War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength Buttons 1.25” 1984 Pins

Description

WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Three 1.25" buttons with the slogans of the Party, based on the novel 1984.
Nineteen Eighty-Four, often published as 1984, is a dystopian novel published in 1949 by English author George Orwell. The novel is set in Airstrip One (formerly known as Great Britain), a province of the superstate Oceania in a world of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, and public manipulation. The Party slogans are inscribed in massive letters on the white pyramid of the Ministry of Truth. The slogans seem contradictory, but there is a deeper meaning to each one.
War is Peace
- The world is divided into three separate states: Eurasia, Oceania, and Eastasia. The Party proclaims that war is the natural state outside of the borders of Oceania. Everywhere except in their home country, war continually wages, but if they maintain a peaceful state in Oceania proper, everyone must be on the same side, ready to fight all threats from the outside. Maintaining peace at home, the party leaders contend, is dependent on wars taking place elsewhere. Continual warfare cultivates an atmosphere of hysteria, bolsters patriotism, and wastes valuable resources and energy that would otherwise be used to increase the standard of living. The result is a fearful, obedient population willing to make substantial sacrifices for their country.
Freedom is Slavery
- Individualism and autonomy result in slavery and persecution. In Oceania, individuality is prohibited, and citizens are required to be part of a collective group. According to O'Brien, “...the individual only has power in so far as he ceases to be an individual...Alone—free—the human being is always defeated.” Once a citizen embraces the concept of collectivism and views themselves as an integral part of a group, they are considered free by Party standards.
Ignorance is Strength
- The Party benefits from an ignorant, simple population. In Oceania, the government's primary goal is to maintain its complete authority. In order to remain omnipotent, the Party suppresses knowledge, censors literature and historical records, alters language, and spreads propaganda. These efforts create an ignorant population unable to recognize their oppressed status or rebel against the government. Therefore, the population's ignorance makes the Party strong, which corresponds to the slogan.
For a quick Halloween costume: denim jumpsuit, dispirited expression, these buttons. See if you can't organize a Two-Minute Hate. Maybe a prop bottle of Victory gin?
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Pin back on each button. US penny for scale. Penny and ruler NOT included in price of button. 2 + 2 = 5.