Technological advances have been used to modernize our lives, but that same technology can alienate members of society from each other and even alienate individuals from themselves . Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 explores the use of technological progress as an instrument of government censorship and population control. To fully understand the message of Fahrenheit 451, it is important to understand the social and political climate of the United States after World War II. One author suggests that this book "is discussed in terms of global issues as a whole while being primarily tied to the reality of early 1950s America" ​​(Zipes). At that time, the McCarthy trials, which questioned citizens' loyalty to the United States and censorship, were a major issue. There was also concern about the threat of war and the rise of military technology for waging war, the reliance on television for information and, finally, the anger and discontent of the younger generation. Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 fits into a literary genre considered dystopian in that he “…wanted to warn readers against cultural changes that he feared would lead to ruin” (Brown). All dystopian literature is political (Zipes). Additionally, Bradbury uses a science fiction (science fiction) format “…which allows him to exaggerate, intensify and expand the scientific, technological and social conditions of a current real situation to the point more extreme while convincing the reader that everything that happens in the fantasy world is achievable in the distant future (Zipes). Thus, the book constitutes a severe critique of the social and political context of the 1950s as well as a warning to future generations. It is set in a futuristic 24th century world...... middle of paper ...... 1953. Print.Brown, Joseph F. "As the Constitution Says: Distinctive Documents in Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 ." Literary Resource Center (fall 2008): 55+. Literary Resource Center. Internet. February 8, 2011.Johnson, Wayne L. “Machineries of Joy and Sorrow: Rockets, Time Machines, Robots, Man Versus Machine, Orwellian Tales, Fahrenheit.” » Rep. In Modern Critical Views: Fahrenheit 451 Ed. by Ray Bradbury. Harold Bloom. Broom: Chelsea House, 2001. 17-19. Print. Lancto, Craig. “Banned Books” World & 1, Vol 8 (September 2003): 258. Literature Online Reference Edition. Internet. February 7, 2011.Mogen, David. Ray Bradbury. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1986. Print.Zipes, Jack. “Massive degradation of humanity and massive contradictions in Bradbury's vision of America in Fahrenheit 451.” Contemporary literary criticism. Flight. 98. (1997): n. page. Literary Resource Center. Internet. February 8. 2011.