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  • Essay / Goldstein's book: Time as theme and structure in...

    Annotated bibliographyGottlieb, Erika. "The Function of Goldstein's Book: Time as Theme and Structure in Dystopian Satire." Utopian Studies 2.3 (1991): 12-19. Literary reference center. Internet. March 19, 2016. In "The Function of Goldstein's Book: Time as Theme and Structure in Dystopian Satire," Erika Gottlieb argues that Goldstein's book establishes George Orwell's 1984 as a dystopian satire. She juxtaposes Goldstein's book with the propaganda version given to children, the Children's History Book. The stereotypes and inaccuracies about capitalists in the history book represent the “gross and childish simplification of Marxist interpretations of history” (Gottlieb 13). This statement is reinforced by the “straightjacket”. By 1984, cinema, primarily in the form of telescreens, was being used as a form of repression rather than entertainment, the original purpose of cinema. The only time TV screens are partially used for entertainment purposes is among proletarians, but even then the Party only allows this to satisfy the sexual desire of proletarians and prevent an uprising. Generally, TV screens are only used for political propaganda purposes to manipulate public opinion. As Varricchio showed, this is demonstrated most poignantly during Two Minutes of Hate and Hate Week. During the Two Minutes, Goldstein, the Enemy of the People, is given a “howling sound” and “a bleating voice” (Orwell quoted in Varricchio 104). Compared to Big Brother who embodies calm and serenity, Goldstein is demonized by the telescreen while Big Brother is worshipped, thus persuading the public to see Big Brother as good and Goldstein as evil. Additionally, Varricchio claims that the telescreen oppresses the audience due to its constant scrutiny of the audience. With TV screens installed throughout the Party, everyone must constantly show "an expression of serene optimism on the screen", or an expression that shows submission to the party (Orwell qtd. in Varricchio 105). Varricchio finally maintains that the role of the telescreen is not only limited to transmitting and receiving, but also to acting. He responds to others, yelling when someone isn't exercising and responding with information when asked. For Varricchio, 1984 is a dark warning against the use of cinema and television as a form of repression around the world.