspective. There is no universal truth.

Style of Postmodernism

Postmodern literature is playful and self-aware. It may directly speak to the reader or comment on its own storytelling. It mixes high culture and popular culture.

Unlike Modernism, which is serious and tragic, Postmodernism is often ironic and humorous.

Importance

Both movements changed literature deeply. Modernism introduced psychological depth and experimental techniques. Postmodernism expanded freedom of expression and challenged fixed truths.

Together, they show how literature responds to historical changes and intellectual developments. Modernism reflects early 20th-century crisis, while Postmodernism reflects late 20th-century cultural complexity.

Modernism and Postmodernism are two important literary movements that transformed art and literature. Modernism broke traditional forms and explored inner consciousness in a fragmented world. Postmodernism went further by questioning truth, reality, and meaning itself. Both movements reflect the changing nature of human thought and society. They continue to influence contemporary literature and creative expression even today.

4) Dada Movement

The Dada Movement, commonly known as Dadaism, was an avant-garde artistic and literary movement that began during World War I around 1916 in Zurich, Switzerland. It developed as a reaction against the violence, destruction, and irrationality of the war. Dada artists believed that traditional culture, logic, and social systems had failed humanity. Therefore, they rejected reason and embraced nonsense, absurdity, and chaos.

Dada was not just an art style; it was a protest movement. It challenged established artistic standards and questioned the meaning of art itself.

Historical Background

Dada began at the Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich, where artists and writers gathered to express their anger and frustration with society. One of the key founders was Hugo Ball, who organized performances that included nonsense poetry and experimental music.

During World War I, many artists felt that rational thinking and nationalism had led to destruction. They concluded that if society was irrational, then art should also reflect that irrationality. Dada became a way to criticize war, politics, and traditional values.

The movement quickly spread to cities like Berlin, Paris, and New York.

Meaning of “Dada”

The word “Dada” has no fixed meaning. Some say it was chosen randomly from a dictionary. This randomness itself reflects the spirit of the movement. Dada artists wanted to show that meaning is not fixed or logical.

Dada rejected:

• Traditional aesthetics

• Logical thinking

• Moral seriousness

• Academic art standards

Instead, it promoted freedom, spontaneity, and rebellion.

Main Characteristics of Dada

1. Absurdity and Nonsense – Art that appears meaningless or illogical.

2. Rejection of Tradition – Breaking classical artistic rules.

3. Collage and Assemblage – Using random objects and materials.

4. Performance Art – Experimental theatre and poetry readings.

5. Anti-Art Attitude – Questioning what art really is.

Dada artists often used everyday objects in their works. For example, Marcel Duchamp presented an ordinary urinal as an artwork titled Fountain. This shocked society and questioned the definition of art.

Dada in Literature

In literature, Dada writers created poems that did not follow grammar or logic. They used random words and sounds. Sometimes poems were created by cutting words from newspapers and arranging them randomly.

Dada poetry often:

• Lacked clear meaning

• Used strange sounds

• Rejected traditional structure

The purpose was not to communicate a clear message but to challenge the idea that literature must always be logical and meaningful.

Themes in Dada

• Protest against war

• Criticism of politics

• Rejection of materialism

• Freedom of expression

• Mockery of bourgeois society

Dada works often appear humorous or chaotic, but behind this chaos lies serious political criticism.

Dada vs Other Movements

Unlike Expressionism, which focuses on inner emotions, Dada focuses on rebellion and destruction of artistic norms. Unlike Surrealism, which explores dreams and the unconscious, Dada often celebrates pure nonsense and randomness.

However, Dada strongly influenced Surrealism. Many Surrealist artists were previously involved in Dada activities.

Importance of the Dada Movement

The Dada Movement is important because it changed the way people think about art. It proved that art does not need to be beautiful or logical. It can be provocative and controversial.

Dada opened the door for:

• Performance art

• Conceptual art

• Postmodern experimentation

It encouraged artists to question authority and established traditions.

The Dada Movement was a revolutionary artistic and literary protest that began during World War I. It rejected logic, tradition, and conventional aesthetics. Through absurd performances, collage art, and anti-art attitudes, Dada challenged society and the definition of art itself. Although it was short-lived, its impact was long-lasting. Dada paved the way for later movements like Surrealism and Postmodernism. It reminds us that sometimes art is not about creating meaning, but about questioning it.

