1984 George Orwell George Orwell. “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity

19841984

George OrwellGeorge Orwell

“Political language is

designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable,

and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”

- George Orwell

George Orwell – 1903 - 1950George Orwell – 1903 - 1950

Born in IndiaBorn in India

Eric BlairEric Blair

Educated in EnglandEducated in England

Imperial PoliceImperial Police Shaped by India/BurmaShaped by India/Burma Aware of injusticeAware of injustice Motivation to writeMotivation to write


Anarchist turned socialistAnarchist turned socialist

Fought against FrancoFought against Franco

BBC propagandistBBC propagandist


Animal Farm (1945)Animal Farm (1945) A protest against Stalin A protest against Stalin

1984 1984 (1949)(1949) Reaction to post WWII Reaction to post WWII

Died in 1950 of TBDied in 1950 of TB

Why Read Why Read 1984?1984?

It is as relevant today as it was 60 years It is as relevant today as it was 60 years agoagoThemes that we all can relate to:Themes that we all can relate to: Government controlGovernment control Privacy and FreedomPrivacy and Freedom Human RightsHuman Rights Abuse of PowerAbuse of Power Power of LanguagePower of Language Propaganda and MediaPropaganda and Media

19841984 in our popular culture in our popular culture

David Bowie’s song:David Bowie’s song: Inspired by the novelInspired by the novel Written in 1973Written in 1973 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH9WnSOISv0http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH9WnSOISv0 Someday they won't let you, so now you must agree Someday they won't let you, so now you must agree

The times they are a-telling, and the changing isn't free The times they are a-telling, and the changing isn't free You've read it in the tea leaves, and the tracks are on TV You've read it in the tea leaves, and the tracks are on TV Beware the savage jaw Beware the savage jaw Of 1984 Of 1984

19841984 still in our popular culture still in our popular culture

Steve Jobs introducing the MacSteve Jobs introducing the Mac Shown only once: January 22, 1984Shown only once: January 22, 1984 Super Bowl airingSuper Bowl airing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tWvmk4Yhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tWvmk4Y

0gw0gw


In 2000 the showIn 2000 the show

Big BrotherBig Brother debuted debuted

The show’s basis is The show’s basis is having people under having people under constant watchconstant watch

Based on the novel’s Based on the novel’s premisepremise

Orwell’s estate sued Orwell’s estate sued CBS over the nameCBS over the name


Musicians refer to the novel frequentlyMusicians refer to the novel frequently

A few examples:A few examples: Radiohead: “2 + 2 = 5”Radiohead: “2 + 2 = 5” Rage Against the Machine: “Who controls the Rage Against the Machine: “Who controls the

past now, controls the future / Who controls past now, controls the future / Who controls the present now controls the past“ (“Testify”)the present now controls the past“ (“Testify”)

Incubus – “Come one come all into 1984” Incubus – “Come one come all into 1984” (“Talk Show on Mute”)(“Talk Show on Mute”)

Some more factsSome more facts

Published in 1949Published in 1949

Still a worldwide best-sellerStill a worldwide best-seller

Voted in the UK Guardian as most Voted in the UK Guardian as most “definitive” novel of the 20“definitive” novel of the 20thth century century

The Dystopian The Dystopian 19841984 society society

a flawless totalitarian societya flawless totalitarian society

the individual is of literally no the individual is of literally no significancesignificance

Why read about dystopias?Why read about dystopias?

The critic Bernard Richards once said The critic Bernard Richards once said “dystopias are useful; they warn us about “dystopias are useful; they warn us about what might happenwhat might happen”. ”.

Why read about dystopias?Why read about dystopias?

We like to read about death and We like to read about death and corruption, as long as we know that it can't corruption, as long as we know that it can't happen to us. happen to us.

But is that really true?But is that really true? Could it really happen to us?Could it really happen to us? Dystopian novels are not science fiction in Dystopian novels are not science fiction in

that they have plots where the scenario that they have plots where the scenario CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN!CAN ACTUALLY HAPPEN!

Two basic premises to the form:Two basic premises to the form:

Nasty Things Happen but Everything Turns Nasty Things Happen but Everything Turns out Right. out Right.

Nasty Things Happen but Despite Nasty Things Happen but Despite Everyone's Best Efforts the Establishment Everyone's Best Efforts the Establishment Wins.Wins.

The IndividualThe Individual

LowLow UniformUniform PowerlessPowerless ObedientObedient Individuality is stamped outIndividuality is stamped out

The Nature of POWERThe Nature of POWER

An individual corrupt dictator or a corrupt An individual corrupt dictator or a corrupt governmental entitygovernmental entity

Absolute control over citizensAbsolute control over citizens Freedom is crushedFreedom is crushed No civil libertiesNo civil liberties No rightsNo rights No voiceNo voice

Communication and LanguageCommunication and Language

Almost non-existentAlmost non-existent MeaninglessMeaningless Artificial Artificial unnaturalunnatural In In 1984 1984 English vocabulary gets English vocabulary gets smallersmaller every every

year. year.

Communication and LanguageCommunication and Language

One can control thoughts through communicationOne can control thoughts through communication Less language leaves no room for connotation or Less language leaves no room for connotation or

doubt: the meaning is pure denotationdoubt: the meaning is pure denotation Without nuance in language, there can be no Without nuance in language, there can be no

creative thoughtcreative thought Without connotation there can be no subversive Without connotation there can be no subversive

thought.thought. The individual cannot express himself because he The individual cannot express himself because he

doesn’t have the words to do so, hence he is doesn’t have the words to do so, hence he is thoughtless.thoughtless.

General form, etc.General form, etc.

FictionFiction

Winston is the protagonist Winston is the protagonist

Written in third person omniscientWritten in third person omniscient We are in Winston’s mind and are privy to his We are in Winston’s mind and are privy to his

thoughts. His unique perspectivethoughts. His unique perspective

Set in London – constant wartimeSet in London – constant wartime

Orwell’s writingOrwell’s writing

Simple without a lot of “flourish”Simple without a lot of “flourish”

Difficult concepts but straightforward Difficult concepts but straightforward dictiondiction

Tone is dismal, gloomy, matter of fact – so Tone is dismal, gloomy, matter of fact – so Orwell allows us to experience Winston’s Orwell allows us to experience Winston’s worldworld

Orwell’s writing tips:Orwell’s writing tips:

Politics and the English LanguagePolitics and the English Language He berates writers for:He berates writers for:

Pretentious dictionPretentious diction

Meaningless wordsMeaningless words

Orwell’s tips #1Orwell’s tips #1

Never use a metaphor, simile, or other Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech which you are used to figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. seeing in print.


Never use a long word where a short word Never use a long word where a short word will do will do


If it is possible to cut a word out, always If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. cut it out.


Never use the passive where you can use Never use the passive where you can use the active. the active.


Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon word if you can think of word, or a jargon word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent. an everyday English equivalent.


Break any of these rules sooner than say Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright barbarousanything outright barbarous

Original New York Times reviewOriginal New York Times review

http://http://www.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/col-nytwww.netcharles.com/orwell/articles/col-nyt1984.htm1984.htm

Miscellaneous Miscellaneous

Privacy today?Privacy today?

Who is watching you?Who is watching you?

Why?Why?

Documents

1984 George Orwell George Orwell. “Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity