19686 - George Orwell, 1984 and Animal Farm
Course Overview
Winston Churchill and George Orwell were contemporaries. The two men never met each other and moved in very different circles, but they both wrote about history. From 1940 to 1945, Churchill led Great Britain in the fight against fascism. Following the war, George Orwell wrote the novels 1984 and Animal Farm which explored totalitarianism and social control. Although the title of the first novel refers to the year 1984, it was actually written in 1948. There are many theories as to why Orwell reversed the last two digits of the book, but one of the most commonly held is that the book is a warning that in the future dictators will use the same tricks to seize control. Dictators spread fear through misinformation and bullying and place themselves as society’s only salvation. In an autocracy, books are removed because they provide alternative views substantiated by facts. Knowing this, Hitler banned and burned books.
Join us for a class on George Orwell and his two seminal novels which contain a dystopian, and prescient warning about autocracy. As Winston Churchill said, “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”
Additional Information
Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is no longer required for entry. Masks are recommended.
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This class is eligible for UNM Tuition Remission under Personal Enrichment.
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