What 'Orwellian' really means - Noah Tavlin

If you’ve watched the news or followed politics, chances are you’ve heard the term Orwellian thrown around in one context or another. But have you ever stopped to think about what it really means, or why it’s used so often? Noah Tavlin dissects the term.

Lesson by Noah Tavlin, animation by TED-Ed.

[JosephClayson]

Imagine being such a great author that they make up an adjective out of your name.

[roidroid]

"Department of Defense" is always a good one, implying that our nations are never the military aggressors (as that would require a "Department of Offense").

[excellentu.a.student]

"Language is the currency of politics." That was so well said, Noah!

[tallymark]

Deaths during war are called casualties. This makes them sound “casual” like something that just happens, man isn’t that just the worst?

[FractalZero]

These animations are off the fucking rails.

[Arora_]

"Control Language and you control thought; Control Thought and you control action; Control action and you control the World."

Genius.

[MrUndersolo]

The older I get, the more I realize that Orwell was an optimist.

[TheNavalAviator]

All animals are equal but some are more equal. Classic orwellianism!

[foxmatrix]

These TED-Ed videos should be shown in schools more often.

[jahang.cataruja]

I claimed to loved dystopian novels but how ironic it is that I haven't yet read Orwell's 1984. This should be in my TBR this year.

[adabsurdum]

Just watched this one and the Kafka one. Now you need a "Lovecraftian" video

[trugangstareal]

One of the most important parts of the illusion is when we talk about this Orwellian dystopia, it must be with the mindset of “this could happen”, so we won’t realize it already has.

[deeb]

"Enhance Interrogation Techniques" = Torture

Bisayawa

[FlanaFugue]

Very good, "the deceptive and manipulative use of language" IS on the right track, to which I'll try and finish:

to achieve a state of doublethink in individuals, the acceptance of two contradictory notions in their heads at the same time, after which logic fails and can only be replaced by loyalty through obedience.

[sebastianinakilizarraga]

A Spanish teacher named Alfonso López Quintás also says that there are some words that are manipulated nowadays. He calls them "talisman words". For example, the word "change" is viewed usually positive in politics, although politicians don't specificate if it is a bad or a good change. Also "freedom", "equality" and other words... 1984 is more than a distopy. It is an unintentional mirror of our actual culture.

[Fossy]

That hamster wheel imagery was extremely poignant.

[Luckytr]

"it's possible their statements are more Orwellian than whatever it is they're criticizing." lmao

[emjackson]

In the words of Picard: "There are four lights." Never let someone convince you otherwise.

[K.S.Khunkhao]

My favorite one yet!
Excellent narration (as always), awesome content, and outstanding animation.
Keep up the great work :)

[sarunas]

So Orwell isn't warning us of a wolf, but warning us not to become sheep?