5) Avant-Garde Movement

The term Avant-garde comes from a French military word meaning “advance guard” or “front line.” In art and literature, Avant-garde refers to artists and writers who are innovative, experimental, and ahead of their time. They challenge traditional forms and introduce new ideas. The Avant-garde movement is not a single movement but a broader concept that includes various experimental movements such as Dadaism, Surrealism, and Futurism.

The Avant-garde spirit is about breaking rules, questioning authority, and creating new artistic possibilities.

Historical Background

The Avant-garde developed mainly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This was a period of rapid social change, industrial growth, scientific discovery, and political revolution. Artists felt that traditional forms of art could not represent the modern world.

As a result, they began experimenting with:

• New styles

• New techniques

• New themes

• New perspectives

Many Avant-garde artists were connected with movements like Dada, Surrealism, Expressionism, and Futurism. For example, Filippo Tommaso Marinetti promoted Futurism, which celebrated speed, machines, and modern technology.

Meaning and Aim of Avant-garde

Avant-garde art aims to challenge established norms. It does not follow tradition blindly. Instead, it questions social, political, and artistic conventions.

The main goals of the Avant-garde movement were:

• To innovate and experiment

• To shock or surprise audiences

• To criticize social systems

• To redefine the meaning of art

Avant-garde artists believed that art should not simply entertain but should provoke thought and change.

Main Characteristics of Avant-garde

1. Experimentation – New forms and techniques.

2. Rejection of Tradition – Breaking classical rules.

3. Radical Ideas – Political and social criticism.

4. Innovation – Constant search for originality.

5. Provocation – Intentionally shocking the audience.

Avant-garde works often appear strange or difficult because they challenge familiar expectations.

Avant-garde in Literature

In literature, Avant-garde writers experiment with:

• Structure

• Language

• Narrative techniques

• Typography

Some texts may have fragmented sentences, unusual formatting, or mixed genres. The focus is on creativity and originality rather than clear storytelling.

Avant-garde literature often reflects rebellion against traditional moral and social systems. It gives importance to artistic freedom.

Themes in Avant-garde

• Modernity and change

• Rebellion against authority

• Freedom of expression

• Political revolution

• Innovation and creativity

Avant-garde artists often connect art with social transformation. They believe art can change society.

Influence on Later Movements

The Avant-garde movement strongly influenced Modernism and Postmodernism. Many experimental techniques used in modern literature developed from Avant-garde ideas.

It also shaped:

• Performance art

• Experimental theatre

• Conceptual art

• Contemporary cinema

Even today, many artists who create experimental or unconventional works are called Avant-garde.

Importance of Avant-garde

The Avant-garde movement is important because it encourages creative risk-taking. It teaches that art must grow and evolve. Without Avant-garde experimentation, literature and art would remain traditional and repetitive.

This movement opened new possibilities for artistic expression. It expanded the boundaries of what art can be.

 The Avant-garde movement represents innovation, experimentation, and rebellion in art and literature. It developed during a time of great social and political change and encouraged artists to challenge traditions. By breaking rules and introducing radical ideas, the Avant-garde reshaped modern artistic expression. It continues to inspire creative minds to think differently and push artistic boundaries.

🎭 Literature Festival Activities

1) Blindfold Paper Cutting Activity

The first activity of our Literature Festival was Blindfold Paper Cutting. In this activity, I was blindfolded and asked to cut paper by following verbal instructions. I had to depend only on listening and imagination without seeing my work.

This activity was challenging but meaningful. It taught me that creativity is not only about perfection but about trust, focus, and inner awareness. It also connects with modern literary movements that encourage experimentation and stepping beyond comfort zones.

Through this experience, I learned that art can grow even in uncertainty.

Thread and Color Art

The second activity of our Literature Festival was creating art using thread and colors. In this activity, we dipped thread into paint and placed it on paper to create unique patterns and designs. Each artwork turned out different and unpredictable.

This activity encouraged creativity and experimentation. It showed how simple materials like thread and color can produce beautiful and unexpected results. The process reminded me of Avant-garde art, where experimentation and freedom are more important than perfection.

Through this activity, I learned that art is about imagination, collaboration, and enjoying the creative process.

Thought Sharing Board

In this activity, we were asked to write our thoughts, feelings, or creative lines on small colorful papers and then stick them on the board. Each student expressed something personal, motivational, or philosophical.

