A V For Vendetta Campaign?

Following on from the posts by both DK and Jackart, I've been thinking a lot about how authoritarianism is represented in popular culture. Which leads to a long, ponderous post that I really can't be bothered to write at the moment and is probably a little bit too much for a Sunday anyway.

But another idea occurred to me. I'm not entirely behind the LPUK campaign to send every MP a copy of 1984, but really think it would be good if they all read a copy of V For Vendetta. Seriously, think about it - it has some immediate advantages over other dystopian works:

- It is set in an identifiable version of the UK, and the leader - Adam Susan - is a dour, grey man unable to foster or build any real relationships with other people. For anyone in the Labour party, that piece of characterisation should be immediately recognisable.

- It is a collection of words and pictures, meaning even the more simple minded or attention short of MPs will be able to make it through at least some of the novels

- It is also quite "cool", so the likes of Cameron and the other Vanity Fair leaders of the Tory party might well ready a copy so they can cite it in interviews to show how "down with the kids" they are (and it will make a nice change from them always talking about how they listen to The Smiths in interviews)

- And above all, it would show them what happens to politicians if they allow the slide into an authoritarian dystopia to continue. 1984 ends with the image of a man broken by the state. V For Vendetta shows that people may yet fight back.

I'm not going to start a campaign to get everyone to read this book or send it to their MPs - what with their expenses and free copies of 1984, those fuckers have enough freebies. If you do want to show your friends - or indeed learn for yourself - what all the fuss is about, then pick up a copy of V For Vendetta. And I'd go with the graphic novel, rather than the film. And if you do happen to be in a position of power in this country, go read V For Vendetta. Just see what you make of it...