Nineteen Eighty-Four Analysis

Innovative novels, much like significant events and notable people, are capable of providing inspiration for artists in their works of pop culture. One of these novels, Nineteen Eighty-Four, by George Orwell, has contributed ideas that have been replicated and referenced in many modern works of cultural art, ranging from dystopian television shows to songs. Many artists use these references to apply Orwell's arguments to modern events, holding testament to the truly innovative nature of Nineteen Eighty-Four. One song in particular, Radiohead's "2+2=5," is in notable agreement with the themes of Nineteen Eighty-Four, through its direct and indirect references to the novel, and uses these to display the relevance of Orwell's ideas, even decades …show more content…
This along with the first two idyllic verses, which seemingly discourage free thought, supports the idea that music and other forms of art can be used as propaganda, much like the Party composes songs, literature, and movies that align with their beliefs and in doing so are able to consistently control society and discourage rebellion. Radiohead also makes reference to the other ways that the Party controls society; the use of repetition is another way that the Party is able to influence thought, and Radiohead alludes to this through the repetition of sounds and words. Lyrically, this is shown well towards the end of the song with the lyrics: "Hail to the thief/But I'm not/But I'm not/But I'm not/But I'm not." This uses the idea of how Big Brother is able to steal power from the more prominent members of the Revolution, and then subsequently convince the population that he is and always was the leader through the use of repetition in children's books and in speeches. Radiohead applies this idea to modern society and the fallibility of memory as it applies specifically to the interactions of politicians and their