This activity encouraged free expression and confidence. It showed how different minds think differently, yet all ideas together created a beautiful collective display. It also connects with Postmodernism, where multiple voices and perspectives are valued.

Through this activity, I learned that even a small thought can have meaning when shared openly.

Abstract Painting

In this painting, I created an abstract design using flowing black and green lines over a blue patterned background. The overlapping curves and grid-like textures represent complexity, movement, and interconnected thoughts. The lines do not follow a fixed structure, which gives the artwork a sense of freedom and spontaneity.

This painting connects with Avant-garde and Modernist art, where experimentation and abstract expression are more important than realistic representation. Through this artwork, I explored how emotions and imagination can be expressed through color, pattern, and form rather than clear figures.

This activity helped me understand that art does not always need to represent reality; sometimes it reflects inner rhythm and creative energy.

This group photograph captures a memorable moment from our Literature Festival. It represents unity, creativity, and shared learning. Each one of us participated in different activities, expressing our ideas through art, writing, and performance.

Conclusion

In this blog, I explored important literary movements such as Expressionism, Surrealism, Modernism, Postmodernism, Dada, and Avant-garde. Each movement reflects a different way of understanding reality, emotion, creativity, and human experience. These movements show how literature changes with time and responds to social, political, and psychological conditions.Through the Literature Festival activities, I was able to connect theory with practice. The blindfold activity, thread art, thought-sharing board, painting, and group participation helped me understand experimentation, imagination, and collective creativity in a practical way.Overall, this blog helped me realize that literature is not only about studying texts but also about experiencing creativity. Literary movements are not just historical concepts; they continue to inspire artistic expression and new ways of thinking even today.

Word Count: 4,780

Works Cited

Abrams, M. H., and Geoffrey Galt Harpham. A Glossary of Literary Terms. 11th ed., Cengage Learning, 2015.

Breton, André. Manifestoes of Surrealism. Translated by Richard Seaver and Helen R. Lane, University of Michigan Press, 1972.

Freud, Sigmund. The Interpretation of Dreams. Translated by James Strachey, Basic Books, 2010.

Hutcheon, Linda. A Poetics of Postmodernism: History, Theory, Fiction. Routledge, 1988.

Levenson, Michael, editor. The Cambridge Companion to Modernism. Cambridge University Press, 2011.

Richter, Hans. Dada: Art and Anti-Art. Thames & Hudson, 1965.

Bürger, Peter. Theory of the Avant-Garde. Translated by Michael Shaw, University of Minnesota Press, 1984.

 Faith and False Consciousness: A Critical Study of Religion

I am writing this blog as part of a critical thinking task assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad. The purpose of this assignment is to engage seriously with the ideas presented in the videos “God is Power” and “Critique of Religion” and to examine how religion operates not only as a matter of faith but also as a structure of power and ideology. Through this blog, I attempt to reflect on the philosophical arguments discussed in the videos and to connect them with theoretical perspectives studied in class. This task encourages analytical thinking and helps in understanding religion from a socio-political and critical framework rather than a purely devotional one.

Video 1: God is Power

The phrase “God is Power” in Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell appears in Part Three during Winston’s interrogation by O’Brien, and it is central to understanding the ideological core of the Party. In an officially atheistic and dystopian society like Oceania, the reference to “God” is striking. The novel mentions God only a few times, and significantly, the explicit equation “God is Power” is articulated by O’Brien and later internalized by Winston after torture. Here, Orwell is not affirming theology but exposing how political authority replaces divinity. O’Brien declares that the Party members are “priests of power,” suggesting that power itself has become sacred. Just as religion historically demanded faith, obedience, confession, and devotion, the Party demands total submission of both body and mind. Winston’s forced acceptance—writing “Freedom is Slavery,” “2 + 2 = 5,” and finally “God is Power”—marks the complete erasure of independent thought. The phrase therefore signifies that power has assumed the role traditionally occupied by God: it defines truth, shapes reality, controls memory, and demands love. Orwell warns that when power becomes absolute, it turns into an object of worship, and political authority begins to function like religion. The equation of God with power thus exposes the danger of totalitarian systems that seek not only to govern actions but to dominate consciousness itself.

