Transcript Intro to Nineteen Eighty- Four

Intro to Nineteen EightyFour
What would define as more
important?
In groups of 5 argue
what is more valuable:
Freedom or Security
Freedom vs. Security
Pick a position and argue why your group feels that
way.
Come up with 5 points why you would value freedom or
security.
Pre Reading
1-4
Purpose
The purpose of this novel and these discussions is to
focus on the role of the individual citizen in society
along with the power the government has over its
citizens;
As the government starts playing a much bigger role in
our lives, it is important for to understand just how
much our life can actually be affected.
Dystopia
Dystopias are often characterized by dehumanization,
totalitarian governments, environmental disaster, or other
characteristics associated with a violent/ sudden decline in
society. Dystopian societies are often used to draw
attention to real world issues regarding society,
environment, politics, religion, psychology, ethics, science
and/or technology which if unaddressed could lead to
such a dystopia-like condition.
1984 was published in 1949. Like A Handmaid’s Tale
the story was written about the future.
The novel is set in AirStrip One (formally Great
Britain). In a world of perpetual war, government
surveillance, and public manipulation.
The general population is controlled by privileged.
Inner Party Elite
Persecutes all individualism or independent thinking
as thought crimes.
The tyranny is epitomized by Big Brother, a Party
Leader who enjoys a ‘cult of personality’ but may not
even exist.
Cult of Personality
A cult of personality arises when an individual uses
mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create
an idealized, heroic, and at times, worshipful image,
often through unquestioning flattery and praise.
Often a single leader became associated with this
revolutionary transformation and came to be treated as
a “guide” for the nation without whom the
transformation to a better future couldn’t occur.
Big Brother and The Party justify their oppressive rule
in the name of the greater good.
This kind of reasoning suggests that some will suffer
but most will benefit.
In these types of societies the ‘ruler’ sees a persons
protection/ safety as primary. The main objective is to
keep the population compliant in order to avoid
rebellion’s and danger.
Censorship
A major theme is censorship. Photographs are
doctored and public archives rewritten to rid them of
‘unpersons’ (persons who have been arrested, to whom
the party decides to erase from history).
On telescreens figures for all types of production are
exaggerated to indicate an ever growing economy when
the reality is the opposite.
Who writes history?
Who chooses what we learn? Why?
For instance: Does anyone know what a
residential school is?
Educational Censorship
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3vgGqlZGGE
Censorship- Banning Films
Iran;
Saturday Night Fever, Scarface, Schlinder’s List, Boogie
Nights, Liar Liar, South Park, Zoolander, Bruce
Almighty, The Matrix, The Passion of The Christ,
Fahrenheit 9/11, Harold and Kumar go to White
Castle, 40 Year Old Virgin, The Da Vinci Code,
Talladega Nights, Borat, Brokeback Mountain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_films_banned_i
n_Canada
Quick Write
Do you believe in some levels of censorship?
List the reasons why a government might
employ censorship?
Why aren’t certain words used or certain
subjects talked about?
Is it better to be feared than loved?
What are the flaws of being feared?
Internet Censorship in China
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lcXxL4mnp0
Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are blocked.
Everything we watch is constructed and in some form
censored. It is the government and corporations that
are in charge of what gets viewed, read and used.
Freedom of Speech
At what point should privileges
regarding freedom of speech be taken
away?
Corporation and media propoganda:
I want everyone to write down one of their favourite
television shows.
What is the last piece of news you heard.
Psychologists and sociologists noticed a trend amongst
our generation. Our media and upbringing has made
us known as a generation that:
Feels entitled
We are the first generation that’s projected to be less
financially affluent than our parents.
There was a huge crisis going on in Ukraine but the
most popular news story was about Rob Ford.
Surveillance
The inhabitants of Oceania have no real privacy.
Many of them live in apartments equipped with two- way
telescreens so that they may be watched or listened to at any time.
Similar telescreens are found at workstations and in public places,
along with hidden microphones.
Written correspondence is opened and read by the government.
The Thought Police employ undercover agents who pose as
nomal citizens any report any person with rebellious tendencies
Children are encouraged to report suspicious persons to the
government.
Surveillance controls the citizenry and the smallest sign
of rebellion. Something as small as a facial expression
can result in arrest.
Would you agree that our society makes it difficult to
maintain any level of privacy?
Especially through social media.
Notice how corporations ask you to ‘follow them’ or
like there products on various social media sights.
Government Control
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrxDrpi1XNU
1984 Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52wis_sLT1I
Schedule
For Tomorrow: Read Chapter 1
In Class Recap and Discussion.