Ministry of Truth

From George Orwell's book 1984.

Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of Airstrip One.  Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal.  When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities.  Despite the police helicopters that hover and circle overhead, Winston and Julia begin to question the Party;  they are drawn towards conspiracy.  Yet Big Brother will not tollerate dissent - even in the mind.  For those with original thoughts they invented Room 101 ...

"More relevant to today than almost any other book that you can think of." Jo Brand

Ministry of Truth

This image has been trying to get out for a while,  here's why:  The amount of misinformation being pushed about the Scottish independence referendum at the moment is quite breathtaking.  Just take a look.   The behaviour of the state in deploying propaganda is reminicent of  1984,  Distracting the public by demonising foreigners, disabled, and the unemployed ,  to provide a common enemy - all too evident in real life.

Airbrushing out inconvienient facts and ignoring or rewriting history to suit a political agenda have real-life parallels that I recognise all around me.

1984 was written in 1949 when states could still control the message.  That is less true now.  It is not as easy to rewrite the story or hide the facts as Orwell imagined in his book. He didn't have Google, Twitter and the internet.


Don't believe what you are told - the information is out there - go find out, and while you are looking, think.  Learn how to seperate fact from deceit.  Check their sources, look for agendas, think for yourself.  

 
The film version of 1984 used Senate House in London as the Ministry of Truth.  A good choice given it's imposing and bleak form.

Wireframe of the model and some alternative shots below...

And finally...

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