Animal Farm | Analysis

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is a fascinating book often perceived as a criticism of socialism because of its critical depiction of the USSR. However, as you may already know, the book is a bit more nuanced than this. Animal Farm is a tale of emancipation, freedom, equality and, as an antithesis to these: capitalism.

0:00 Introduction
7:18 How Animal Farm Praises Socialism
19:03 How The Revolution Failed
45:36 Conclusion

#arthistory #art #animalfarm

[Lupine.]

I think the audiobook narrated by Ralph Cosham did the story justice. The best performance of a "Classic" I've listened to yet.
It's worth the listen for anyone who wants to revisit this book.

[theevilmilkoprostate]

Being British, I was never taught about Animal Farm when I was in school. Socialism and communism were rarely touched on in school for me. When I first read the book I immediately recognized how pro socialist it was and recognized, within my interpretation at the time, the link between Napoleon and Stalin as well as dogs and police. It was immensely surprising for me to find out that people thought it was a pro-capitalist book. It was dumbfounding. Capitalists will use any words or art for its own self preservation, even if those words or art were created in direct opposition to it.

EDIT: A few other Brits have mentioned reading Animal Farm in school, so it might me more of a generational or school by school basis thing.

[paruparupopVA]

"When he says you may drown in the bathtub, he's right. But that doesn't mean you should stop taking baths.... stinky"
Gave me a little chuckle. I'm not gonna lie, lol.

[kevinalmgren]

The portrayal of the dogs is especially interesting considering Orwell’s personal history as a colonial police officer.

[Odirile_Kgabo]

That’s crazy I’m South African and it’s always been taught as a political allegory on communism and socialism. Learning people were taught it’s anti communist is sooo wild.

[cosmicdib]

When i read the end bit about how the pigs looked human, i interpreted it as the idea of communism morphing into something it wasn't meant to be. Top tier novel, top tier pig nose.

[Nyma]

I read Animal farm on my own in year six (British school system) and we didn’t cover it in my school, but my sister did it in year 9; they taught it as a critique on capitalism and how socialism can be coopted or go awry if not done correctly, teaching us context of Orwell’s political views and the allegory for Russia’s political sphere at the time. Idk about other schools but i feel lucky that we both received this teaching unlike some schools that completely misinterpret it, and am grateful that you’re gifting others with the opportunity to see this book clearly again. I love your channel btw!🤍

[Joutube_is_trash]

I always saw the story as a critique of both governing structures and a warning that revolution will always leave a power vacuum seeking a new tyrant to fill it. We read it in early highschool so around 13-15 years old, and even then my main take away was people are incapable of self governing without a clear leader and naturally subservient people will allow or even push some to lead them, rather than take on any burden of their own.

[Schooliday]

This channel is one of the richest on this platform. I hope you won't get tired of explaining great art, political concepts and ideas anytime soon, comrade.

[kjcs_]

I like how he is branching out from art to ideologies and literature. Keep it up! I want to hear him talk about literature, but his art talks is also interesting.

[vanschoppenvrouw]

Socialist and communist are NOT synonymes.

[devinmceneany]

The fact these don’t get more views is confusing to me they are so well made

[trvst]

I urge everyone to read this also by Orwell. Written during a German air raid in London, where Orwell was staying. “The Lion and the Unicorn.” 🙌

[magdaciechocka]

When like ~11-12yo first read Animal Farm (translated into Polish, since I wasn't fluent enough to read in english yet) on my own, I got the same basic impressions of "all communism bad", thanks to Poland's unfortunate history with Soviet Union. However, as I grew and learned more about the world, and especially during the lockdown, I started understanding that capitalism is horrible and sees neurodivergent people like me either as unwanted burden or easly exploitable group and only now the actual themes of the book have really started to sink in.
Ps. I just remembered that I have fancy big edition of Animal farm with banger illustrations.

[jwanbesande]

This video just gave me the idea of a live action Animal Farm movie where every character is played by a human actor in terrible animal costumes

[nmlss]

Before "Animal Farm" there was "The Revolt of the Animals" by Władysław Reymont. And before "The Revolt of Animals" there were "Animal Riot" by Nikolai Kostomarov. Just like before "1984" and "Brave New World" there was the original dystopian novel "We" by brilliant Yevgeny Zamyatin. I like Orwell and his books.. but it bothers me that he's given all the credit for these satirical & dystopian tales when he's not the one who came up with those ideas and themes. Russians lived under those totalitarian regimes, and they created those tales as a natural response.. they are more authentic

[titltic]

I don’t really care for politics or books but you mr canvas never fail to peak my interest on any topic! You got me really into art history and I want to thank you for that ❤

[kwiiin_]

I seriously cannot get how anyobe would read this, knowing Orwell's books, and think "Jeez that lad loves capitalism, authority and nationalism". Unless you live in a country that thinks healthcare is no human right, of course, cause it's "communist".

[refugeinthewind]

Once again, brilliant! Well done. These videos and live streams are moving me to expressing observations and information while teaching classes on regenerative horticulture /agriculture. My contracts haven't been canceled yet... probably because those "in power" aren't paying attention, or if they are, they have no understanding of which I speak.... pedagogy is so powerful... Keep up the amazing work! (Love the "costume" and set design!!❤)

[kostbill]

I strongly disagree with one of the starting points of your analysis, which drives many of your conclusions: that Jones is a capitalist.

I think very few would agree that Jones was a capitalist. He was a feudal lord (of course, we should follow the death of the author here, but isn't it obvious that Jones was the czar? Czarist Russia was a feudal state, although Stolypin's reforms tried to undo that, it was too close to the revolution). He applied force, actual physical force, force that exists in order to coerce someone to do something.

If Jones were a capitalist, he would let the animals migrate to other farms, seeking other jobs, and perhaps some animals would stay there, because for them, the Joneses were all the same, or because if they were out of work, then they would starve.
If Jones were a capitalist, he would (according to communists) lower wages and demanded to fire bad workers, he was not going to shoot them or kill them.

I understand that communists don't accept that. For communists, applied force by a feudal lord to a peasant, is the same as non applied force by a capitalist not to hire a person. But for most people that is not true.


And this is my critique to you: that you don't notify the viewer that Jones will be seen not as a capitalist, but as a non capitalist tyrant for most of the people, and that you belong in a very small group of people with that point of view.

Since Orwell truly believed that socialism was possible without violence, it is true that this book is not about the dichotomy of capitalism vs socialism. This was indeed a western propaganda issue.

I am very interested in your answer to my critique, if you have the time.
Thanks.