 

Video 2: Critique of Religion

The video Critique of Religion encourages a reading of Nineteen Eighty-Four beyond its usual interpretation as merely a political satire. While George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is widely understood as a critique of totalitarian politics, the novel also exposes structural parallels between authoritarian regimes and organized religion, particularly Catholicism. The division of the world into three superstates can be symbolically compared to competing religious systems, suggesting that ideological conflicts—whether political or religious—operate through similar mechanisms of dominance and control.

Big Brother functions as a secular god figure whose omnipresence echoes the idea of an all-seeing deity. The slogan “Big Brother is Watching You” mirrors the theological concept of divine surveillance, but in Orwell’s dystopia this “watching” becomes an instrument of fear rather than protection. Similarly, the ritual of public confession, especially Winston’s torture and forced declaration of love for Big Brother, resembles a distorted sacramental process of sin, penance, and redemption. The Ministry of Love operates like a perverse purgatory where suffering purifies dissent and restores ideological “faith.”

The Party’s hierarchical structure, regulation of sexuality, and demand for absolute devotion further recall religious institutions that value obedience and suppression of individual desire. Orwell’s own skepticism toward organized Christianity, shaped by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War, strengthens this interpretation. Thus, the novel can be read not only as a political warning but also as a critique of any system, religious or political, that transforms power into an object of worship and replaces critical thought with unquestioned belief.

Visualizing the Deification of Power in 1984

📊 SlideDeck: Visual Interpretation of 1984 as a Critique of Religion

The following SlideDeck presents a visual analysis of Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, focusing on the idea that the novel functions not only as a political satire but also as a critique of organized religion. Through structured comparisons, such as Big Brother as a secular deity, the Party as a Church, confession as ritual, and “God is Power” as ideological replacement—the slides illustrate how political authority assumes sacred status in Oceania. This visual presentation supports the argument that Orwell warns against any system that transforms power into an object of worship and replaces critical thinking with blind submission.

the-theology-of-1984-worship-power-and-political-religionfrom sejadchokiya

Humans in the Loop: AI, Labour, and the Politics of Representation

I am writing this blog as part of a thinking activity assigned by Dr. Dilip Barad after the screening of Humans in the Loop. For this task, he provided a detailed worksheet that guided us through pre-viewing preparation, key points to observe during the film, and post-viewing critical reflection. This blog is my response to that structured task, where I attempt to analyze the film using concepts from film studies and cultural theory, especially focusing on AI, labour, representation, and knowledge systems.

Introduction

In the contemporary digital age, Artificial Intelligence is often presented as neutral, intelligent, and independent. However, Humans in the Loop, directed by Aranya Sahay, challenges this dominant narrative by foregrounding the human labour and cultural knowledge that sustain AI systems. The film follows Nehma, an Adivasi woman from Jharkhand, whose entry into AI data-labelling work reveals the hidden connections between technology, identity, and power.Rather than portraying AI as futuristic spectacle, the film situates it within lived realities,family life, ecological knowledge, and marginalized labour. It raises important questions: Who trains machines? Whose knowledge is recognized in digital systems? And what happens when indigenous epistemologies encounter rigid algorithmic categories?This blog critically engages with the film through a structured worksheet provided as part of an academic task. By applying concepts from film studies, such as representation, ideology, mise-en-scène, and labour theory,the analysis aims to explore how the film connects digital culture with issues of bias, visibility, and socio-political inequality.

Pre-Viewing Reflection: Technology, Power, and the World Nehma Inhabits

Before analyzing the cinematic language of Humans in the Loop,

it is essential to understand the socio-technical environment that shapes the protagonist’s reality. The film does not exist in isolation; it emerges from a world structured by global capitalism, digital economies, and unequal knowledge systems. Nehma’s entry into AI data work is not just a personal journey—it is a window into how technology reorganizes labour, visibility, and power.Director Aranya Sahay places the narrative within the broader logic of techno-capitalism, where innovation is celebrated, but the workers sustaining it remain unseen. This pre-viewing reflection, therefore, focuses on three interconnected concerns: the concealed human infrastructure of AI, digital alienation, and the ideological construction of machine intelligence.

