Before I read 1984 I had heard people characterize things as "orwellian". I knew people talked about "Big Brother" and that that reference implied a society with total surveillance of its citizens. But the sheer amount of concepts in our culture that come from 1984 is stunning.
Room 101 for instance, we all seem to know what room 101 is even if we haven't read the book. I now seem to have lost interest with my original train of thought and so I will devote this blog to Room 101. Orwell's inspiration for Room 101 was a conference room in the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation amadáin). It would appear that the meetings Orwell attended in Room 101 were exceedingly boring or otherwise "unendurable". The building has since been demolished but the room has been immortalized in art as can be seen at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/03/entertainment_enl_1068725504/html/1.stm
Room 101 for instance, we all seem to know what room 101 is even if we haven't read the book. I now seem to have lost interest with my original train of thought and so I will devote this blog to Room 101. Orwell's inspiration for Room 101 was a conference room in the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation amadáin). It would appear that the meetings Orwell attended in Room 101 were exceedingly boring or otherwise "unendurable". The building has since been demolished but the room has been immortalized in art as can be seen at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/03/entertainment_enl_1068725504/html/1.stm
We now know Room 101 as the worst place in the world, or more specifically as that which houses the worst thing in the world. The idea of the worst thing in the world being individual instead of universal links back to the fear essay we wrote, I doubt that any of us held the same thing as our worst fear. Though it does seem that the fears exploited in Room 101 are "irrational" or unlikely, such as crucifixion or burial alive, and as far as I know most of the essays focused on more common and probable occurences.
Interestingly, the last head of the Stasi in the GDR (you'll have to look up the initials this time) changed the way the rooms of Stasi HQ in Berlin were numbered so that his office would be 101. This man, his name was Erich Mielke, was a known fan of George Orwell, despite the fact that Orwell's works were banned in the GDR.
Interestingly, the last head of the Stasi in the GDR (you'll have to look up the initials this time) changed the way the rooms of Stasi HQ in Berlin were numbered so that his office would be 101. This man, his name was Erich Mielke, was a known fan of George Orwell, despite the fact that Orwell's works were banned in the GDR.