From the Wave and Across the Universe, it shows that new world has the power to create conformity. .
Another unpredictable power of the new world is the loss of individual thinking. People tend to feel better if they have a leader to follow and make decisions for them. Gradually, they will lose their ability of thinking for themselves. For example, in Rhue's novel, The Wave, "His students could spit back answers as if by rote but there was no analysis, no questioning on their part." Mr. Ross finds out less thinking are behind the answers of the students. The word "no" is repeated which emphasizes that no thinking is shown. Students are always asked to give succinct answers which do not encourage deep thinking. Gradually, they lose their individual thoughts. .
This problem is also presented in the film Across the Universe where soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War are forced to kill people blindly. Soon, they lose their thinking and sympathy. Killing becomes their job for their country which is believed to be the right thing to do. Also at the start of the film, Lucy lost her first love when he fought in the Vietnam War. She then becomes really worried when her brother, Max, is sent in. Therefore, she joins the protest group. However, what she doesn't realize is the violence of the group. She lost her individual thinking. There is no difference from the group and the government in the violent way they act. This shows that the power of new world can threaten individual thinking. .
The last power of the new world is brainwashing. People are controlled because their mind is controlled. In The Wave, an anonymous letter from a junior student is sent to Laurie. The letter states how the senior Wave members have been forcing and even threatening them to join by saying "it would be too late." The senior student has already been brainwashed and his mind is occupied by the Wave. Brainwashing also happens to David.