 1. The Unseen Human Network Behind Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is often marketed as self-learning and autonomous. Popular discourse suggests that algorithms independently analyze data and make decisions. However, machine learning systems depend on vast amounts of manually labelled data. Behind every automated prediction lies repetitive human input.Workers in economically marginalized regions perform tasks such as tagging images, identifying objects, or correcting outputs. This labour is rarely acknowledged in mainstream technological narratives. The geographic distance between global tech corporations and rural workers creates a hierarchy of visibility and value.By situating its story in Jharkhand rather than in corporate technology hubs, the film redirects attention to this hidden infrastructure. It disrupts the illusion that AI is purely computational. Instead, it suggests that technology is deeply human—constructed, trained, and maintained by people whose names rarely appear in discussions of innovation.Thus, before watching the film, one must recognize that AI is not immaterial intelligence; it is structured by global labour relations.

 2. Cognitive Labour and Digital Dispossession

From a Marxist perspective, digital labour represents a new stage of capitalist extraction. Traditionally, workers sold physical strength in factories. In contemporary digital economies, workers sell perception, attention, and cognitive effort.Nehma’s role as a data labeller illustrates this shift. She contributes her ability to recognize patterns, interpret images, and apply contextual understanding. Yet she has no ownership over the system she helps refine. The algorithms remain corporate property, and the economic profits circulate elsewhere.This condition reflects alienation in a modern form. The worker becomes separated not only from the product but also from the meaning of her labour. The work is repetitive and abstract, disconnected from immediate community benefit. Human intelligence is reduced to micro-tasks.In this way, the film invites viewers to question whether technological progress simultaneously deepens economic inequality. It suggests that in digital capitalism, even knowledge and perception become commodities.

 3. The Manufactured Myth of the Independent Machine

One of the central ideological strategies of the tech industry is the construction of the “autonomous machine.” AI is framed as objective, efficient, and free from human flaws. This narrative increases public trust and market value.However, this autonomy is partly an illusion. The system depends on constant human supervision and correction. If this human presence were made fully visible, the magic of automation would dissolve. Consumers might begin to question the ethical and economic structures supporting these technologies.By foregrounding Nehma’s labour, the film dismantles this myth. It reveals that AI systems are not detached from society but embedded within social hierarchies. The “human in the loop” is not merely a technical necessity—it is evidence of dependency.This reframing transforms AI from a symbol of futuristic advancement into a site of political and ethical debate. The film compels the viewer to confront the reality that behind every smart system lies a network of human lives.

Points to Ponder While Watching

A Close Viewing Guide for Humans in the Loop

While watching the film directed by Aranya Sahay, it is important not to view it only as a story about AI. The film functions on multiple layers—narrative, cultural, visual, and political. The following points help in developing a deeper cinematic and theoretical understanding.

1️⃣ Narrative & Storytelling

🔹 Personal Life Within Algorithmic Systems

The film carefully interweaves Nehma’s domestic world with global technological structures. Her everyday activities—family conversations, rituals, and interactions with nature—are placed alongside repetitive digital labour. This parallel structure shows how global AI systems penetrate intimate spaces.

Notice how narrative shifts occur when labour enters her personal life. Moments that foreground:

• Economic pressure within the family

• Emotional exhaustion from repetitive tasks

• Conflicts between cultural values and algorithmic demands

These narrative turns highlight that AI is not distant or abstract. It directly shapes lived experiences. The storytelling suggests that technological systems are not separate from society; they reorganize it.

🔹 Teaching the Machine: Beyond Technical Language

When Nehma “teaches” AI through data labelling, the film transforms a technical process into a philosophical metaphor. Machine learning appears dependent rather than autonomous.

The “human-machine loop” becomes symbolic:

• The machine depends on human perception.

• The human adapts her understanding to fit machine categories.

• A cycle of negotiation emerges between lived knowledge and programmed structure.

This interaction raises a crucial question: Who is actually learning—the machine or the human adjusting herself to the system?

2️⃣ Representation & Cultural Context

🔹 Depiction of Adivasi Identity

Observe how the film represents Adivasi culture:

• Use of native language in dialogue

• Representation of rituals without exotic framing

• Natural landscapes shown as lived environments, not tourist imagery

The camera does not treat cultural practices as spectacle. Instead, it presents them as part of everyday reality. This grounded representation grants dignity and agency to the community.

🔹 Challenging Dominant Stereotypes

Mainstream media often portrays tribal communities as either primitive or completely detached from technology. The film disrupts this binary.

By placing Nehma at the center of AI production, it suggests:

• Technology is not limited to urban elites.

• Indigenous individuals are active participants in global digital economies.

