Imagine a world in which it is unsafe to speak your mind freely, even privately. A world of hysterical denunciations of wrong-thinkers, where non-conformity is a crime. Where what is right on Monday is wrong on Tuesday. Where the past is continually re-written according to a present which is ever-changing. A world in which the masses are placated with pop and prolefeed. Where entertainment, produced by machines using automatic formats, has replaced culture, and the entertainment screen records you. Where ecstasies of self-righteous hate are wallowed in, while those who are hated are called "haters". Where everyone believes impossibilities, because everyone else does, and you get into serious trouble if you don't. This is 1984. We will read George Orwell's haunting, prophetic story in class. I will provide an analysis and facilitate discussion. Please note that we will not be exploring contemporary politics (!) but Orwell's great novel.