M#241508157

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Kenyatta University *

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INTERNATIO

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Political Science

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Nov 24, 2024

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Surname 1 Student's surname Professor's name Course Date Trading Freedom for Security Keller examines how the graphic novel and film version of "V for Vendetta" can be interpreted as a critique of totalitarian regimes. He argues that the film and novel both contain a clear message critical of totalitarian regimes, but each has its unique way of communicating the message. Freedom is exchanged for security in the article because Keller argues that free societies are more likely to become totalitarian to maintain their security. However, he also points out that democracies are also known to be oppressive. Keller uses instances from history to show how different countries use different tactics to maintain their security, which could be interpreted as either anti-democratic or pro-democratic, depending on a person's perspective. Keller justifies his actions by saying that if people are not willing to accept freedom in exchange for security, they have no right to live. Therefore, it is essential to examine why people trade freedom for security, whether people from V's world exchanged their freedom, the use of propaganda in V's world, and how popular culture play a role in the exchange of freedom for security. The article centers around an unnamed protagonist, "V," who forms a resistance movement against the British government after they take away his freedom. The story takes place in an alternate version of Great Britain, where the Nazis won World War II, and Winston Churchill is killed during a bombing raid on London. During the story, V becomes increasingly

Surname 2 disillusioned with his role as a leader of this resistance movement and begins questioning whether people should be free at all ( Keller 7). He also realizes that he is being used by those who have been controlling him since childhood, so he decides to end their rule by taking his own life. Today, many people believe they need security over freedom because they fear what will happen if they do not have it. However, many others believe freedom should be given back because they want more control over their lives. The article argues that people trade freedom for security by living under a government willing to protect them from danger and violence. The author notes a historical precedent for this relationship between security and freedom. During the Cold War, people worldwide were offered the choice of living under communist or capitalist governments, which gave them greater security in exchange for less freedom ( Keller 33). On the other hand, today, many Americans continue to choose security over freedom by voting for politicians who promise them more government control over their lives and less personal responsibility for their actions. Therefore, people trade freedom for security to be safe from any danger. The character V did not exchange freedom for security. In the article, V does not fear being caught by the authorities. The fact that he has never been arrested or convicted for any crimes speaks volumes about how much freedom he has enjoyed over his lifetime ( Keller 72). He can move around freely within London and even use public transportation without worrying about being discovered by police officers or other government officials. Therefore, it is evident that although V has a hard life, he does not exchange his freedom for security, Propaganda was used in V's world to restrict freedom. In this case, propaganda was spread through films and graphic novels to control people's thoughts. In V for Vendetta, there are many instances where propaganda is used to control people's minds. For instance, V argues that

Surname 3 he would continue fighting for freedom even though an atomic bomb had hit England ( Keller 62). Therefore, this was his way of convincing people that they needed to fight against oppression, even if it meant sacrificing their lives. In V for Vendetta, propaganda is used to restrict freedom. In this article, Keller discusses how the use of propaganda in V's world is contrasted with that of modern-day Britain, where it has been abolished. In the film and graphic novel, V has created a society built on fear and suspicion. People are afraid of their neighbors because they are branded as terrorists; police officers are armed with guns instead of batons, and people are required to wear masks at all times ( Keller 41). This type of propaganda was used in V's world to restrict freedom so that people could not challenge the system if it were not working for them. In contrast, today's Britain has eliminated propaganda from its government and institutions, which allows individuals to question the actions of elected officials without fear of reprisal from the government. Past historical events have caused Americans to trade freedom for security. The most influential event in American history that caused Americans to trade freedom for security was the September 11 th attacks ( Olmsted 29). In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, over half of Americans surveyed felt they needed more government protection against terrorism and less freedom of expression. However, over time, Americans have realized that their government has been incapable of protecting them from terrorism, and free speech must remain protected. As such, polls show that Americans are now nearly evenly split on whether or not they believe their rights should be limited because of terrorism and terror. Keller argues that popular culture played a role in shaping the idea of freedom for security. He states the trade occurred when the United States released its prisoners during World War II and that many of those released into society became radicalized by their experience

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Surname 4 ( Keller 57). Keller's argument is supported by his discussion of how comic books helped to shape the idea of freedom for security. He notes that comics are based on real-world events, meaning they can impact society through their use of these events as inspiration or source material. This is an essential argument because it provides evidence that comics affect people's lives beyond just entertainment value; they can also be used to manipulate people's emotions. Therefore, the book expresses Keller's beliefs about what is right and wrong in society. He believes that the government's ability to control people through coercion is immoral and oppressive; therefore, he attempts to use violence against them by any means necessary. Keller justifies his actions by saying that if people are unwilling to accept freedom in exchange for security, they have no right to live.

Surname 5 Works Cited Keller, James R. V for Vendetta as Cultural Pastiche: a critical study of the graphic novel and film . McFarland, 2008. Olmsted, Kathryn S. Real Enemies: Conspiracy theories and American democracy, World War I to 9/11 . Oxford University Press, 2019.

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