George Orwell's 1984, Part 2: Crash Course Literature 402 

"What Orwell failed to predict is that we'd buy the cameras ourselves, and our biggest fear would be that nobody was watching."

"How many fingers am I holding up Winston?" The most chilling thing I have ever read. The truth brings pain to the body. The lie brings pain to the mind.

I have a maths exam tomorrow and I'm watching a video on 1984. This is my life and these are my choices.

"Big Brother never came. Instead we got Little Snitch." - Robin Williams, referring to the smartphone/social media revolution

One thing Orwell couldn't predict is that everyone would sudden have a camera in their own pocket that we could use to record not only our fellow citizens but also those in power. We have the ability to root out corruption and injustice by turning the camera back around at the oppressors.

10:04 "Alexa, can you make sure not to spy on me?" "I'm sorry John, I'm afraid I can't do that." LOL

As a non-native English speaker I was struggling to understand a word “Orwellian”. It is finally clear, thanks. (The whole channel is a treat to my mind, actually).

"Not since Dr. Frankenstein has someone so often been inappropriately alluded to" Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita begs to differ.

When I first read 1984, my twelfth grade mind was floored by the ending, but also super fascinated by the Appendix. I mean, I was so invested in the logic and possibility behind the concept of language governing thought. The Appendix stuck in my mind. Whenever someone would ask me about a book recommendation, I'd always end up gushing about 1984's Appendix. I acknowledge that, to most people, the Appendix was probably boring as hell, but 1984 was the first book -- actually, the first _thing_ -- that made me interested in the study of language. Nearly 3 years later, I've declared my Bachelor's in English language with an added minor for teaching ESL. It seems really weird that I have to thank a essay-type extra in a dystopian fiction written nearly 70 years ago for helping me along my post-secondary path.

I hope the NSA guy watching finds this entertaining

Arguing with an Inner Party member is like playing chess with a Cardassian pigeon: No matter how good you play, it will rewrite the rules, define white as black and black as white, and strap your face to a cage filled with hungry rats.

"That's not a thought crime...yet" Those haunting words will soon come true

For me, the best part of the book is when Winston talks about the middle class "if there is hope it lies in the proles... if they only could somehow become conscious of their own strength.. they could blow the party to pieces tomorrow morning". It is still the truth today, if the working class unite themselves, they could be invincible against any type of government but ironically they are the easiest to be manipulated. "all that was required from the proles was a primitive patriotism which could be appealed to whenever it was necessary to make them accept longer working hours or shorter ratios" THAT IS TODAY! he also talks about sports, beer, heavy physical work to keep they controlled, false rumors... come on!

2017 John : I am not going to denounce social media 2019 John : Hasn't used social media in almost a year

If the author could be contacted; he would probably respond with - "I told you so."

Wow, such a great comment at the end when you say, “we are always watching each other”. So true that there is no big brother, but there never was. We are our own big brothers.

I've always understood the term "Orwellian" to mean, "something that would happen in an Orwell novel", much like the term Kafkaesque, not necessarily to mean something that Orwell would support, in which case it is currently used accurately and correctly.

Not every human activity was completely monitored, the proles worked with minimal (comparitively) servalance which is one reason why Winston believed any rebellion must come from the proles.

I think Orwellian in it's current use is accurate. It works well as meaning, "Resembling the world of an Orwell novel."

10:09 "Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both" to answer what you said...

I really appreciate you made this review. I read the book after working in Beijing for a year and I recognised so much of what I have experienced there in the book. That scares me but I am happy there are many people who read this. I hope that more people will read the book because of this review!

"Can good books improve the human experience?" he asked while teaching a literature class.

