Lecture - Orwell

As always my mind was left a boggle of information after attending another History and Context lecture! We looked a little at the book Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus (as we're looking at for our seminars) and we talked mostly about the author George Orwell.

Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus looks a little at the Verification Principle. It suggests that unless you can prove a statement to be true then it is meaningless.

'What is language? Language is everything. Everything is language.'

Orwell was a journalist, broadcaster and socialist who wrote three novels; most famously 1984. He has said to be of the same thinking as Hannah Arendt.

"Speech Act" -
1. Thought takes place in purely linguistic terms
2. Control language, and you can control thought
Therefore: mind control (may be) possible through manipulation of language

USSR = 'linguistic reform'

• Certain words were banned
• Certain letters were changed or removed from the alphabet
• In favor of a 'politically correct' language
• Theory that removing certain words would remove racial discrimination
• They invented new words such as 'agitprop'

Language is like plastic, it can be moulded and reshaped

Orwell said never to use a metaphor, simile or other figure of speech and never to use long words where a short word would do.

An example of pure vocalisation:
'The school aims to be at the leading edge of interprofesional education, practise and research for health, social care and complimentary therepies'

QUACK QUACK QUACK!! It all means nothing!

Seminar- The New Journalism, Tom Wolfe

Tom Wolfe was the founder of the New Journalism movement. His book is a collection of articles; less newspaper style and more magazine. New Journalism is an artistic form of reporting.

The style, first used in the 60s and 70s was very detailed. The journalist often needed to see an event first hand before writing an article; characters needed to be built from the people involved, an atmosphere needed to be created - the writing was so descriptive it can be compared to novels. Journalists writing in this style wanted their readers to feel the emotions of the people involved and feel connected to the story.

How did it all begin?
The war. Journalists started writing in more detail during the war, it was important for everyone to know exactly what it was like. It was a way for some people to express their individuality.

In the 21 century people want to know everything - it's celebrity culture. We now have bloggers which use pictures; people want every detail, they even want to SEE what journalists are talking about now. Blogs have become free New Journalism as there is little censorship.