In 1949, George Orwell published 1984. The novel is set in a dystopian society known as “Oceania”, run by a mysterious brotherhood and governed by the almighty “Big Brother”. At first glance, the novel is merely fiction, however during the 1940s there was much discussion of totalitarianism due to the many horrors occurring in Nazi Germany during World War II. World War II exposed how governments essentially control their people. George Orwell saw this idea of control not only in the east, but here in America as well. He argues how free is the land of the free?  By viewing articles such as “Screen Nazis : Cinema, History, and Democracy” by Sabine Hake, and “George Orwell & Nineteen Eighty-Four: The Man and the Book” by Bernard Crick, a reader can grasp how totalitarianism effected authors in the 1940s and how George Orwell was not warning people of the dangers overseas, but the control of American government.

In “Screen Nazis : Cinema, History, and Democracy” by Sabine Hake,  it discusses the entertainment industry during the 1940s. Most entertainment during this time, such as movies, television, poems, and novels, all seemed to tie in with the topic of communism and the effects of the war. The article states that this form of government wasn’t exposed to many people at the time and it became a big topic of discussion. In the reading, it discusses the entertainment industry during the 1940s which differs from most movies, television, and novels during this time because they all seemed to tie in communism and the effects of the war. The article states, “Anti-Nazi films are, at their core, films about democracy and its others. The mobilization of effects made them part of democracy in action; through specific strategies of interpellation, audiences were to be turned into citizens.” (Hake, pg 35).  Since one of the main events happening in the 1940s was the war and Nazi Germany, many filmmakers and authors would use this as a way to connect the reader or viewer with the reality of a communistic or fascist society. In the article, the goal was to “turn them into the citizens of the totalitarian society”. The article also claims, “The process of assimilation necessary to acquire this new identity is set into motion through the fight against the Nazis as the absolute other of American democracy; the result is a unified democratic subject based on the values of freedom, equality, and individualism.” (Hake, pg 39).  Many poets and authors wrote about the totalitarianism as a way to make the viewer appreciate individualism and being able to think for themselves. It acted as a reminder to society regarding America’s core values such as freedom, equality, and individualism.

This article on fascism and totalitarianism in the media of the 1940s was very helpful in understanding American culture during this decade and why totalitarianism was very popular in the media. Most of America’s society were not over seas when this was occurring in these european countries, but when they read novels and attended theaters they were able to essentially become apart of a world without capitalism and democracy. This was one of the first occurrences where individuals could take a peek on the other side of the curtain. I think that  more people felt concern for government rule when authors started to broadcast their beliefs through literary works. George Orwell never specifically states in his book, 1984, that it was about totalitarianism. However, by reading “Screen Nazis : Cinema, History, and Democracy” his fictionally society connected Americans to the current culture and events with a fictional novel. Many events like World War II and the Holocaust occurred during the late 1930s and 1940s in the world. World War II exposed the many horrors of communism and fascism in Europe to Americans. The article helps to connect these events that occurred during the time period which led to authors, artists, and directors to be able to portray this in their work. The horrors of totalitarian style of government then caused many authors and filmmakers to portray what life would be like in a communist society. The viewer can grasp what it meant to be apart of the historic culture when reading this novel and written documentation of the 1940s time period. 

Along with many authors in the 1940s, Orwell specifically states his concern for America in the article, “George Orwell & Nineteen Eighty-Four: The Man and the Book”. The article explores how Orwell specifically, felt about a controlling government. When the article states, “And it could happen here, Orwell was saying, and here meant England and the United States, as well as where it was already happening, in Stalin's empire, and where it had already happened, in Hitler's Europe.” (Crick, 100), Crick is informing the reader that this theory Orwell had of a totalitarian government could possibly be threatening American life. Orwell sees this threat and depicts this in his novel, 1984.  Another way Orwell describes how the totalitarian government is in this quote, “But Orwell had always specialized in worrying about his own side, in warning that liberty is never safe enough in the hands of those who appear to possess it securely. He believed that ‘the price of liberty is eternal vigilance.’ So the book is a warning to the West, as well as a satire on the East.” (Crick, 100). Orwell is describing that this “warning” was due to the fact there was constant coverage of Nazi Germany and World War II, both striking fear in Americans. 

This article on how George Orwell feels about totalitarianism, and his concern for it’s spread to the west is very important in understanding American during the 1940s. With tensions high due to the war, people began to feel uncertain about their own governments. Orwell and many other authors make this their key point in novels, poems, etc. The fictionally society set in 1984, was used as a set for Orwell’s warning for America. I think that he used his paranoia for America and the ties to totalitarianism in Europe to build the society in 1984. By giving the readers an example of a totalitarian style of government in a fictional world, the authors could essentially “hint” through their work.

In conclusion, the two articles, “Screen Nazis : Cinema, History, and Democracy” by Sabine Hake, and “George Orwell & Nineteen Eighty-Four: The Man and the Book” by Bernard Crick, give us an understanding of how not only America felt during the 1940s, with communism on the rise and totalitarian leaders becoming more prevalent, but also how the events occurring persuaded authors, filmmakers, and many artists to use this in their own work. America’s core values were put to the test in these novels. Prior to this decade, not many people questioned their freedom. I think that Orwell and many authors considered the possibility of an imprisoned America, and by viewing this, were able to spread their versions to society. George Orwell’s main idea behind 1984 is individualism and what it means to think freely. At what price is individualism worth? By reading the stories, or watching the films, the audience was captured by how different the world could be under different circumstances. 