I am very grateful for this interpretation and analysis of "1984". So many years ago, I was taught in the first reading of this book that "1984" is a foreboding against tyranny and surveillance states; that it was about government gone mental. We have always been rather mistrusting of governments. I can understand but am also quite wary of the fear that a body of people, elected or otherwise, sanctified with up-keeping social justice through the monopoly on violence, imprisonment and social ostracism can suddenly and inexplicably abuse its unique privileges. For me, "1984" warns us more than about governments or oligarchies. Any society that uses public shaming, fear-mongering or thought-bandwagoning to encourage conformity over independent thinking, grooms, as an organism might its own constitution, the cells that will perpetuate it at the expense of perspicacity, justice, rationality, utility or humanity. Perhaps the world of "1984" has already materialised. Instead of the dystopian colourless world that we've been taught to dread, we are quite fond of our LED-lit, scented incense one, as might the myriads of Oceanians their own. We love it because it's not built by governments but by a collective of seemingly our own kinds. The methods of this collective is --- and requires, rather --- much less violence and re-writing of the facts; its plebeians are much more willingly subdued because they feed off of the base fear of loneliness and insignificance. The collective then builds a hierarchy for those who speak, think and act in a way that is supported by it. The misfits are exiled in mental space, cast out for rudely challenging the collective out of ignorance, or perhaps a serious lack of indoctrination. Do we even know who they are after so long being out of sight and out of mind? Am I not correct in saying this --- albeit hyperbolically darkly interpreted: the real big brothers are our inner fears to be forgotten or alone, built into the societal creature that eats our pictures, video and thoughts to excrete to us the affirmation of human connection and status? How numbs us to our own evils --- hides it or disguises it, even --- through the clever use of banners, flags, pithy sayings for slogans and pen-lined round logos framed by crossing arrows. The need for human connection frees us and oppresses us alike, no? Therefore, the real medicine against the "1984" dystopian evil is to not only detest unfettered powers of governments, but also to cultivate a muted insistence that we never put collectives or doctrines before people. Perhaps it requires a minute and constant application of judgment and introspection to make sure we do not succumb to the torture of wants that impel us, perhaps even with good intentions, to the inhumane.

Oh BIG BROTHER is most definitely watching along with us all! Never forget that!

You're Great man! I watch your videos at least 6 hours a day

A very nice video, I think the part that stands out to me was "Winston can't turn off his telescreen, we however choose not to."

Love the tying back into the thematic lessons from Crash Course Psychology as well as those from the One Hundred Years of Solitude lecture. Oh and Chomsky/Pinker

I just looked at the date for this piece (2017). Boy, how things have changed in 3 years!

So, once many years ago I read this story, devoured it even though it was written in a tongue foreign to me. Since I owned a Penguin Literature edition of this book there were some questions written in the back, and today I found my answers scribbled on the blanc pages in the back at the age of 17. I never quite knew where to leave them, so I'll share one here maybe someone here enjoys it. Words are meant to be passed on, in my option. The question was "Shortly rewrite the plot of the last chapter of the novel to make it more hopeful." This was my answer, back in the day: At last, the day has approached. The waiter went up to him, his face plastered with boredom, and put a little note onto his table along with a full glass of victory gin. Winston didn’t even try to hide the note from the telescreen, it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered. The note read "Meeting Minitrue twenty sixteen" and so he went. Back in the days of hiding he would have tried to fight it. Now, the unfillable emptiness in his stomach made such thoughts impossible. The last human ate himself from the inside. As expected, he was called in and brought into the deepest depth of the building, to a long corridor. There it was. The act he had been waiting for. He couldn't feel anything though, only the emptiness inside of him. Unchangeably true. Winston was sent to the end by a voice behind him. Slowly he started walking towards the door at the end of the corridor, even though he was certain to never reach it. The high click of the gun being loaded came from behind his back. Always from behind, in the back of the head. Suddenly, an impression came to him of waling in the sunshine. He wasn't sure where it came from, but a memory formed in his mind where the emptiness had been. A false memory, that he was sure of, because nothing good like this could exist. Of a woman, holding a little girl in her arms, trying to save her from the world, from all harm. The memory was false, the moment had never happened, he was sure of it. Deep down, in the ministry of truth, he realised how little it mattered whether that memory was false. If he could think of it, here, in this place, it might be true someday. Sometime in the future, it could happen. From the empty spot in his stomach certainty arose. It was all the humanity Winston had left in him. Even though he knew 2+2 equalled 5, and he loved big brother, he knew if he could imagine woman loving her daughter, someone, somewhere could love. These thoughts in mind, the bullet reached his neck, snapped his spine and made his heart stop. He died, as all humans do, with no one even noticing his secret victory.

