Blog #44: James Gian: Period 7: 6/14/20

June 14th, 2020       James Gian, Period 7

Aim 1: How is connotation, denotation, and paradox explicated through

Orwell’s “doublethink”?

Do Now: Analyze the images below. Record the feelings you have/associate/identify with each of the “6” images.

Discussion: First, the class had to discuss the difference between connotation and denotation. Connotation is the various social overtunes, cultural implications, or emotional meanings associated with an object. Denotation is the explicit or referential meaning of an object. Then, after the Do Now, we discussed Paradoxes. Paradoxes are statements that appear to be self-contradictory or silly, but may include a latent truth. We went over a few such as War is Peace in 1984, and Fair is foul and foul and fair in Macbeth. Then, we went over a paradox called Sara’s Certain Death Riddle. It is a paradox where two guards guard two doors, where one door leads to certain death and the other doesn’t, and one guard will lie and one guard will tell the truth. Sarah then proceeds to ask a series of yes or no questions to figure out which door is the correct one. 

Individual Activity: We had to make a fictional advertisement for The Oceania Times.

Class Discussion: Consider all of the emphasis we have been placing on “Doublethink.” Do you believe that George Orwell would think we were crazy or just wasting a great deal of time focusing on this topic? Why/Why Not?

Discussion: We discussed this question, and some of us thought that the emphasis we have been placing on Doublethink is justified due to the lack of truth in the media, and the fact that to get accurate knowledge on a topic, it is best to look it up yourself and get your own facts.

Aim 2: How can we analyze the symbolism in Winston Smith's name?

Turn and Talk: Winston Churchill and Winston Smith compare by having the same first name, and they both spoke out against forms of government they did not like, with Churchill speaking out against Communism and Smith against Big Brother.

Group Work: 1) We discussed that Orwell combined Winston and Smith together, because Winston referencing Winston Churchill, and Smith being a very common name, showing that the common man can become a Winston and rise up to the occasion. 2) We discussed that his message to the reader is that the common man can become a Winston and rise up to the occasion.