1984 Slogans
7
According to an article from "Illuminations: The Critical Theory " Mr. Douglas Kellner writes his thoughts on the dystopian novel of 1984. He refers to the novel as a "nightmare vision of a future in which techniques of political terror and repression...have created a totally administered society". He then goes on to explain how the society is "totalitarian" which is seen through the propaganda from the start of the novel.
The citizens are controlled through false advertisement and myths. This type of propaganda is the deadliest weapon of control.. It makes the citizens think the what the party is dictating is accurate and is the right thing to do. One example of propaganda is "doublespeak". It is the use of slogans to convince citizens that "what they want is what they already have". These slogans manipulate the truth "make the citizens believe that anything they want other than what their government wants can only make them unhappy, therefore, no one will consider rebellion because they believe the Party’s way of governing is the best and only way."
Overall the novel depicts a period of enslavement of the mind by the government. Citizens of Oceania were not able to think for themselves in a sens that they had to speak a certain way or else they would be punished. In the beginning Winston is focused on rebelling agaisnt the government. He then meets Julia with whom he rebels through sex. As time passes and Winston find himself in difficult situations he begins to his purpose for being against the government. The novel then concludes with the words "He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother" to show the acceptance of Big Brothers power.
Outline
From the Book
- Big Brother is seen as an authoritative figure with "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" posters plastered all over Oceania to instill fear in the citizens and members of the Party.
- Fear means they will not rebel
- Emmanuel Goldstein- example of one who led a rebellion against the government.
- The Junior Anti Sex League- example of propaganda through word of mouth by spreading their message.
Wrap-up
“He who controls the past controls the future. He who controls the present controls the past.”
“WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.”
“BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU."
Junior Anti Sex League- propaganda in the people
“We, the Party, control all records, and we control all memories. Then we control the past, do we not?”
Literary Critiques
Work Cited
Kellner, Douglas. "From 1984 to One-Dimensional Man: Critical Reflections on Orwell and Marcuse by Douglas Kellner." From 1984 to One-Dimensional Man: Critical Reflections on Orwell and Marcuse by Douglas Kellner. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2013.
http://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/Illumina%20Folder/kell13.htm
Orwell, George. 1984. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1984. Print
Thesis Statement
The dystopia seen in the novel 1984 by George Orwell illustrates a vision of a totalitarian society through the use of various forms of propaganda, slogans for example, to represent the power the Party has over the citizens mind and manages to maintain control over the their actions and thought process.