George Orwell-1984

I actually just read this book last week, and I was blown away by it. I especially liked the third part of the book. The philisophical questions that are raised such as the nature of truth, love, and power are very intriguing. The book as a whole really makes you think about, to what extent we are being unconsciously controlled by our government?

Yeah, I read it.

Twenty years ago.

Yes, and a few times since. It's pretty good, but not even Orwell's best.

Also, and I've said it here before, look for the Anthony Burgess (of "A Clock Work Orange" fame) critical study/"sequel" [URL=http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0091360803/104-7947121-0029530?v=glance]1985[/URL].

Orwell did a damn fine job of predicting the planet's slow decent into Hell...

I just read this a few a months ago for the first time. Brillaint and timeless book. Very true for what we're going through in America.

haven't read it but now I’m going to steal it off my trig. teachers bookshelf.
I read animal farm in the 9th grade and wasn't to impressed with it, till I started to see the socialist thing in the book and what they were doing.

i strongly urge that people read this book, it's enjoying a bit of resurgence since 9/11, which is a very good thing. the book is also enjoying soem fine new printings, and you can get any number of nifty editionsof the work. if you haven't read it, you will not only have the pleasure of learning what "Orwellian" means, but also you will learn where the plots of many reality shows are coming from, from the obvious rip in "Big Brother" to the more subtle rip in "fear factor."

The thing that most struck me about 1984 was how Big Brother effectively manipulated the citizens into thinking there was always a war going on, because when the citizens poured every last ounce of effort into the war it allowed the government to retain control and have the power that they did.

It reminds me of what's going on now with Iraq and Bin Laden. When we couldn't find Bin Laden, all of it a sudden everything turned to Iraq to take our attention away from the fact that we never found Bin Laden.

I find this attention dividing scheme very clever because you see it all over the place in society. Look at Republicans and Democrats. OUr sysytem is set up so that you have to choose one or the other, distracting you from other available options.

ignorance is strength

2+2=5

I can't think of a single other case at the moment where I'd say this, but the movie version of 1984 is pretty good too.

Plus, the Eurythmics did some great stuff for the soundtrack that's not as sappy as their other sounds or the Annie Lennox solo project that followed.

Again, I usually hate the screen versions of books I've read.

[QUOTE=inkwell]I can't think of a single other case at the moment where I'd say this, but the movie version of 1984 is pretty good too.

Plus, the Eurythmics did some great stuff for the soundtrack that's not as sappy as their other sounds or the Annie Lennox solo project that followed.

Again, I usually hate the screen versions of books I've read.[/QUOTE]

hmmm, intrigued. who's in the movie version?

There's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" released in 1984 with William Hurt and the Eurythmics soundtrack. There's "1984" released in 1956, and the television movie "1984" from 1954. I've seen one of the fifties versions as well, and it had a lot going for it, but for the life of me I don't know whether I saw the '54 or '56 version.

1984 isn't required reading at my school, but my genius english teacher, god bless him, let us choose what books we read in our senior year...with the exception of jane eyre and wuthering heights. We read 1984 and Brave New World and then compared them, he also suggested lots of books that I went out and bought, in addition he was a huge Chuck Palahniuk fan.

till this day I still love both books, and I'm currently reading through brave new world right now. 1984 still reigns supreme in my opinion but brave new world was way ahead of it's time.

[QUOTE=Tuffy the Dump Truck]There's "Nineteen Eighty-Four" released in 1984 with William Hurt and the Eurythmics soundtrack. There's "1984" released in 1956, and the television movie "1984" from 1954. I've seen one of the fifties versions as well, and it had a lot going for it, but for the life of me I don't know whether I saw the '54 or '56 version.[/QUOTE]
And then there's Brazil (Terry Gilliam). A kinda-sorta take on 1984.

Kinda-sorta.

I'm an idiot.. i started a new 1984 thread further up on the page.
I am now reading and knowing that many of you are sure to have read it wanted to get some opinions...

Its intriguing thus far....

Btw hello again to everyone i knew before i went MIA a few months ago

I love Big Brother.

It was a very successful government. When have we ever seen this in the world? The goal of the Nation was simply to exist as a Nation, and to maintain control of the people. This is quite unlike America, for example, that has other goals to spread propaganda, go to war, etc, most of which is in fact encouraged by "group think." An example is the wars fought for "human rights" (Iraq* and the intervention in the Balkans to name a couple) Where is the question of what are human rights, and why being human makes us entitled to 'rights'? Claiming to fight for a cause that most people accept is the best way to gain support. Instead of the government suppressing thought it is the common belief accepted by the public.