• Tradition and modernity coexist rather than oppose each other.

Thus, representation becomes a site of resistance against stereotypical narratives.

3️⃣ Cinematic Style & Meaning

Film meaning is not created only through dialogue; it is shaped through visual and auditory language.

🔹 Mise-en-Scène & Cinematography

Pay attention to spatial contrasts:

• Forest scenes: Often framed in wide shots with natural lighting, emphasizing openness and continuity.

• Computer workspace: Tighter frames, cooler tones, and rigid compositions that suggest confinement.

• Ritual scenes: Layered compositions that foreground community and collective presence.

This contrast visually symbolizes two knowledge systems—organic, relational life versus structured, coded digital space.

The placement of screens within frames also matters. Often, Nehma is shown facing the screen, emphasizing the dominance of the technological interface. The framing may create a sense of enclosure, reflecting psychological and economic restriction.

🔹 Sound Design & Editing

Sound plays a crucial role in reinforcing thematic contrast:

• Ambient sounds of wind, birds, and community life create a sensory, immersive atmosphere.

• Digital sounds—mouse clicks, keyboard typing, notification alerts—interrupt natural rhythms.

Editing patterns may alternate between slow-paced rural life and repetitive, almost mechanical sequences of labelling work. This rhythmic shift reinforces the emotional toll of digital labour.

The juxtaposition of these sonic and visual elements creates tension between analog life and digital abstraction.

4️⃣ Ethical & Political Questions

🔹 Ethical Dilemmas in Training AI

When AI systems require culturally specific data, ethical problems arise:

• Can sacred spaces be reduced to neutral categories?

• Does standardization erase spiritual or contextual meanings?

• Who decides the “correct” label for culturally complex realities?

These dilemmas expose the limits of algorithmic thinking.

🔹 The Metaphor of “Human-in-the-Loop”

Technically, the term refers to human supervision within machine learning systems. However, in the film, it carries deeper significance.

• Politically: It reveals how marginalized communities sustain global industries.

• Socially: It reflects dependency of machines on human cognition.

• Culturally: It emphasizes that knowledge cannot be fully automated.

The metaphor suggests that despite narratives of automation, the human remains central—though often invisible.While watching Humans in the Loop, it is essential to observe not just what is shown, but how it is shown. The film uses narrative structure, representation, visual contrast, and sound design to question the neutrality of AI.It invites viewers to reconsider technology not as an isolated innovation but as a cultural system shaped by power, labour, and knowledge hierarchies.

Post-Viewing Reflective Essay

Knowledge, Power, and the Cultural Politics of AI

A Critical Reading of Humans in the Loop

Directed by Aranya Sahay, Humans in the Loop is not merely a film about artificial intelligence or digital labour. It is a layered and intellectually rich exploration of how knowledge is organized, validated, and controlled within technological systems. The film questions the dominant narrative that AI is objective, neutral, and purely technical. Instead, it reveals AI as socially produced, culturally embedded, and ideologically structured.This essay examines how the film represents algorithmic bias and epistemic hierarchy, using concepts from film theory and cultural critique to unpack the political implications of its narrative and cinematic form.

I. Algorithmic Bias as Cultural Construction

Artificial Intelligence is often described in popular discourse as mathematical and therefore impartial. The assumption is that algorithms operate through logic rather than prejudice. However, Humans in the Loop dismantles this assumption by demonstrating that algorithms do not exist independently of human influence. They are created, trained, and refined within specific socio-cultural environments.Through Nehma’s repetitive data-labelling work, the film exposes how machine learning systems depend on predefined categories. Images must be reduced to simplified labels—“forest,” “road,” “vehicle,” or “obstacle.” These categories appear neutral, yet they are rooted in particular cultural frameworks that prioritize functional, extractive, or utilitarian understandings of the world.When Nehma encounters images that hold spiritual or communal meaning within her Adivasi worldview, her hesitation becomes narratively significant. The algorithm does not possess the conceptual vocabulary to recognize sacredness, relational identity, or ancestral connection. It can only process what it has been programmed to acknowledge.

In this way, bias emerges not as a technical malfunction but as epistemological limitation. The machine reflects the worldview of its designers and the datasets it has been fed. The film subtly suggests that what AI “fails” to recognize is not an error in code, but a consequence of whose knowledge has been prioritized during its construction. Algorithmic bias, therefore, is culturally situated.