But does the appendix being written in English really hint that Orwell's future is a positive one? I think it's just because it's trying to teach us the reader Newspeak. We wouldn't understand the appendix if it was written entirely in Newspeak..

Hey John, love this book and this channel, I didn't realize you were still in crash course!

Orwellian alludes to his creation not his ideals, Dickensian doesnt promote pickpocketing or Kafkaesque doesnt mean Kafka was pro transforming into an insect...

Always good to hear Jon speak on sci-fi

The horrifying part of all this, is I know people that have reacted just as if they have crimestop inside them, and they instantly lash out and reject what you say if you say something that is politically, not in reality, wrong according to the powers that be.

This is why Alexa and other ‘smart house’ features concern me.

We need “brave new world” as a counter book to 1984

“We all big brother now” - Childish Gambino

Just finished it the other day after reading it for the first time. Kinda broke my heart.

I think the PRC might be mistaking this as an instruction manual rather than a book.

the sound effects during Thought Bubble were exceptional in this clip!

It is cynical to read 1984 and Animal Farm for me as a Chinese.

Literally only just realised that you're not an omnipresent being that cranks out a thousand videos a month, you actually have a brother that looks a lot like you and does similar content. Can't believe I never noticed that before.

Glad I stumbled across your channel. Subscribed. 😀

Finished reading it a few days ago, really enjoyed it

Valid points about the ironic use of term "orwellian" and miss-allusion to Frankenstein when we mean the monster.... but isn't a better comparison the misuse of Machiaveli's name to describe the kind of leaders he criticises?

I always thought Big Brother was the concept of the surveillance state not an actual dictator because besides the telescreens (which you have a good reason not to trust) the reader never really meets a character named Big Brother.

John green is wow .. your thoughts are excellent

Your review makes me want to read the book again.

Wow, you look so much better than a few hours ago!

How did we think when we had no words to think with?

Brave New World, The Panopticon.... so many more to do, and really, so much deeper if you wanted it. Either way, you all rock, thank you so much for your hard work!

I like how you kept it lite hearted while still warning anyone watching and unaware how scary close to reality in the U.S. and U.K. are ton1984. Didn't quite elaborate to clarify the smartphones camera and microphone never being able to be turned off, even if user thinks it is. You did however mention how it's within the truck terms and conditions of their stuff stated privacy settings we all have submitted, and volunteered any real privacy at all!

I think anyone who read this novel from “3d world” countries would have different perspective, for example I’m from Syria and a lot of the novel parts was a description of things I grow up with, even the torture part. Some part was like reading my country history. You’re lucky much more than you know.

I read 1984 (and animal farm) when I was in highschool around 1977. At that time, there was NO WAY to read another persons mind. It was totaly impossible. Now, if I have complete access to your computer and mobile device, I know you and what you think better than you do. It is not just social media. The government now has the means as well as the motive and we are quickly working to provide the opportunity. The opportunity will be described as something that is needed to protect the citizens, and we will hand it over without a thought.

Great content! Keep it up!

Awesome job, John. 🐢

I am curious as to who actually read the book as compared to those who think they read the book now that they have watched this. If you fall into the latter, I'd highly suggest you read the book before commenting below. Besides, it's a good read too.

“The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting.” ~Bukowski Orwell had also some extraordinary harsh comments against the lack of freedoms in the liberal "democracies" of his time.

The telescreen I think is the most prophetic part of the book because without a word for smartphone what would you call your phone but a telescreen.

