1984 George Orwell

Rijalda Dizdarević

About the author...

- real name Eric Blair, pseudonym George Orwell- born in India (1903-1950)- won scholarship to Eton (didn’t go to university)- served as a police officer in India- fought in Spanish Civil War- was against British Imperialism- a writer for BBC during WWII- strongly opossed Stallin and H.- democratic socialist- wrote 9 major books and 700 essays/articles

“Those who control the past, control the future...”

“From the totalitarian point of view, history is something to be created rather than learned.”

G.Orwell

About the book (1984): SETTING AND GENRE:

- futuristic novel, dystopia, SF- published in 1949- setting: London (Oceania)- totalitarian state controls every aspect of life- perceived leader and dictator: BIG BROTHER- The Party – a group rulling the coutry- Oceania, Eurasia, Eastasia (constantly in war with each other)- inspiration: totalitarian states of Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler (1933-45) and the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin (1924-53)

Posters of BB’s face appear everywhere in public and bear the message:

1984: Major CharactersWinston Smith: low-ranking member of the rulling

Party. He works at the Ministry of Truth.

Julia: Winston’s 20-year-old lover. She loves sex which is against Big Brother laws. She works at the Ministry of Love.

The Party: ruling caste of Oceania.

Big Brother: perceived ruller of Oceania. He is a combination of Hitler and Stalin.

O’Brien: a mysterious and sophisticated member of Inner Party who Winston believes is a member of The Brotherhood- a secret underground group of Anti-Party rebels.

“Despotic governments can stand 'moral force' till the cows come home; what they fear is physical force.” ― George Orwell

Winston and Julia- they fell in love with each

other

- both hated the Party and wanted to “escape” from totalitarian society in which they lived

- together began to rebel against the Party in secret

- their suspicious thougths were discovered and they were subjected to a severe torture and pain

- In the end they recognized that they “defeated themselves. They love Big Brother.”

Are individuals able to change sth in society???

Totalitarianism vs revolutionaries

Big Brother saw you!!! ;)

Julia in warries...

Winston and

Torture chamber (101 Room)

CIVIL GOVERNMENT IN 1984

The Ministry of Truth

The Ministry of Peace

The Ministry of Love

The Ministry of Plenty

- purpose: to rewrite history and change the facts to fit Party doctrine.

(LIES)

- responsible for provoking wars

(WAR)

- ministry of torture, fear, repressivenesss, brainwashing, punishements.

(TORTURE)

- overseas public access to goods, food and supplies.

(STARVATION)

Key “Orwellian” TermsSlogans – sayings that convey populist messages

Newspeak – the language spoken in Oceania

Doublethink – the act of holding two contradictory believes

Thought Crime – illegal thoughts

Thought Police – organization that monitors citizens

Junior Anti-Sex League – fanatical group against sex as a pleasure

Yunior League – indoctrination of the youth (child spies)

PR

OPA

GA

ND

A - to convince large numbers of people about the authenticity of given ideas - delivers messages to produce emotional rather than rational response

- misuse: fear, statements of prejudice, black and white fallacies etc...

Propaganda: Demonization of Enemies

“Bush is an obstacle in securing peace in Middle East”

Bashar al- Assad

Doublethink & Doublespeak Today

America's Interests (Newspeak) Justification for foreign interventions on the grounds that 'national defense' includes 'defense' of the farthest reaches of the empire.United Nations (Doublethink) A warring faction of dissolved nations.

War Hero (newspeak) One who kills another, for no reason other than he was told to do so by a third party.

smart devices (newspeak) Devices smart enough to spy on you for the government or special interests.

Arab Spring (doublethink) A mass protest for liberation by many Arab countries, that was used by the U.S. and U.N. for regime changes all across the Arab world.Free Elections (newspeak) Elections held with the appearance of choice. Even though there are only 2 choices usually.

"A brand for a company is like a reputation for a person. You earn reputation by trying to do hard things well.“ Jeff Bezos

Say cheeseee

Quote:

"The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not

interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in

power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness; only

power, pure power....We are different from all the oligarchies

of the past in that we know what we are doing.... Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not

establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes the revolution in order to establish the

dictatorship....” (1984, p. 217)

Cell phones, laptops, Facebook, Skype, chat-rooms: all allow the NSA to build what it calls ‘a pattern of life’, a detailed profile of a target and anyone associated with them.

Thank u!