Vic Books Talk - 1984, George Orwell

I went to a book discussion at Vic Books Pipitea about George Orwell’s dystopian novel ‘1984’, as the topic of the book relates well to my topic.
The blurb for the talk is as follows:
"George Orwell's '1984' paints the disturbing picture of an England under the rule of an absolute totalitarian regime. Published in 1949, Orwell gave the world a glimpse into the mindset of those manipulated by their own government, and that of those who chose to rebel against it.
Orwell's classic dystopian novel has re-entered the best-sellers list in 2017 after Trump's advisors re-introduced the world to the concept of "alternative facts"."

Here are my notes, revelations and thoughts:

• In the book the authorities created a new language to make the population use (form of oppression)
• ‘Black-weight’ where a fact is presented as evidence, a blatant lie in spite of evidence that people believe anyway.
• Fear and distaste of language, of adjectives and expressive language. Things such as Sad. Good. Very Good. Trumpisms.
The idea that eventually, everything might be abolished. Devaluing and misuse of language.
• The post-war dream of the little man who finds a tiny corner hiding from the government to do his things.
• Can a fact be changed? Is perception fact? These things aren’t malleable by political structure.
• Trump’s lies are, in a bizarre way, comfort texts that offer an alternate reality, like a pick-an-ending book where you can pick the answer that you prefer to hear.
• Quizzes? Are they a form of fun and play theory that addresses this pick-an-answer idea?
• Does a lie-maker have a ‘saving stupidity’? He’s using a position of lowliness in a high place in a way that is deliciously intoxicating and dizzying.
• Cecelia, in Ian McEwan’s Atonement: “So nearly handsome, so deliciously stupid”.
There is a joy and satisfying interest and fascination at watching and spurring on something so stupid to see what it will do.
• A comfort in Trump, he is a lier and a bad guy, and so you know who he is. “Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t.” It was likely on this idea that he was elected over Clinton.
• There’s an element of story and dystopia that gives us a sense to keep going and functioning in our similar lives.
• Interesting to run to fiction, perhaps a form of extended lie, to find solace from a post-truth world.