George Orwell achieved fame with Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-four (1949) and is considered one of the most important writers of the 20th cent. The purpose of the course is to survey the essential writings of Orwell and examine his lasting impact on contemporary literature and current discussions regarding politics, technology and popular culture. We will also study his understanding of European history and society and critical views regarding relations between the European powers and their colonies in Asia, Africa, and around the world.

George Orwell achieved fame with Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-four (1949) and is considered one of the most important writers of the 20th cent. The purpose of the course is to survey the essential writings of Orwell and exam his lasting impact on contemporary literature and current discussions regarding politics, technology and popular culture. We will also study his understanding of European history and society and critical views regarding relationships between the European powers and their colonies in Asia, Africa, and around the world.

In this seminar we examine the work of George Orwell (1903-1950), the author of Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-four (1950) and one of the most influential English writers of the 20th cent. Though deeply rooted in his Englishness, Orwell was a keen observer of European society and global affairs and was personally committed to major political and social causes in France, Spain, and other countries. His vision of post-WW II global affairs was prophetic, as were his reflections on the need for a new political understanding among the major European powers and between the European powers and their colonies in Asia and around the world. He also championed clear and expressive English (“Good prose is like a windowpane”) and wrote extensively about popular culture, the mass media, and daily life. For all these reasons, he is often viewed as a quintessential modern figure who continually moved back and forth between his private concerns and public interests and grasped keenly the complex new world which was coming into being around him.

In this seminar we examine the work of George Orwell (1903-1950), the author of Animal Farm (1945) and Nineteen Eighty-four (1950) and one of the most influential English writers of the 20th cent. Though deeply rooted in his Englishness, Orwell was a keen observer of European society and global affairs and was personally committed to major political and social causes in France, Spain, and other countries. His vision of post-WW II global affairs was prophetic, as were his reflections on the need for a new political understanding among the major European powers and between the European powers and their colonies in Asia and around the world. He also championed clear and expressive English ("Good prose is like a windowpane") and wrote extensively about popular culture, the mass media, and daily life. For all these Reasons, he is often viewed as a quintessential modern figure who continuously moved back and forth between his private concerns and public interests and grasped keenly the complex new world which was coming into being around him.

We will make use of printed editions of Orwell's writings. (As a variety of editions are in circulation and students may have access to copies in local libraries, we will discuss the specific text editions at the beginning of the semester.) In addition, we will view video podcasts, including a number of lectures posted on the Tunghai FLLD YouTube Channel, as well as films and other by the distinguished Orwell scholar John Rodden.

We will make use of printed editions of Orwell's writings. (As a variety of editions are in circulation and students may have access to copies in local libraries, we will discuss the specific text editions at the beginning of the semester.) In addition, we will view video podcasts, including a number of lessons posted on the Tunghai FLLD YouTube Channel, as well as films and other by the distinguished Orwell scholar John Rodden.