1984: who said said that?

[imthefoolonthehill]

I distinctly remember someone who made the comment that 1984 wasn't about communism. Who was that? Come forth and display thine ignorance! (with complete respect to the admin... who will later, much to my suprise agree with the person I am challenging/mildly and childishly insulting)

[Admin]

It wasn't me but I agree. Its not about communism. Animal Farm is about communism.

[imthefoolonthehill]

1984 and animal farm were both about communism. How can you miss it? Proles and Proletarians

"In communist society, the present dominates the past." -Karl Marx Communist Manifesto

1984 was about Totalitarianism (sp?) - The most visible form of that (at the time) was Russian Communism

[Admin]

1984 had a communist system in it, but it wasn't about communism. There is a difference. 1984 was about the dangers of technology and a totalitarian government. It might have included communism but the "moral of the story" didn't have anything to do with communism.

Animal Farm was about communism.

[imthefoolonthehill]

I disagree. I think that while the dangers of technology are an issue in the book, it is not the main point of the story. Yes, there are the telescreens and microphones... but that dosn't take a front line. I view 1984 as mainly protesting the loss of freedom, the loss of control, and the loss of individuality. The book's main conflict is Society Verses Man. Winston is fighting against the society of Big Brother, the party, and the princeples of ingsog. He is fighting for his freedom against a repressive and totalitarianistic government. That government is communism.

[Paint It Black]

Well, I'm going to have to dive right into this, and take the admin's side of things. Last semester I wrote an 8 page paper about Totalitarianism (can be made available to those that care). The differences between totaltarianism and communism may not be many, but they are great.
The government in "1984" is a perfected communism, which is a totalitarianistic world. The Party remains never truly defined or understood, but still in complete control. The government is repressive and totalitarianistic, and is thus totalitarian.
It does protest the loss of "freedom, the loss of control, and the loss of individuality," which are calling cards of both totalitarianism and communism. Totalitarian governments are defined by secret police, silent acts, complete control, and a lack of resistance; all of which are heavily present in 1984. I could keep going, but i'm out of time.

[Paint It Black]

and my signature (hopefully...)

[imthefoolonthehill]

Paint it Black... thank you for your input... but I am not sure that you made the point you set out to make. I don't see how the government in 1984 isn't what George Orwell fears Communism will lead to.

[imthefoolonthehill]

does anyone remember any obvious contradictory thoughts (they must have existed simultaneously) in 1984?... I know they occur... I just can't remember specifics.

[Suroboyoku]

As far as I see it 1984is essentially about totalitarianism. Orwell, through his experiences in the Spanish Civil War and his involvement in socialist politics, had the most experience of the communist variant of totalitarianism and therefore drew on its language and particular characteristics. Communism was what he knew best and was also, at the time he wrote the book, a very powerful force in the world whereas other forms of totalitarianism had been defeated.

It is not a book about the future and certainly not mere science fiction. Rather it is a book about the present, the present in Russia under Stalin/Big Brother but put into a setting and language that English-speaking readers would understand. 1984 is simply a partial inversion of 1948.

These are my thoughts. ;) [/i]