Orwell And His Memory
Nov 20th 2019, 1:33 am
#16
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
On the topic of Eric Blair’s birth in India, these two articles in Wikipedia seem to have a different story about the extent to which he’s memorialized in the town of his birth;
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motihari
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Orwell
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motihari
Nov 20th 2019, 2:47 am
#17
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
Question?
What “strain of socialism” are you referring to?
Im sure I probably have this wrong, but I thought socialism on its own isn’t really a “thing”. It’s almost always linked to another form of governing. Fascism, communism, etc.
It also seems to be, historically speaking, simply a device to stir a sentiment of solidarity and hope (reasonably as these are massively popular with the populace) to garner compliance.
What I’ve read of Orwell, he seems to depict the perversion of the idea of an egalitarian society. The precarious balance of a government that protects it citizens and of one that has over reached, to the utter destruction of individualism for the sole purpose of complete power.
durno? I’m a yankee
What “strain of socialism” are you referring to?
Im sure I probably have this wrong, but I thought socialism on its own isn’t really a “thing”. It’s almost always linked to another form of governing. Fascism, communism, etc.
It also seems to be, historically speaking, simply a device to stir a sentiment of solidarity and hope (reasonably as these are massively popular with the populace) to garner compliance.
What I’ve read of Orwell, he seems to depict the perversion of the idea of an egalitarian society. The precarious balance of a government that protects it citizens and of one that has over reached, to the utter destruction of individualism for the sole purpose of complete power.
durno? I’m a yankee
Last edited by Kokocookman; Nov 20th 2019 at 3:03 am.
Nov 20th 2019, 2:53 am
#18
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
Just a tip - if you click on 'Quote' at the bottom of the message you're replying to and type your post in the box that appears, then both that message and your own post will appear together, as in this post to you. Then the person you're asking the question of will know it's them you're asking.
Nov 20th 2019, 4:10 am
#19
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
I think some people in Motihari are now taking Orwell a bit more seriously. Orwell himnself said the three great ills of modern times were
Imperialism
Fascism
Stalinism
and described himself as "A Democratic Socialist " He was a member of the ILP.
Imperialism
Fascism
Stalinism
and described himself as "A Democratic Socialist " He was a member of the ILP.
Nov 20th 2019, 12:37 pm
#20
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
Question?
What “strain of socialism” are you referring to?
Im sure I probably have this wrong, but I thought socialism on its own isn’t really a “thing”. It’s almost always linked to another form of governing. Fascism, communism, etc.
It also seems to be, historically speaking, simply a device to stir a sentiment of solidarity and hope (reasonably as these are massively popular with the populace) to garner compliance.
What I’ve read of Orwell, he seems to depict the perversion of the idea of an egalitarian society. The precarious balance of a government that protects it citizens and of one that has over reached, to the utter destruction of individualism for the sole purpose of complete power.
durno? I’m a yankee
What “strain of socialism” are you referring to?
Im sure I probably have this wrong, but I thought socialism on its own isn’t really a “thing”. It’s almost always linked to another form of governing. Fascism, communism, etc.
It also seems to be, historically speaking, simply a device to stir a sentiment of solidarity and hope (reasonably as these are massively popular with the populace) to garner compliance.
What I’ve read of Orwell, he seems to depict the perversion of the idea of an egalitarian society. The precarious balance of a government that protects it citizens and of one that has over reached, to the utter destruction of individualism for the sole purpose of complete power.
durno? I’m a yankee
I’d add “democracy” to that list. The British Labour Party was a socialist party until the 1990s, of course it was committed to democracy. Same with social democrats in Germany, Sweden, a ton of other western democracies.
“What I’ve read of Orwell, he seems to depict the perversion of the idea of an egalitarian society.”
In his books 1984 and Animal Farm, yes. Of course, these were only a small part of his total oeuvre. He saw the Second World War as a dangerous government overreach in Britain, with widespread surveillance, propaganda and suppression of freedom of the press. (Of course, he was part of this himself, with his propaganda work for the BBC.) He also wrote during the twenties and thirties when he had other priorities..
Nov 20th 2019, 2:53 pm
#21
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
His dystopian vision of "1984" was partly based on his experiences working for the BBC !
He was a member of the ILP. For those not familiar with the history of the English Left, have a look at this - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Labour_Party
He was a member of the ILP. For those not familiar with the history of the English Left, have a look at this - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Labour_Party
Last edited by scot47; Nov 20th 2019 at 3:01 pm.
Nov 20th 2019, 4:44 pm
#22
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
Talking about the BBC, I’ve meant to read the history by the great Asa Briggs. Three volumes, maybe. It never quite gets to the top of the to do list, and at this point, it may never happen.
I guess I misremembered. It’s the History of Broadcasting in the UK, and it’s at least four volumes..
I guess I misremembered. It’s the History of Broadcasting in the UK, and it’s at least four volumes..
Nov 20th 2019, 5:13 pm
#23
Yo
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Location: UK
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
His dystopian vision of "1984" was partly based on his experiences working for the BBC !
He was a member of the ILP. For those not familiar with the history of the English Left, have a look at this - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Labour_Party
He was a member of the ILP. For those not familiar with the history of the English Left, have a look at this - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Labour_Party
Nov 20th 2019, 8:11 pm
#24
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
English Public School, Colonial Police Force under The Raj, The BBC - that sounds dystopian to me !
Nov 22nd 2019, 1:51 am
#26
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
An interesting opinion on the supposed origin of 1984's "Thought Police".
https://fee.org/articles/the-origins...they-scare-us/
https://fee.org/articles/the-origins...they-scare-us/
Dec 1st 2019, 1:37 pm
#27
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
Join us on Bute on Saturday 30 May 2020 for a Day on Orwell
"Orwell Who He Was and What He Wrote".
11 AM to 4 PM
"Orwell Who He Was and What He Wrote".
11 AM to 4 PM
Dec 2nd 2019, 1:53 pm
#28
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
Tyop from me. Daet is 30 May !
Dec 2nd 2019, 7:49 pm
#30
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Re: Orwell And His Memory
I am a bit of a fan of Orwell, one of few writers that I have dug in to their essays and journalism. There was (is) a collection in four volumes of these shorter pieces. I prefer his non fiction to his fiction, Homage to Catalonia standing out strong.
i too have noted how two of his novels are obsessed over in the States, predominantly by the right, though their message is relevant to all, his more clearly socialist work might as well not exist in the US.
i too have noted how two of his novels are obsessed over in the States, predominantly by the right, though their message is relevant to all, his more clearly socialist work might as well not exist in the US.