On the surface—novel tells the story of a futuristic society controlled by a police state and governed by the all-seeing Big Brother. It’s a cautionary tale of the use and misuse of power and technology. 1
A dystopian novel, looking pessimistically at our future. The novel, published in 1949, has become a part of common language, with terms like “Big Brother” used when people like Edward Snowden reveal the over-reaching powers of our government. 2
In 1983 Apple Steve Jobs read the following story before showcasing a preview of a commercial he planned to run during the Super Bowl: "It is now It appears IBM wants it all. Apple is perceived to be the only hope to offer IBM a run for its money. Dealers initially welcoming IBM with open arms now fear an IBM dominated and controlled future. They are increasingly turning back to Apple as the only force that can ensure their future freedom. IBM wants it all and is aiming its guns on its last obstacle to industry control: Apple. Will Big Blue dominate the entire computer industry? The entire information age? Was George Orwell right about 1984?” ( "1983 Apple Keynote: The "1984" Ad Introduction". YouTube. April 1, Retrieved January 22, 2014)"1983 Apple Keynote: The "1984" Ad Introduction"YouTube 3
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Power Point Research Project for E12 6
Orwell, the political reformist 7
“ Every line of serious work I have written since 1936 has been written directly or indirectly against totalitarianism and for democratic socialism, as I understand it” (Stanley235). 8
Totalitarianism Definition: when the state holds total authority over the society and controls all aspects of public and private life. Democratic Socialism Definition: The combination of a democratic political system with a socialist economic system. King was a famous example (Sekou). 9
Wrote 1984 in 1948 shortly after end of WWII. One of England’s allies was Russia, which was ruled by Stalin. Stalin was famous for midnight purges where he’d round up hundreds of citizens at a time and murder them in deserted areas. Time period also included: Hitler, Mao Tse-Tung (China), Franco (Spain) and Mussolini (Italy) 10
In Orwell’s world, these real leaders all controlled citizens with propaganda and violence This “prompted Orwell to create Big Brother, the ultimate totalitarian leader who dominates all political, social, and economic activates” in his novel (Stanley 242). 11
1984 Leader worship: Big Brother Joycamps Thought Police Youth League Nazi Germany Leader worship: Hitler Concentration camps Gestapo Hitler Youth 12
He saw the “extensive and institutional use of propaganda in the regimes of Hitler and Stalin,” and drew inspiration from this for his novel, 1984 (Charles’ George Orwell Links). 13
Nazi Germany “Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels: If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it” (Aaronovitch) “The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became truth” (Orwell 73). 14
Nazi Germany “Reich Marshal Hermann Goring during the Nuremberg Trials: The people will always do the bidding of their leaders. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked…it works the same in every country” (Aaronovitch) “The rocket bombs which fell on London were probably fired by the government of Oceania itself, just to keep the people frightened” (Orwell 153). 15
“Orwell’s novel is a study of every possible way a nation can be beaten down by its government: spiritually, physically, intellectually, by the media, torture, surveillance, and censorship, to the point where the state can manipulate reality at will” (Grossman). 16
Aaronovitch, David. “1984: George Orwell’s Road to Dystopia.” BBC News Magazine. 8 February 2013.Web. 8 April Charles’ George Orwell Links. Orwellweb.com Web. 8 April Grossman, Lev. “1984.” Time. 16 October Web. 8 April Sekou, Osagyefo Uhuru “The radical gospel of Martin Luther King”. Al Jazeera America. 20 January Web. 9 April Stanley, Deborah A. Ed. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale Research, Print. 17