Sixtieth Anniversary of Publication

Today (June 8th) marks the 60th anniversary of the publication of George Orwell’s NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR.

Ways to Stage a “1984+25″ Event

It is my hope that libraries, bookstores, high school English classes, civil liberties groups, and other groups and individuals around the world will take advantage of this year, the sixtieth anniversary of the publication of 1984, to stage public events commemorating the novel. Here are a few notes to consider regarding aspects of possible events…

• April 4, 2009 marks the twentieth-fifth anniversary of the book’s opening date. (Winston Smith’s first diary entry is April 4, 1984. )  But don’t feel limited by that date -  it will be perfectly wonderful to have series of events lasting all year long.
• There are several possible formats:
  • Marathon solo reading (one reader, the whole book)
  • Sequential solo reading (several readers, one after the other)
  • Reader’s theatre (several readers, selected sections, with some staging, lighting, etc.)
  • Excerpts/highlights (with one or many readers)
• The format that you choose will depend on the kind of space you have available, the number of people interested in reading, and the time that you have for preparation.
• The entire book takes about 10 hours to read straight through, if the length of the available unabridged audiobooks is any indication. Therefore, readings that begin at 1 PM (when “the clocks were striking thirteen”) would wrap up around 11 PM.
• Another possibility to explore is breaking up the readings with brief discussion periods, presentations from local activists, or other opportunities for listeners to react to and discuss the issues raised by the book.
• You might even consider devoting several book-club-style meetings to discussion of the various issues the book raises.
• If you don’t want to do a reading, you can obtain a video of the excellent film adaptation starring John Hurt and Richard Burton, invite a few friends over, and have a “1984″ movie night.
• If you miss the opportunity this year, don’t fret: start thinking about “1984+30″ in 2014!

Why “1984″?

Q. Why revisit 1984?

A. Because we still can.

Admittedly, we are still well removed from the full realization of Orwell’s dark vision. The climate after the 9/11 attacks showed marked tendencies towards at least four of the most chilling aspects of Oceania’s Ingsoc society: total and intrusive surveillance, restricted personal freedoms, perpetual warfare, and the corruption of language – indeed, thought itself – for political ends. Now that the Bush Regime is out of power, and President Barack Obama’s Administration has begun, we have moved farther away from the cliff’s edge in many respects. But circumstances can change at a moment’s notice, and as was said long ago, vigilance is the price of liberty.

So, it is my hope that by staging public events commemorating 1984, we can stimulate discussion and renewed awareness of the novel and its continued relevance.

1984+25 Event: Hawley PA, 4/4/09

On Saturday, April 4, 2009, the “1984+25 Project” will present a program commemorating the 25th “anniversary” of the opening events of George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR.  The program, which will combine selected readings with discussion of the issues raised by the novel, will be held at the Hawley Public Library, 103 Main Avenue, Hawley PA beginning at 1:00 PM.

2009 also marks the sixtieth anniversary of the book’s original publication in 1949.   The novel is famous for its portrayal of pervasive government surveillance, physical and psychological torture, and totalitarian control.  Many of its key concepts - including “Big Brother,” “doublethink” and “Newspeak” – have become common parlance. The very term ”Orwellian” itself has come to refer to anything reminiscent of the book’s fictional regime.

Hello world!

Welcome to the website for the 1984+25 Project.  Check back “soonest” for more information and updates.