The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984

Given its multifaceted relevance, Orwell’s 1984 has enjoyed a plethora of theoretical and artistic interpretations. However, I have not come across any such interpretation concerned with the ontological temporality of the novel, i.e. not its narrative development, but its use of temporality as the b...

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Main Author: Mihai NOVAC
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Scoala Nationala de Studii Politice si Administrative - Facultatea de Stiinte Politice 2020-06-01
Series:Perspective Politice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://perspective.politice.ro/index.php/ppol/article/view/152/146
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author Mihai NOVAC
author_facet Mihai NOVAC
author_sort Mihai NOVAC
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description Given its multifaceted relevance, Orwell’s 1984 has enjoyed a plethora of theoretical and artistic interpretations. However, I have not come across any such interpretation concerned with the ontological temporality of the novel, i.e. not its narrative development, but its use of temporality as the basic horizon of self-awareness, both existentially and politically. Considering this to be a key feature of both Orwell’s novel and totalitarian systems in general, I have taken upon myself the task of loosely exploring such an approach. As it will become apparent, I rely strongly on Heidegger’s account of existential and historical time (especially his concept of Being—towards-death). Basically, I will try to provide an existential account of totalitarianism as the resulting systemic product of the flight from the Beingtowards-death in particular, respectively an attempt at subduing temporality, in general. In addition, I will make, when deemed necessary, several contextual references to other thinkers such as Foucault, Nietzsche, Freud, Plato and Gadamer.
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spelling doaj.art-e94ea34a4b15471da7013cac065edb412022-12-22T03:28:27ZengScoala Nationala de Studii Politice si Administrative - Facultatea de Stiinte PoliticePerspective Politice1841-60982065-89072020-06-01XIII1-24753The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984Mihai NOVAC0Independent ResearcherGiven its multifaceted relevance, Orwell’s 1984 has enjoyed a plethora of theoretical and artistic interpretations. However, I have not come across any such interpretation concerned with the ontological temporality of the novel, i.e. not its narrative development, but its use of temporality as the basic horizon of self-awareness, both existentially and politically. Considering this to be a key feature of both Orwell’s novel and totalitarian systems in general, I have taken upon myself the task of loosely exploring such an approach. As it will become apparent, I rely strongly on Heidegger’s account of existential and historical time (especially his concept of Being—towards-death). Basically, I will try to provide an existential account of totalitarianism as the resulting systemic product of the flight from the Beingtowards-death in particular, respectively an attempt at subduing temporality, in general. In addition, I will make, when deemed necessary, several contextual references to other thinkers such as Foucault, Nietzsche, Freud, Plato and Gadamer.http://perspective.politice.ro/index.php/ppol/article/view/152/146orwellheidegger1984totalitarianismdystopia
spellingShingle Mihai NOVAC
The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984
Perspective Politice
orwell
heidegger
1984
totalitarianism
dystopia
title The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984
title_full The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984
title_fullStr The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984
title_full_unstemmed The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984
title_short The Party, the Great Redeemer: an existential-political commentary on Orwell’s 1984
title_sort party the great redeemer an existential political commentary on orwell s 1984
topic orwell
heidegger
1984
totalitarianism
dystopia
url http://perspective.politice.ro/index.php/ppol/article/view/152/146
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