From Goodreads
Animal Farm
George Orwell
Animal Farm is a brilliant book. It's a timely allegory for what happens when demagoguery takes over and when idealism without an anchor in reality promises utopian society with a major overhaul. I prefer this book to 1984 primarily because of its simplicity and the fact it doesn't ramble on unnecessarily. The conclusion is never really in doubt. Utopia starts crumbling immediately. I recommend everyone to pick it up again and read it without being forced to by a teacher.
Showing posts with label Orwell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Orwell. Show all posts
Sunday, May 12, 2019
Sunday, May 14, 2017
1984 - First Reading
I'm not quite sure how I went my whole life without having been forced to read this book or having not picked it up on my own considering both its stats as a classic and how much I love Animal Farm. But given its resurgence in the wake of a Trump election and the renewed interest in Far Right political movements I thought I might give it a go. To be utterly honest. I found a lot of it boring and underwhelming as story. As a political ideology piece it's fascinating; but, there is quite a bit to be desired in the overall novel aspect.
The term Orwellian has been tossed at Trump and his supporters a lot since the election. I don't think that's quite a fair assessment. Trump may want to and tries to employ a bit of revisionist history and certainly the alt-right media definitely spins the news events to their own end. But, I don't think Trump or any of the alt-right figures out there today has the mastery of intellect that O'Brien had over Winston. In some respects, like the power for power's sake and the hate, I think the comparison comes a bit closer. But, as far as manipulating history to make it matcha current political agenda the Left is as equally Orwellian as the right in modern America.
The most interesting parallel with current events and the state of Oceania that occurred to me was in the collectivism and newspeak that was slated to be in full force by 2050. What is closer to this Orwellian dystopia than the current (or relatively recent or relatively to come) political apparatus of the United States is the state that exists online. Freedom is slavery, at least online. Few participate openly in the hate the way they do online. And nowhere matches the collective mindset on threads following news stories or Facebook posts. As far as the creation of a new language slated to entrench itself by 2050 one need not look further than twitter to see that this future is already beginning. Hashtag truth.
The term Orwellian has been tossed at Trump and his supporters a lot since the election. I don't think that's quite a fair assessment. Trump may want to and tries to employ a bit of revisionist history and certainly the alt-right media definitely spins the news events to their own end. But, I don't think Trump or any of the alt-right figures out there today has the mastery of intellect that O'Brien had over Winston. In some respects, like the power for power's sake and the hate, I think the comparison comes a bit closer. But, as far as manipulating history to make it matcha current political agenda the Left is as equally Orwellian as the right in modern America.
The most interesting parallel with current events and the state of Oceania that occurred to me was in the collectivism and newspeak that was slated to be in full force by 2050. What is closer to this Orwellian dystopia than the current (or relatively recent or relatively to come) political apparatus of the United States is the state that exists online. Freedom is slavery, at least online. Few participate openly in the hate the way they do online. And nowhere matches the collective mindset on threads following news stories or Facebook posts. As far as the creation of a new language slated to entrench itself by 2050 one need not look further than twitter to see that this future is already beginning. Hashtag truth.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Brave New World/Brave New World Revisited
Goodreads Review:
I prefer Brave New World to 1984. The story is much more gripping than Orwell's classic. That said, the "resisted" part of the book seemed a bit too-self congratulatory. Huxley's analysis and emphasis on over-population sort of overwhelms his message at times. However, his critique of Big Business and Big Government controlling too much power and influence for a democracy to thrive in is prophetic and his notions of a non-violent totalitarian state seems entirely plausible in the early 21st century.
I prefer Brave New World to 1984. The story is much more gripping than Orwell's classic. That said, the "resisted" part of the book seemed a bit too-self congratulatory. Huxley's analysis and emphasis on over-population sort of overwhelms his message at times. However, his critique of Big Business and Big Government controlling too much power and influence for a democracy to thrive in is prophetic and his notions of a non-violent totalitarian state seems entirely plausible in the early 21st century.
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