3rd March – IQ2 Brave New World vs Nineteen Eighty Four -Zoom Talk- London Region
IQ² Cultural Debate: ‘Brave New World’ vs ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ This is a new venture for the London Region Events Team! Liz Day and Vivek Nanda will use a recorded debate staged in 2018 by Intelligence Squared, to consider the mood of our time as reflected in two great 20th century novels – ‘Brave New World’ by Aldous Huxley and ‘Nineteen Eighty-Four’ by George Orwell. The books, written in 1931 and 1949 respectively, portray the troubles of their period, but which looks most relevant to our 21st century world? In the Chair is Jonathan Freedland, political columnist at ‘The Guardian’ and presenter of Radio 4’s contemporary history series ‘The Long View’.
The debate is presented very engagingly with cogent arguments from two eminent advocates and illustrated by excellent dramatised extracts from the novels. Advocating for ‘Brave New World’ is Will Self (novelist, critic, broadcaster, political commentator). Advocating for ‘1984’ is Adam Gopnik (author, writer for the New Yorker, lecturer, and broadcaster). The ‘expert witnesses’ are distinguished actors – Tuppence Middleton, George Blagdon, Orlando Seal, and Simon Callow. Both novels are described as ‘dystopian’ (opposite of utopian). 1984 issues a stark warning about the loss of freedom and democracy by claustrophobic state authoritarianism. Words from the novel such as Big Brother, Thought Police, Newspeak, Doublethink etc. have entered today’s vocabulary. In Brave New World the state uses science and technology (especially drugs) to control the population, and children are conditioned out of their emotions and individuality. The objective is to create a mindless sense of happiness and stability.
If you’ve not read these novels, or need a refresher, you may wish to prepare by reading a summary of each on the Internet or by reading the books themselves. At the end of the debate, you will be asked to vote in a simple online poll to indicate which novel you feel better captures our present world and offers the keener warning about where we may be heading. After hearing the poll results, you may wish to stay online (max 30 mins) for a discussion to hear the scores that were given by participants in the IQ² recording. The recording will also be uploaded to the Talks Archive of London Region website. To book for this talk please Register here
https://lru3a.u3asite.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2025.01-OnlineTalksJan-Mar.pdf