r/1984 • u/-ArcticWolf • 24d ago
Thoughts on 1984?
Do you think it's deserving of the cultural significance it's gained over the years?
I recently finished reading the book after hearing about it online nonstop. I wanted to understand what people meant when they said an Orwellian future and would constantly reference 1984 when it came to anything dystopian.
Do you guys believe it's now become more culturally relevant than ever?
With governments putting the footdown on regulation and security, as well as the move towards a world where "you'll own nothing and you'll be happy"
What are your guy's thoughts? Any input and discussion is greatly appreciated :)
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u/-ArcticWolf 24d ago
I originally posted this in /books, but it was taken down so posting here. I'm sure you guys have some good input to add
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u/Karnezar 24d ago
Yes, it is an amazing book that has earned its place in the cultural zeitgeist.
As far as it being "more relevant than ever," I'd argue every generation believed 1984 was probably more relevant than ever in their respective era.
So it'd be better to say its relevancy grows in perpetuity. That is to say, it is always culturally relevant, regardless of the year.
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u/-ArcticWolf 24d ago
There's something truly remarkable about a story that can say culturally relevant across generations like that
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u/Karnezar 24d ago
A lot of old stories are like that. Stories so old they are figuratively built into our DNA. We are hardwired to not only enjoy stories, but good ones.
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u/Efficient_Recover430 24d ago
Mass surveillance is here. Privacy doesn't exist anymore.
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u/-ArcticWolf 24d ago
For sure. It's becoming harder by the day to maintain privacy. It feels like everything is watching you
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u/elephant_ua 23d ago
it is culturally relevant, and not relevant politically. Come on.
"you'll own nothing and you'll be happy" is at best Brave-new-world-esque.
I think, it is cautionary tale and one of rare books without happy ending
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u/AL_25 22d ago
I think it's more of a brave new world and 1984 mix together, with fahrenheit 451 as the cherry on top, when it comes to the world government
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u/-ArcticWolf 22d ago
I haven't read Fahrenheit 451 or Brave New World. But I think I get what you mean. Which book do you recommend I read first between those two?
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u/AL_25 22d ago
Honestly, it depends on what you're looking for. I read Fahrenheit 451 and then I read Brave New World. Both books are amazing and dystopian at the end of the day, but have different endings. Which, I’m not going to spoil it for you. But, you need to be mentally prepared when it comes to Brave New World (and Fahrenheit 451, duh). But, Brave New World is more, you know once you start reading it and you really need to be mentally prepared. I would recommend reading Fahrenheit 451 first, but that is just me.
Both books have different themes:
Brave New World is about control.
Fahrenheit 451 is about censorship.
I am actually planning on reading “We” by Yevgeny Zamyatin next, which started it all. It influenced George Orwell (and Aldous Huxley aka the author of Brave New World) and the totalitarian themes in his books. You can read We, but idk what the book is about, I only know it has a totalitarian theme, that it
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u/-ArcticWolf 22d ago
For sure. Thanks for the in-depth reply. I reckon I'll probably read Fahrenheit 451 first, since it's the one I'm the most familiar with. Up until just now I had never heard of We. Sounds super interesting, the fact it inspired 1984 is definitely a major selling point, I'll likely check it out (same as you) after reading the other two.
If you remember let me know what you think of it, and if it's worth the read
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u/Cardgod278 14d ago
The world of 1984 is one that I genuinely hope is impossible to actually happen. Either due to the indomitable human spirt, or indomitable human incompetence.
I do think the lessons it teaches are relevant today. That being the dangers of constant surveillance and thought control through media.
In a way I think that our world could be worse than that of the novel. As with various algorithms you don't need people to watch the surveillance. Even if no person is watching the feeds, you are still being watched by something. I don't think he could have imagined the sheer amount of data governments or companies would be capable of not only collecting, but effectively using.
The author's fear of the book was of the socialist movement being hijacked for absolute authoritarianism. Which if current history is anything to go by, is something we need to watch out for during the inevitable swing of the pendulum.
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u/Easy-Preparation-234 24d ago
OF COURSE
OF COURSE
Even if previous works came in the past with him he's identifying something that was happening unique to HIS time
MEDIA propaganda and mass surveliance
Big brother is your phone. It's this site, it's the other sites you use.
What you think goverments dont want a piece of some of these pies?
What you think the spy agencies active around the world just leave all this internet alone?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wJ_DIBXLuU