George Orwell published 1984 in 1949, the same year that the Soviet Union exploded its first atomic bomb. The arms race that followed the Soviets' development of nuclear weaponry quickly escalated into the Cold War, which raged for the next four decades as the enormous ideological gulf separating capitalism and democracy from totalitarianism and Communism led to mutual hatred between the United States and the Soviet Union, the world's most powerful nations. During the long decades of the Cold War, perhaps no book better captured the moral objections against totalitarian Communism than 1984, written by Orwell originally to warn the world of the dangers of authoritarian regimes. Depicting a horrifying near-future of governmental oppression, slavery, and alienation, 1984 created a sensation upon its initial appearance, sounding the alarm that the atrocities committed under Communism upon human material security and freedom were possible not only in Russia and Eastern Europe, but in the West as well.
Many of the methods that the Party in 1984 uses to sustain its absolute power, such as the rewriting of history and the use of political icons, were actually employed in Communist nations around the world (Big Brother is similar to Lenin in the Soviet Union and Mao in China). A recent historical survey conducted by a group of French scholars, published in America as The Black Book of Communism in 1999, estimates that Communist governments were directly responsible for the deaths of more than 100 million people during the twentieth century, more than died during World War I, World War II, or during any of the horrific genocide campaigns of the twentieth century. Though the world did not fall under authoritarian control as Orwell feared it might, 1984 has not become dated; it remains an invaluable book, both warning against a world that could come into existence and reminding the reader of one that did.
Just as it did in 1949, 1984 continues to bear enough relevance and prescience to make such the world it prophesies seem frighteningly possible. In the novel, for instance, war is used as a device for political manipulation on television--a concept presented strikingly in the film Wag the Dog.
During the late 1940-50s her film career suffered because of her outspoken conflict with Joseph McCarthy, the Red Scare, and the Hollywood blacklist.
In the 1930s and 1940s many Hollywood writers, actors, producers, and directors were suspected for communist affiliations. During this time, communism was a popular political movement in the United States, especially among young liberals. There was a growing fear of communism invading American society. By the end of World War Two an event known as the Red Scare resulted in communism become increasingly feared and hated by many in the United States. The Hollywood blacklist caused the Hollywood industry a lot of harm in its business and reputation.
The novel, 1984, written by George Orwell, gives readers an insight to a possible frightening future where one government has complete and definite control of the people. But “control” might not be the term to describe such a rule. The Party dominates every aspect of life. There is not a single thing that is not under the Party’s rule. Feelings, history, language, statistics, and even human nature are submissive to the Party. They corrupt the mind so much that there is no longer a line that separates truth from a lie. Slogans are repeated through telescreens on a daily basis so the people are gradually forced to believe in illogical statements. Upon first glance, it may seem that a 1984 society is not even imaginable in the world we live in currently. But is it really logical to make such an assumption so quickly? Do we know that what we see on the news and read in our history textbooks is completely accurate? The Internet is one of the most powerful technologies our world has, consisting of an insurmountable amount of information, which is not always what it seems. Ultimately, there are so many things that we do not know, some of which is being held a secret from us. Modern day society shockingly has evidence of a transformation into a menacing 1984 society because of similar government actions and abuse of advanced technology.
1984 was written as a warning to the western countries about having a totalitarianism government which is refers to a system of government in which lawfully electes representatives maintain the integrity of a nation state whose citizens, while granted the right to vote, have little to no participation in the decision-making process of the government. The author felt like these countries were not able to find tactics to withstand the communism that was being taken placed. When the book was written in 1949 the Cold War had not yet broke out, and most people supported the diplomacy with the democratic communism. The author found the cruelty that was committed in the communist countries very disturbing, and the technologies that were used to help these countries control the citizens intriguing. This book tells how a complete government controlled country could be. Warning those who lived during this time to that if they did not want this to happen then they better vote against totalitarianism.
Thank you Viola for your detailed comments about the HUAC committee activities that created a devastating situation for the film industry. The issue with communistic events indeed interfered with the lives of many and destroyed the careers of actors, especially those who firmly refused to cooperate with that committee. The film Spartacus is one of the most successful films in the history of Universal Studios not only in terms of box office appeal, but it also received six Oscar nominations and was accredited for breaking the Hollywood blacklist. This film was based on Howard Fast's novel, which narrates the story of professionals who refused to collaborate with HUAC committee officials.
The tendency to go soft on McCarthyism has been evident in popular culture as well. The presentation of a special Lifetime Achievement Award to director Elia Kazan at the 1999 Oscar ceremony is the most flagrant and controversial example. Another example of the current vogu...
