A new wonderful world

Published in 1932, “The New Wonderful World” by Aldous Huxley is one of the most appreciated and penetrating works of literature of the 20th century. The novel, held at the science fiction convention, was hailed as one of the two most famous literary anti-utopias alongside George Orwell's 1984. On the one hand, deeply moving, on the other, controversial themes — pervasive control, the impact of technology on man, consumerism, the crisis of values, freedom and individualism of the individual — make the novel invariably a mirror reflection of reality while remaining frighteningly current.

In “A Wonderful New World,” Huxley describes a futuristic London and a civilization of pleasure driven by technology. Thanks to scientific progress, society consistently pursues mankind's dream of universal bliss, freedom from worries and an abundance of material goods. The existence of citizens is limited to the present. Knowledge of the past, like reflection on the future, is forbidden. So what does life look like?

In 2541, the citizens of the Republic of the World are created by artificial insemination and cloning. From infancy, they are subjected to comprehensive conditioning in order to become part of a caste community composed of human automatons devoid of higher feelings in mature age. The “great world” is dominated by sex, primitive entertainment and the drug “soma” being the only recipe for happiness. People seemingly seem to be happy and do not rebel against power. Or at least they don't let it be known that they have any emotions. This is because all passions and feelings — such as love, hate, heroism, or sacrifice — are mocked, condemned, and considered shameful because they pose a potential threat to social stability. This illusory paradise on earth, however, will tremble when a rebellious stranger arrives in London. Will the people of the Republic begin to question the principles underlying a seemingly utopian society?

Reviews:

“A wonderful new world.” On Controlling Humanity at the Osterwy Theatre in Lublin, Piotr Zaremba

Monkey factory, dog factory, wildlife reserve, Tomasz Domagała

Strobe lights are used in the performance.