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diff --git a/memos/WM-016.txt b/memos/WM-016.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b4ff3bb --- /dev/null +++ b/memos/WM-016.txt @@ -0,0 +1,92 @@ + + + + + + + +Document: WM-016 P. Webb +Category: Review 2017.09.03 + + 1984 review + +Abstract + + A nightmarish vision of the future. + +Body + + The first half of this book was gripping and the second half was + unpleasant to me, but I had to see how it ended. + + 1984 is an oft-referenced book when tech writers and + privacy-conscious people talk about governmental encroachment upon + citizens' privacy and abuses of power to obtain private information. + And Facebook (haven't been a fan for some time). By the way, there's + going to be slight spoilers moving forward… + + Get ready! + + The story follows a man, Winston Smith, living in what could only be + called a "negative utopia" in the year 1984 (the book was published + in 1950). The country he lives in, Oceania, is controlled by the + Party and the Party quite literally rewrites history. As far as + anyone knows, the Party invented steamboats and airplanes and + everything else. Those born before the formation of the Party know + the truth but it doesn't matter. Questioning otherwise results in + sure death. Winston's only purpose in life is to rewrite facts + whenever the Party deems it necessary. If there was a speech in + which the Party claimed something and recorded facts said otherwise, + those recorded facts (in the form of newspapers, books, video, &c) + were subsequently destroyed and teams of people would recreate the + aforementioned media to "prove" the Party was and always is right in + all things. + + Prime example: in the beginning of the story, Oceania was at war with + Eurasia and Eastasia was their ally…only, the opposite was declared + later at a war rally *mid-speech* and the populace went with it. "The + enemy" tricked people into putting up posters of their enemy instead + of their ally and that "proved" just how diabolical they were + (nevermind the fact that thousands of people were *just* cheering for + Oceania and Eastasia). Winston and everyone else in the Outer Party + worked several 16 hour days to remove any mention of prior facts. + Knowing something to be false, yet believing in it anyway is referred + to as *doublethink*. If the Party said 2 + 2 = 5, *you'd better* + *believe it, or else*. + + Citizens caught by the Thought Police for *crimethink* (anything + remotely negative about or opposing the principles of the Party or + "Big Brother") get sent to a building called "Ministry of Love", + where they are tortured and starved before being mentally broken down + so brainwashing can take hold. Once these people are released, they + "live" out their lives doing menial work before eventually getting a + bullet in the back of their head. + + I don't think I'm doing a good job selling you on this book, + especially considering how I mentioned how unpleasant I found the + second half. Bear with me here. There was *one* neat thing and that + was the creation of a new language, *Newspeak[1]*, which dealt with + the merging of words (and eradication of others) to simplify English. + Of course, any words that might inspire a revolution of some sort + were abolished (as well as the concept of freedom). Can't have people + using a language created by the Party to overthrow them. Talk about a + slap in the face! + + Similarities of American society today and the dystopia of Oceania + weren't difficult to see. In fact, they jumped out at me. Fake news, + alternative facts, and blind followers of Drumpf[2] who regularly + engage in doublethink. Quite frankly, I found it terrifying. + Thankfully, we don't live in a world where the depressing society of + Oceania could thrive. No one entity has control over data and + knowledge (doesn't stop 'em from trying though). If nothing else, + 1984 serves as a cautionary tale of what *could* happen if everyone + lost their damn minds and subsequently decided they didn't care. + + If you like reading about oppressive dystopias, 1984[3] is the book + for you. 🕸 + +References + + [1] <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newspeak> + [2] <https://youtu.be/DnpO_RTSNmQ?t=20m53s> + [3] <https://amzn.to/2vUVoiH> |