Comments on: George Orwell’s 1984 http://ticklemecoral.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/george-orwells-1984/ Just another WordPress.com weblog Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:44:40 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Dan | thesamovar http://ticklemecoral.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/george-orwells-1984/#comment-4 Dan | thesamovar Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:58:12 +0000 http://ticklemecoral.wordpress.com/?p=5#comment-4 He's an interesting character - both the left and the right want to claim him as their own, and they both have some reason. Have fun reading the books! :-) They're all worth reading, although I have to say I'm not all that excited about Orwell's novels (other than 1984). "Homage to Catalonia" is probably the most interesting to read about if you're interested in communism and anarchism. And if you like it, there's quite a good film that isn't based on Orwell's book but covers similar ground, "Land and Freedom" directed by Ken Loach. He’s an interesting character – both the left and the right want to claim him as their own, and they both have some reason. Have fun reading the books! :-) They’re all worth reading, although I have to say I’m not all that excited about Orwell’s novels (other than 1984). “Homage to Catalonia” is probably the most interesting to read about if you’re interested in communism and anarchism. And if you like it, there’s quite a good film that isn’t based on Orwell’s book but covers similar ground, “Land and Freedom” directed by Ken Loach.

]]> By: ticklemecoral http://ticklemecoral.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/george-orwells-1984/#comment-3 ticklemecoral Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:08:32 +0000 http://ticklemecoral.wordpress.com/?p=5#comment-3 Oops! Guess I should've done a little more homework on his history. I do have to say though, that that was just my interpretation of the book. I didn't go through his history or anything, and that's the thing about analyzing and interpreting: it's different for everyone and a lot of the time it's hit or miss. Thank you for the book reccomendations! I'll definitely check a few of those out! Oops! Guess I should’ve done a little more homework on his history. I do have to say though, that that was just my interpretation of the book. I didn’t go through his history or anything, and that’s the thing about analyzing and interpreting: it’s different for everyone and a lot of the time it’s hit or miss.

Thank you for the book reccomendations! I’ll definitely check a few of those out!

]]> By: Dan | thesamovar http://ticklemecoral.wordpress.com/2008/08/21/george-orwells-1984/#comment-2 Dan | thesamovar Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:49:07 +0000 http://ticklemecoral.wordpress.com/?p=5#comment-2 You do know that Orwell was a committed socialist his whole life, don't you? He was originally a communist, but his experience in the Spanish civil war, where he volunteered to fight with the anarchists and communists against the fascists, showed him that Soviet-style communism, Stalinism in particular, was not a good idea. The message of 1984 is not that socialism is bad, it's a warning about authoritarian and illiberal government. It's a message that's worth taking heed of in these times when the invisible and permanent 'war against terrorism' is being used to justify extraordinary levels of government surveillance. That's two key themes of 1984 right there - permanent war and intrusive surveillance. It's also worth noting that the people leading this are not socialists, but right wing free-market evangelists. If you want a more rounded view of Orwell, pick up a copy of any or all of "Down and Out in Paris and London", "The Road to Wigan Pier" and "Homage to Catalonia". You do know that Orwell was a committed socialist his whole life, don’t you? He was originally a communist, but his experience in the Spanish civil war, where he volunteered to fight with the anarchists and communists against the fascists, showed him that Soviet-style communism, Stalinism in particular, was not a good idea.

The message of 1984 is not that socialism is bad, it’s a warning about authoritarian and illiberal government. It’s a message that’s worth taking heed of in these times when the invisible and permanent ‘war against terrorism’ is being used to justify extraordinary levels of government surveillance. That’s two key themes of 1984 right there – permanent war and intrusive surveillance. It’s also worth noting that the people leading this are not socialists, but right wing free-market evangelists.

If you want a more rounded view of Orwell, pick up a copy of any or all of “Down and Out in Paris and London”, “The Road to Wigan Pier” and “Homage to Catalonia”.

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