*referring to the propaganda of Hussein being a dictator and an "enemy of freedom" used to justify the attack

I'd rather live in the society Gilliam rendered in Brazil than the one in 1984. The music was better in 1984, but I want to go have Deniro pirating my apartment maintenance and I want to go out in a big melodramatic Icarus moment.

anyone else ever think this one

i'm sure ya have

communism looks great on paper
its all in how it is implemented....

porn stars look great on paper or screen, but they have a skanky-ness when you see them in person. and they're not hot in the slightest in person.

oh, no ... what a let-down

you would've found out sooner or later, i'm just glad i told you first, before you actually saw one, kiddo.

right ...

i'm sorry aout that, kiddo. but it's true.

Here's the thing: I don't care about porn stars. But I'm a bighuge fan of my elders helping me out the way you are.

Now, are you ready to get back on topic here in the Orwell 1984 thread? Or is it time for me to explain sarcasm to you ... kiddo?

watch your tone with me kiddo! or i'll have to go crooner on you, and beat you with a bag of oranges, you need not explain sarcasm to me kiddo! understand? hows that for advise from a elder.

[QUOTE=tad_fitzsimmins]watch your tone with me kiddo! or i'll have to go crooner on you, and beat you with a bag of oranges, you need not explain sarcasm to me kiddo! understand? hows that for advise from a elder.[/QUOTE]
I missed the advice in all the faulty punctuation.

[QUOTE=inkwell]I missed the advice in all the faulty punctuation.[/QUOTE]

punctuation, is for communist and bus drivers and lesbians, unless your one of them I suggest you use it the way got intended you to. improperly

I was supposed to read Jane Eyre senior year. God, what an awful story.

[QUOTE=Moribundus]I love Big Brother.

It was a very successful government. When have we ever seen this in the world? The goal of the Nation was simply to exist as a Nation, and to maintain control of the people. This is quite unlike America, for example, that has other goals to spread propaganda, go to war, etc, most of which is in fact encouraged by "group think." An example is the wars fought for "human rights" (Iraq* and the intervention in the Balkans to name a couple) Where is the question of what are human rights, and why being human makes us entitled to 'rights'? Claiming to fight for a cause that most people accept is the best way to gain support. Instead of the government suppressing thought it is the common belief accepted by the public.

*referring to the propaganda of Hussein being a dictator and an "enemy of freedom" used to justify the attack[/QUOTE]

You love Big Brother and being controlled? Perhaps you should join our honored armed-forces (much respect, no sarcasm) so that you can experience someone telling you when and where you may piss. "Common" is the downfall. It is "Uncommon" for persons to be educated in the underlying politics of our current government. We are force-fed by a Bush-friendly media (they themselves currently censoring out of fear), what they want us to know and not necessarily what we WANT to know. Yes, Big Brother was successful in their intentions. But that's the thing with success, as with most things, it is all relative.

Being human doesn't allow us to have "rights", being conscious beings able to manipulate the earth ensures it. We have to have one right above all others- the "pursuit of happiness". I believe being happy is what life is all about. We must seek this without harming one another. Because we control this earth, we must take care of it and everything in it. With great power comes greater responsibility. We must extend our courtesies to every living organism on this earth. We must not be so arrogant that we forget our responsibilities, our dues if you will, for living on this planet.

I don't know about any of you, but I don't want to live in a country where, if I'm 15 and I draw anti-Bush propaganda in art class, the FBI or CIA comes in to my school to investigate me and I'm punished. Isn't that what we have been raised to believe dictators do? Dictators we have scorned in the past who've nary allowed a negative opinion against them? Isn't that the opposite of America? We must not condone censorship, the FCC has already started. We still have an opportunity to turn the tides. If only for awhile... Has anyone read the recent article in Rolling Stone regarding counties prohibiting college students (60% of whom are voting for Kerry) from voting in the counties where they pay to attend college? If not, get your head out of the sand and buy a copy. Prince is on the cover. Another informative must read is Michael Moore's "Dude, Where's My Country", which I myself am currently reading.

I have an essay comparing the characters in Fight Club and in 1984 posted somewhere in the Lullaby forum.

And yeah, 1984 is pretty cool.