Probably the most important thing to remember while reading 1984 is that Orwell never intended the book to be a prediction of the future. It was more or less a satire of political fiction, however, I believe Orwell was on the right track concerning future possibilities of a New World Order, or total government control. An interesting quotation from the book is from the "thought police" when they say "If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face forever." I believe Orwell's hope in writing the book was to warn people of political warning signs he saw.
Hollywood’s Blacklist developed out of complex social, political, and economical conditions. The Hollywood’s blacklist was a method utilized by the federal government to deny employment to many professionals in the entertainment industry, including but not limit to screenwriter, actor, producer, director, musicians, and animators. These professionals were “blacklisted” as a result of suspected political association with the Communist party. The manufacturing of the blacklist sprung out of panic and fear of communist reconnaissance as a result of many events that were taking place around the world such as the Soviet Eastern Europe, Berlin blockade, Chinese Civil War, confessions of high-ranking government officials of espionage for the Soviet Union, Korean War and , Atomic bomb,. The Hollywood’s blacklist was also a manifest of extreme paranoia related to the Cold War. Americans indentified a threat to their freedoms of society and democracy which facilitated a climax of intense anti-communist sentiment during the 1940’2 and 1950’s. This study will examine the creation and influence of the Hollywood’s blacklist on a political platform, and economical consequence, and a social exile of civil liberties.
Upon my reading of the novel 1984, I was fascinated by George Orwell’s vision of the future. Orwell describes a world so extreme that a question comes to mind, asking what would encourage him to write such a novel. 1984 took place in the future, but it seemed like it was happening in the past. George Orwell was born in 1903 and died in 1950; he has seen the horrific tides of World War ² and Ï. As I got deeper into this novel I began to see similar events of world history built into 1984.
...ut it really doesn’t matter whom you put on the list, For none of them be missed— They’d none of ‘em be missed!" This was a burden for some of the people carrying out the missions of the committee, but to the high-ranking politicians, the fear and injustice was a victory. To them anything to stop the spread of Communism, for whatever reason or agenda they had, was good. The end of Communism was a wonderful way to gain both business and votes. It was not just the high-ranking politicians that praised the committee’s actions; "friendly" movie stars were tripping over one another to commend the committee. Among these actors were Ronald Regan, George Murphy, Robert Montgomery, and Adolph Menjou. They "donned the mantle of the anti Communist warriors". Some people went to great lengths to make the committee happy. There wasn’t much that the "friendly" actors would not do, not to get "blacklisted". Roy Brewer spoke for three hours about the "reds". Walt Disney revealed a "ploy by the left-wing Screen Cartoonists Guild to subvert Mickey mouse into a Marxist rat". The movie
Association To Blacklisted Artists During The ‘‘Red Scare’’ In Hollywood, 1945 To 1960." American Sociological Review 75.3 (2010): 456-478. Academic Search Complete. Web. 25 Apr. 2014.
Through 1984, Orwell warns his readers and audience of the possible totalitarianism that may evolve into the government like the dystopian world, Oceania. Through his use of imagery, irony, and satire, George Orwell successfully demonstrates his fear of a world under a totalitarian government and warns his readers through his rhetorical techniques that it may soon occur in the United States.
Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta Georgia. He lived from 1929-1968. Born as the middle child of Michael King Sr. and Alberta williams king. Martin Had an older sister named, Willie Christine and had a younger brother named Alfred Daniel Williams King. The King children grew up in
After reading the poem "Dover Beach" written by Matthew Arnold, I Think the main theme for this poem is being in on the sea in the night. What I really thought about this element was being on the sea lying enjoying the breeze, hearing the wind blow, and the water splashing. Been able to walk the sea on the sand enjoying the nice land that the earth has to bring us. What is the other thing that this tells me is how hard to discover the truth. I really had to do a little research on “shingles” I didn’t know that shingles is also means Pebbles on the beach, when I read the word Shingles I am thinking about Shingles on the roof. “The Sea of Faith” actually means a real sea with a beach with pebbles. "The Melancholy, long, withdrawing roar” (Arnold 1867) term of fear. The Poem has really set the paste, it has taken us to a real sea, a beach that has such great sand with pebbles on it. Something that we emotionally hurt, this poem has really told us a story that really reference to a Place that does exist. As I said before about the sand...
To have a long-lasting healthy relationship, two people need to have the nine characteristics shown strongly. Relationships are said to be healthy when these nine characteristics are present- Honesty, respect, support, equality, individuality, safety, acceptance, communication and trust are all part of the nine characteristics. They have a big meaning and hold the relationship together to make it a strong relationship. Knowing how to solve an argument with your significant other or knowing the starting sings of a conflict and it getting worse you could prevent it with having advice about it. Knowing what a relationship is and how to make it healthy are the first steps towards a strong relationship.