II. Epistemic Hierarchies: The Politics of Knowing

At the heart of the film lies a conflict between two knowledge systems: computational rationality and indigenous ecological understanding. Nehma embodies lived, experiential knowledge rooted in land, memory, and community. However, within the digital workspace, she is not treated as a knowledge bearer. She is positioned as a functionary whose role is to feed data into a larger system.This dynamic reflects what scholars describe as epistemic hierarchy—the ranking of knowledge systems according to perceived legitimacy. Scientific and technological knowledge is often framed as universal and superior, while indigenous or oral traditions are marginalized as subjective or localized.

The film visualizes this hierarchy through spatial and visual contrast. Scenes set in the forest are expansive, fluid, and immersive. Natural light and wide frames evoke openness and interconnectedness. In contrast, the digital interface is presented through tight framing, boxed grids, and rigid composition. The screen divides reality into segments, symbolizing the compartmentalization of knowledge.By juxtaposing these visual worlds, the film critiques the assumption that technological classification equals progress. It raises an important question: If innovation demands the erasure of alternative epistemologies, can it still be considered advancement? The emotional conflict experienced by Nehma underscores the human cost of epistemic marginalization.

III. Apparatus Theory and Ideological Mediation

Apparatus Theory offers a powerful lens through which to analyze the film’s representation of technology. According to this theory, cinema is not a neutral medium; it shapes spectators’ perception through framing, perspective, and narrative control. The cinematic apparatus positions viewers in particular ideological relationships to what they see.In Humans in the Loop, this idea is mirrored within the narrative itself. The audience observes Nehma interacting with the computer screen. This creates a layered structure of spectatorship: we watch a character who is herself positioned before another apparatus—the algorithmic interface.

Both cinema and AI function as systems of mediation. They frame reality, select what is visible, and organize meaning. By foregrounding the screen within the frame, the film makes spectators aware of this process. It invites viewers to question how technological systems categorize and interpret the world.The AI interface becomes symbolic of broader power relations. It represents the authority of global technological systems that determine what knowledge is valid and what remains invisible. Through its careful framing and narrative structure, the film exposes how representation itself is shaped by ideology.

Thus, technology in the film is not depicted as detached machinery. It is portrayed as an extension of social structures that privilege certain forms of knowledge over others.

IV. Digital Modernity and the Risk of Cultural Erasure

Another significant dimension of the film is its exploration of cultural erasure in the age of digital modernity. Standardized datasets require uniform categories. However, uniformity often comes at the expense of diversity.Nehma’s world is relational and spiritually grounded. It values interconnectedness between humans, land, and ancestors. The algorithmic world, by contrast, operates through extraction and classification. It transforms complex realities into usable data points.

The act of labelling, therefore, becomes symbolic. Each click of the mouse represents negotiation—between economic necessity and cultural integrity, between survival and selfhood. Nehma’s labour is not simply technical; it is existential. She must decide how to translate her world into a language that the machine can understand, even when that language feels inadequate.This dynamic echoes broader concerns about digital coloniality. Historically, colonial systems imposed linguistic and epistemic dominance upon marginalized communities. In a contemporary context, algorithmic systems risk imposing standardized frameworks that flatten cultural specificity.

The film does not present Nehma as anti-technology. Rather, it portrays her struggle against reduction. Her hesitation reveals the violence embedded in forcing rich cultural realities into rigid computational structures.

Conclusion: Reclaiming the “Human” in the Loop

Ultimately, Humans in the Loop argues that AI cannot be separated from the human values, labour, and cultural contexts that sustain it. The phrase “human in the loop” is more than technical terminology. It signals dependency. Machines require human cognition, perception, and judgment.By centering an Adivasi woman within a narrative about artificial intelligence, the film disrupts dominant representations of technology as urban, elite, and detached from marginalized communities. It foregrounds the reality that global technological systems rely on invisible human labour shaped by unequal power relations.Through its narrative structure, visual contrasts, and ideological framing, the film encourages viewers to rethink technology as a contested cultural space rather than an inevitable future. It reminds us that AI systems reflect the knowledge hierarchies embedded within society.The future of artificial intelligence, therefore, will not be determined solely by code. It will depend on whose knowledge is recognized, whose realities are encoded, and whose voices are allowed to shape the technological imagination.