You are a hero this course lines up with my curriculum at school, thank you Professor Green! Xx

The english language is really weird. Words have more than one meaning. In this case, the word "party" means to diametrically opposite feeling things.

For the social media question, look at the Chinese Sesame Credit system. It is all of the worst fears about social media come to life.

Of course it does! One cannot imagine what one cannot describe! Simply having a word for a certain shade of colour allows one to experience it.

Awesome! Big brother is everyone & each one of us.

OMG I'm a Linguistics Masters and I read that exact stuff written by Chomsky and Pinker

The sound effects seem a bit too loud during the thought bubble portion...

Love this video!

This is probably my favorite book :) I don't know if I thought I would say that Orwell is my favorite author when I was in high school

Amazing book and really scary...

Please do a crash course literature episode on animal farm!! It’s one of my favorite books of all time😁😁😁

Tip Top video.! Parts one and two.

This makes me read the service terms of every application I have. Goodness, maybe I should find a copy of this book.

Loved your book! Thank you for speaking to the irrational anxieties of our generation (though we don’t all have it as hard as Aza).

The appendix is written in Standard English as an ironic nod to the standards of the day in which the author drew upon for inspiration. It's a critique & warning.

Waiting for a friend to give me the book! Can't wait!

The last four words of this damn book killed me

Hey, the rats are nice and fluffy. That Winston is a nutter!

Do Fahrenheight 451 next

Underrated humor.

PLEASE do Brave New World! I would love a comparison between 1984 and Brave New World done by you.

perfect time to upload this today, with the Orwellian attack on net neutrality beginning again.

I really need to re-read 1984, i feel like the first time i read it (back in high school) that it was very much a surface reading, without much thought to the deeper philosophical questions like does language change the way we think.

I read this book in 2009, when smartphones weren't invented yet. It's crazy how much the comparison of the novel to present day has changed. Because today we do like to record our every movement or like it to be recorded.

A great modern follow up to this is Dave Eggers' The Circle, if ur curious.

Do "Brave new world" from Huxley!!! and compare it with 1984!

It’s scary how 1984 was so god damn accurate in portraying the Soviet Union.

Yay I always sucked at reading and now I can talk to others about Orwell!

Now that you've done 1984, you HAVE to do Brave New World (please :) )!

There are four lights!

“Big brother doesn’t exist” Ajit Pi: Hold my beer

I know we're probably all dystopia'd out but I hope you guys do an episode on Brave New World as well, along with 1984, easily my favorite and what I believe are some of the most important books of all time.

Awesome video, as always! Although, some of the script seems to have "leaked" in the subtitles... Why didn't you make the "Alexa" joke, that would have been hilarious!

"Those who sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither".

Google is today's big brother

It's interesting to examine the similarities between the book and our reality today but I don't think it's particularly productive to assume that we live in a dystopia. The world isn't that easy to define and I think John did a good job making that clear. How it is and how it should be will always be two separate things for people who desperately want to see it like that. It's on us to make the world better that's true but I don't think that this can be achieved by only seeing what we don't want. We have to see our victories too and I agree with Orwell in that sense. Everything that supports better living conditions for people is ultimately worth striving for.

I finished the book yesterday! This must be the work of fate.

There's also the fact that there's a difference between "surveillance as a way to protect the populace" and "surveillance as a means of preventing dissent" and the line between those two can be difficult to find. Personally, I think surveillance in public places SHOULD be a thing (this includes shops and workplaces, even if the latter aren't technically public) but people's homes and other private locations are off-limits. In simple terms: if you can reasonably expect people to be fornicating there at some point, don't put a camera there. Surveilling purchases is more ambiguous. Here's a question for others to debate: should stores keep lists of who buys which products and allow the government to access those lists for security reasons? (Say someone buys products from multiple stores that together can be used to make a bomb, for example.)

"How unpleasant that would be, he said as he is staring into a camera lens" - LOL not not creepy at all X;D

Thanks thought bubble!

Thank you.!