1984
1984
Overview
Overview
You get to read
1984
!!!
All reading of the book will be
done on your own time.
(Refer to
your calendar to keep you on track.)
Be prepared for a quiz each class (a
total of six) and a discussion around
the events/ideas in your assigned
Overview, cont
Overview, cont
’
’
d.
d.
In addition to
1984
, we will also be
reading several, current
supplementary articles.
We will be examining how the ideas
within the book relate to modern
culture.
Every third class (for a total of three
Overview, cont
Overview, cont
’
’
d
d
A Socratic what?
In a Socratic Circle, there are actually
two
circles.
◦ The outer circle initially begins the conversation while the inner circle
listens.
◦ The inner circle critiques the outer circle’s responses
◦ The two groups switch places and repeat the process.
Overview, cont
Overview, cont
’
’
d.
d.
During this unit, you will be graded
based on three areas:
◦ Quiz grades
Worth approximately 90 points
◦ Participation in Socratic Circles
You should be prepared for each circle; you should
have completed a close reading of the text and the corresponding articles. (Take notes!)
You should have some original insights into how
the two relate, compare/contrast, etc.
You need to actively participate—sharing your
ideas as well as constructively critiquing the other circle’s ideas.
You will stay on topic and be mature and
respectful.
Any Questions?
SO, WHY DO I HAVE
SO, WHY DO I HAVE
Take out a piece of paper and
Take out a piece of paper and
rate the following:
rate the following:
SCALE
Agree
Disagree
1. You can control
people’s actions but not their
thoughts.
2. You can change
the past.
3. Ignorance is
strength.
4. War is peace. 5. Freedom is
Rate these:
Rate these:
SCALE
Agree
Disagree
6.
Don’t make
waves where the
government is
concerned.
7.
The power
propaganda has
over people
increases in
direct proportion
to how
And these…
And these…
SCALE
Agree
Disagree
8. Rebelling against the system
always entails risk 9. Nothing exists
except through human
consciousness.
10. Ignorance is bliss. 11. Government use
George who?
George who?
1984
was written by George Orwell.
Real name: Eric Blair
Born in 1903 in Bengal, India (a
British territory)
Attended fashionable preparatory
school but did poorly.
Turned to a career in the colonial
Ah…
Ah…
Did well at his job but generally
disliked it.
Eventually resigned.
Decided to”shun” anything that
reminded him of the unjust
system he had served.
Georgy Porgy Puddin
Georgy Porgy Puddin
’
’
and
and
Pie…
Pie…
Orwell was a socialist. (SURPRISE!)
Married Eileen O’Shaughnessy
Moved to Spain with Eileen to observe
and fight in the Spanish Civil War.
◦ Nationalist forces vs. General Franco (supported by Hitler and Mussolini)
◦ Orwell fought with the former gov’t forces
Orwellian…
Orwellian…
Wrote
Animal Farm
in 1943-44 as an
allegorical critique of Russian
communism.
Wife died.
Completed his final novel,
1984
,
while in a hospital.
Reflects and contains Orwell’s past
while projecting his vision of the
future
What is a dystopian
What is a dystopian
novel?
novel?
The
utopia
and its offshoot, the
dystopia
, are genres of literature that
explore social and political structures.
Dystopian fiction
is a negative
utopia. They are generally devoid of
optimism and self-confidence of their
predecessors.
They give voice to the
hopelessness
So, what
So, what
’
’
s Orwell
s Orwell
’
’
s
s
problem?
problem?
Orwell had witnessed many wars and was
cynical of both war and politics.
Totalitarianism [definition to follow] was an
absolute horror in Orwell’s mind.
◦ “The implied objective of this line of thought is a nightmare world in which the Leader, or some ruling clique, controls not only the future but THE PAST. If the Leader says of such and such an event, 'It never happened'--well, it never happened. If he says that two and two are five--well, two and two are five. This prospect frightens me
much more than bombs--and after our experiences of the last few years that is not a frivolous
First Things First: Vocabulary
First Things First: Vocabulary
Economic
Economic
Systems
Systems
Capitalism Socialism
In a capitalist
economy, private
individuals/companies are allowed private
ownership of production.
In a socialist economy
the worker owns the production means and rights to resources.
**Notice these are both types of economic
Huh?
Huh?
Basically, capitalism and
socialism are two different ways
of setting up businesses in a
given country. Its all a matter of
who
owns
the businesses and
But What About the
But What About the
Commies?
Commies?
An economic and social structure that
advocates complete public ownership of production and allocation of resources. Communism is by far the
most intertwined with political control of classes, wages, and policies to eliminate poverty or wealth gaps. Communism is considered more of a political expansion of the economic system of socialism and has been in the past portrayed as an
So, what
So, what
’
’
s all the fuss
s all the fuss
about?
about?
TOTALITARIANISM -- Totalitarianism
is an ideology that believes in total
political power to be in the hands of
a single person or a particular class.
Does not recognize the rights of the
individuals
Places
no
restrictions on the
authority of the state
This political system is close to
How does that work?
How does that work?
Suppresses opposition through
the following means:
◦
the charisma of a single person
(leader)
◦
false propaganda
◦
ruthless use of brute state power
◦
state terrorism
◦
mass surveillance
Examples of Totalitarian
Examples of Totalitarian
Governments
Governments
Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler
