1984 Week 6 lesson 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

In class today

• Thoughtcrime
• Doublethink
  
• Language as a tool of power

        - Newspeak

• Literature portfolio assignment
  

Language as a tool of power?

Discuss with neighbour:

- How is language used as a tool of power?

- Examples?

Explain in your own words what thoughtcrime is

Why is the idea of thoughtcrime so scary to Winston?

Explain why this is doublethink

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Language decides what I can think about

1. Agree
2. Disagree

Language decides what I can feel

1. Agree
2. Disagree

Relevant bit: 00:43 - 2:20.  Skip the rest.

02:20

Could a totalitarian government limit our ability to think about the concept of freedom by removing the word from our collective vocabulary?

1. Yes
2. No

Pick students to explain their answer.

Newspeak

• Official language in Oceania
• Designed and controlled by the government
• Language as a tool of power: 

   

Language as a tool of Power:

- Limiting grammar and vocabulary:

* Cannot express free thought

* Cannot express feelings

In effect:

- Cannot think freely

- Losing emotion

Propaganda?

‘Comrades!’ cried an eager youthful voice. ‘Attention,

comrades! We have glorious news for you. We have won the battle for production! Returns now completed of the output of all classes of consumption goods show that the standard of living has risen by no less than 20 per cent over the past year. All over Oceania this morning there were irrepressible spontaneous demonstrations when workers marched out of factories and offices and paraded through the streets with banners voicing their gratitude to Big Brother for the new, happy life which his wise leadership has bestowed upon us. Here are some of the completed figures. Foodstuffs——’

1st paragraph, page 73.

Draw a parallel to Animal Farm

Give examples from propaganda in Animal Farm (stats, figures, facts tactic)

00:29

Qualities of "dystopian novel"

01:11

Post-WW2 London

Experiences in the Spanish Civil War

Working for the BBC as a news reporter

Setting of Airstrip One

Distorting the truth

Ministry of Truth

04:27

How did people in the 1950s relate to the book?

1. They saw it as a study of totalitarianism (Stalinism, Hitler's Nazi Germany)
2. They were afraid of the technological advancements at the time
3. They saw it as a warning of their privacy being invaded by computers and security cameras
4. They saw it as an anti-capitalist manifesto

04:41

Critique of Stalinism / Hitler's Nazi Germany

Distorting/controlling reality/ the truth

privacy being invaded by computers and security cameras

1970-2000

Recent years

1950s

Discuss in groups

• Newspeak in our world?
  
  
• Facts, objective news, reality, truth?
  

• Is freedom of thought/expression important to you?

- Report back to class

Literature portfolio assignment

Magister.Me Week 6

Choose one of the topics and write a 500 word article in which you explain your stance.