Big Brother - Definition and Overview

Big Brother may refer to:

• Big Brother, any omnipresent, seemingly benevolent figure representing the oppressive control over individual lives exerted by an authoritarian government. A reference to:
  • Big Brother (1984), the leader of Oceania in Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, about a repressive regime which constantly watches its citizens, and:
    • by generalisation, a term for video surveillance
    • also the name of a yearly negative award for particularly hideous acts against personal privacy
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, a voluntary organization that mentors youth. No overtly negative connotation and not associated with the previous references.
• Big Brother, a reality television series (also Big Brother UK, Big Brother Australia, Big Brother USA) The only association with 1984 is the fact that the shows feature constant surveillance of the participants.
• Big Brother, the UK record label of Oasis refers to Oasis member Noel Gallagher, 'big brother' of bandmate Liam Gallagher.
• Big Brother and the Holding Company, a band from San Francisco's psychedelic era, best known for its most famous lead singer, Janis Joplin
• "Big Brother", a song by Stevie Wonder which appeared on the album Talking Book
• "Big Brother", a song by David Bowie which appeared on the album "Diamond Dogs"