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Monday 27 April 2015

Bureau of Visual Records


   In ‘A Change of Mind,’ when it comes to Number 6’s complaints {not his own complaints of which he has several, but those and the charge which has been levelled against him} the accusation of Number 6’s disharmony stems not from Number 18-the Chairman of the Committee, but from a voice from a tape player! It’s the same voice which feeds Number 93 the words of his confession.
   “They’re right of course. Quite right. I’m inadequate, inadequate. Disharmonious, I’m truly grateful, believe me, believe me, believe me.”
   During Number 6’s interview with the Committee, although the tape player is switched on by the Chairman, it is suggested the voice emanates from the machine and seems to be independent. In other words the voice reacts to what Number 6 says, or is it the other way around, seeing as Number 6 appears to be speaking to the voice of the machine, rather than to the members of the Committee.
   No.6 “I take it you’ve checked my file…regarding hostility.”
   Voice on the tape “Your files are no concern to us. Any information is with Number Two.”
    “Really.”
    Number 18 Committee Chairman “It is the duty of this Committee to deal with complaints.”
    “Complaints?”
    Voice on the tape “Your complaints.”
    “Your complaints.”
    “Well done, I have several!”
    “You realise the serious charge has been levelled against you, particularly your attitude towards your fellow citizens. We deplore your spirit of disharmony”
    “That’s a common complaint around here isn’t it?”
    Chairman “I would council discretion Number Six!”
    Voice on the tape “You do appreciate that everything you say is being recorded.”
    “And may be used as evidence against me!”
    “This is a strictly impartial Committee.”
    Chairman “Number Six you are not called before this Committee to defend yourself.”
    “All we ask is for your complete confession.”
    Chairman “I’m sure you will co-operate Number Six. Gentlemen its time. I think we are more than ready for a tea break. The Group and medical reports will be considered in full at the resumed hearing of this Committee.”
   Just a minute, during part of this scene the striking of the bell in the Bell Tower can be heard. But the Committee Chamber is well below ground, so how is this possible? Unless its with the voice on the tape, which means the voice was recorded, if it is a recorded voice we hear, was recorded somewhere out of doors. And there’s one other small matter. At the outset of the interview with Number 6, the Chairman presses a button on a control panel effectively switching on the tape recorder. But the voice, which is suggested to come from the tape recorder is heard to speak before the tape recorder is switched on. So it’s a disembodied voice which emanates from another source. Because it’s impossible for a recorded voice to emanate from the tape and react to what Number 6 is saying. The tape recorder is simply doing what the disembodied voice said, recording everything Number 6 says. So from where is the voice coming? There is no black loudspeaker on display, but there must be one. Perhaps the voice is a live feed via a microphone, and because of the sound of the chiming of the bell, the man must be somewhere outside in The Village. But the question is, why the voice at all? After all the voice says nothing the Committee Chairman could not say!

Be seeing you

4 comments:

  1. The confession number 93 makes is one of the best moments in the series for me. The flat, mechanical quality of the tape recorded voice makes that and the council scene particularly unsettling and oppressive. It's very confusing but so effective I'm willing to forgive the inconsistency. I think it's another one of those things which was thrown in just to confuse things and create a disturbing atmosphere. Without it the council scene could have been a bit dull, although number 18 is pretty good.

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    1. Hello Mandergrillionbisadestrom,
      Good to read from you, and thank you for taking time to comment.
      You are right, the scene of Number 93's confession is oppressive, because he is told what to say. But it appears that confession is good for the soul, because the next time we see Number 93, he is one of the delegates of the assembly. He reads out the charge against Number 48.
      Yes, the disembodied voice of the tape recorder does create a disturbed atmosphere, almost 'Big Brother' like.

      Very best regards
      David
      BCNU

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  2. Yes, that awful moment in 1984 is definitely something it strongly reminds me of. "You are the dead"...

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    Replies
    1. Hello Mandergrillionbisadestrom,
      It's been many years since I either read the book, or watched the film '1984.' But compared to Air Strip One, in Oceania The Village is Shangri-La!

      Very kind regards
      David
      BCNU

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