Well, this is it. I just finished my mathematics examination, I'm waiting on the completion of the leaver's form, and yeah.
It feels great to know that for two months - two precious months - I'll have complete freedom.
Damn, I love the way school works with the 8 week holiday. The rest of it sucks though.
I actually prefer the more casual Ancient Greek schooling method, but to find out more you'd have to read John Taylor Gatto's I Quit, I think essay and his book on schooling.
11.30.2007
11.26.2007
On Orwell's 1984 - a comparison to today, with quotes from other texts
Mmkay. I have read 1984 five times in these past 2 weeks. Now, I plan on dissecting my copy. Quotations wills be made where appropriate.
"Today it is impossible to think of the novel in quite the same way. It is a mark of the author's astonishing influence that, as the historical 1984 approached, the date on the calender was discussed throughout the world almost with trepidation, as though it were a kind of millennium."
Let's see what actually happened in 1984. Er...lotsa things. Besides some really crappy pop stars being born.
Moving on...
"But that is now over, and some may wonder whether the novel has exceeded its shelf life. For how long can a story about a future that is past continue to alarm its readers?"
1984 is a prophecy of sorts. It simply got the date wrong. Right situation, wrong timing. But if it hadn't been written...well, I don't really want to think about that.
"There are certainly aspects of the novel which tempt the modern critic to be condescending."
Telescreens are a good example - I'm not too sure about it, but I'm pretty sure the cloest we have at the moment is spy cameras hidden in TV speakers. And maybe webcams, but I'm not sure.
"...there has, so far, been no third world war or Western revolution, and totalitatiran systems are not more but less common than forty years ago..."
Third World War (well, it's turning into it anyway).
Western revolution...er....I'll get back to you on that.
Totalitarian systems...well, you got that one semi-right. Mugabe's a good example, but there's plenty of others.
"We are grateful for Julia. But we are left wondering how this public-schoolboy's fantasy ideal of uncomplicated, healthy, outdoors femininity could possibly have survived the mind-rotting propaganda of the Party."
There's no wondering - you can go with the flow and still not really go with it.
"Nineteen Eighty-four is a great novel and a great tract because of the clarity of its call, and it will endure because its message is a permanent one: erroneous thought is the stuff of freedom."
Amen.
I'm going to quit quoting now - too damn hard. But here's a comparison of a few little bits and pieces of 1984's universe.
Telescreens appear to be the equivalent of the TV. You notice the mention that it is impossible to turn off - well, it's possibl for us, but we don't. I do - I'd rather curl up with a good book and a nice hot coffee than sit in front of a TV, unless the said TV is playing Supernatural (or a really good movie). I have my weaknesses...Dean and Sam are two of them.
Also, the mention of social seperation. Like it or not, it's around. It's part of human nature, sadly. Everyone tries to get rid of it, but it's not precisely working.
Eh, I'm going to cutoff here. I'm tired.
"Today it is impossible to think of the novel in quite the same way. It is a mark of the author's astonishing influence that, as the historical 1984 approached, the date on the calender was discussed throughout the world almost with trepidation, as though it were a kind of millennium."
Let's see what actually happened in 1984. Er...lotsa things. Besides some really crappy pop stars being born.
Moving on...
"But that is now over, and some may wonder whether the novel has exceeded its shelf life. For how long can a story about a future that is past continue to alarm its readers?"
1984 is a prophecy of sorts. It simply got the date wrong. Right situation, wrong timing. But if it hadn't been written...well, I don't really want to think about that.
"There are certainly aspects of the novel which tempt the modern critic to be condescending."
Telescreens are a good example - I'm not too sure about it, but I'm pretty sure the cloest we have at the moment is spy cameras hidden in TV speakers. And maybe webcams, but I'm not sure.
"...there has, so far, been no third world war or Western revolution, and totalitatiran systems are not more but less common than forty years ago..."
Third World War (well, it's turning into it anyway).
Western revolution...er....I'll get back to you on that.
Totalitarian systems...well, you got that one semi-right. Mugabe's a good example, but there's plenty of others.
"We are grateful for Julia. But we are left wondering how this public-schoolboy's fantasy ideal of uncomplicated, healthy, outdoors femininity could possibly have survived the mind-rotting propaganda of the Party."
There's no wondering - you can go with the flow and still not really go with it.
"Nineteen Eighty-four is a great novel and a great tract because of the clarity of its call, and it will endure because its message is a permanent one: erroneous thought is the stuff of freedom."
Amen.
I'm going to quit quoting now - too damn hard. But here's a comparison of a few little bits and pieces of 1984's universe.
Telescreens appear to be the equivalent of the TV. You notice the mention that it is impossible to turn off - well, it's possibl for us, but we don't. I do - I'd rather curl up with a good book and a nice hot coffee than sit in front of a TV, unless the said TV is playing Supernatural (or a really good movie). I have my weaknesses...Dean and Sam are two of them.
Also, the mention of social seperation. Like it or not, it's around. It's part of human nature, sadly. Everyone tries to get rid of it, but it's not precisely working.
Eh, I'm going to cutoff here. I'm tired.
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