The phrase ‘Orwellian’ is often utilized to signify negative circumstances. Conventionally, it is linked to the hindrance of liberty, specifically that of speech, and the abuse of supremacy on a tyrannical scale, typically enacted by individuals, communities, or governing bodies. This term is commonly employed to analyze contemporary events, yet its implications transcend the limitations of time and space, shedding light on historical events as well as future prospects.
During his second term in office, ex-president Donald Trump expressed an intention to amend the U.S.’ official historical records. The approach was criticized by the Organization of American Historians, which claimed the amended historical version aimed to put forward an embellished narrative while simultaneously muffling the accounts of misrepresented communities. The intent and execution of such a venture could be described as Orwellian in nature.
George Orwell held a firm belief in the concept of objective historical authenticity. In 1946, he documented his innate historical tendency during his youth which motivated him to become a writer. He conveyed this impulse as a need to understand realities as they were, gather true facts and compile them for future generations to refer to, promoting the existence of an absolute historical truth.
Despite Orwell’s faith in the presence of absolute truth about history, he was skeptical about its guarantee to triumph. Donald Trump, during his presidency, issued an executive order to examine if public infrastructures like monuments, markers, statues, memorials, and similar entities were altered or demolished to propagate a distorted image of American history. According to Orwell’s philosophy, the winners of wars and conflicts are the historians, narrating their version of the events.
In the course of the second world war, Orwell was aware of the fictional air raids broadcasted by Germany. This led him to hypothesize about the reliability of historical facts assuming German armed forces were to overpower Britain. He questioned if the fictional air raids, from the perspective of a future historian, actually took place or not. Orwell concluded that the Germans would validate these air raids if Hitler survived, otherwise deny them, indicating the selective and relative nature of historical facts influenced by the evolution of power dynamics.
Orwell’s final dystopian novel, ‘1984,’ includes a famous quote, ‘Who controls the past, controls the future. Who controls the present, controls the past.’ He understood that those in positions of power can formulate their own version of historical events, while also having the ability to suppress or censor competitive narratives, thereby impeding the possibility of constructive dialogue about history that could ultimately allow truth to surface.
As Orwell depicted in ‘1984,’ the ‘Ministry of Truth’ annihilated any historical records that were contradictory to the current version of history. This act allowed them to further perpetuate their control over historical narration and the present scenario. In spite of the differences in the authoritative structure, similar attempts to gain control over historical narratives have been identified within the Trump administration.
The administration led by Trump initiated unprecedented attempts to alter the nation’s official historical account, aiming to rid certain sections from the narrative. This is deemed as an exertion of control over the present by manipulating the past, drawing parallels to the Orwellian concept.
Current advocates of the ‘anti-woke’ movement, present both at the federal level and within state governance, are investing efforts to reshape educational curriculums. Such modifications could potentially warp the perception of future generations, making it difficult for them to question or critique these historical narratives. These actions are reminiscent of Orwell’s depiction of ‘Newspeak’ in his novel ‘1984.’
In ‘1984’, through an appendix discussing ‘Newspeak’ – the official language of Oceania, which was progressively replacing ‘Oldspeak’ or traditional English, Orwell portrays the intents of the ruling powers. The purpose of this linguistic reform was to gain absolute control over the past, present, and future, by curtailing the means to express or discuss subversive topics like systemic racism. Such limitations not only constrain, but prevent potential social transformations.
It’s a common belief that those unfamiliar with history are destined to repeat it. As seen from Orwell’s perspective, social advancement and historical understanding necessitate an openness to both historical facts and the potential for conflicting narratives. Acknowledging dissonance between narratives while also recognizing the existence of objective historical truth assists in paving the way for a comprehensive understanding of our past, and thereby, our future.