I'm not sure if this is obvious but the quote is from a explicit critique against Stalinism. Orwell was disillusioned from USSR's reaction in Spain (not supporting the anarchosyndicalists and thereby helping fascism to gain power; that's his reading of the events and he has been there). That inspired Animal Farm which is a direct allegory to the Soviet Union (starting with "all animals are equal", later adding "but some are more equal") and later 1984 which is a bit more about totalitarianism in general but still strongly apposed to Stalinism.
I'm fine with applying 1984 to literally anything but especially this quote is tailor made for authoritarian socialism because the first sentence fits the proclaimed ideals and the second part what really happened. But than again, many constitutions of liberal democracies do the same and the reality is a different story
More about how, like with the Russian revolution, if you have a violent conspirational uprising, you're far more likely to have a change of masters rather than a truly bettered society. That in choosing violent uprising with powerful masters, you're just continuing the chain of totalitarianism.
Orwell was not against socialism or communism. He was staunchly socialist himself. He just hated fascism, Stalinism, and any other form of totalitarianism intensely.
The critique of the book was never about economics, but of dictatorships.
What's there to concede? I'm not making any judgement on whatever economic system people are into, I'm just saying that if you think Animal Farm is about communism or any other economic model then you're misunderstanding the book and should probably have a quick re-read.
It's a critique of violent uprisings and totalitarian dictatorships, not a critique of communist or socialist economic theory, which was an economic theory Orwell himself supported.
18 Comments
Smorty@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 36 pts · 1y
... capitalist pigs...
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 22 pts · 1y
Capitalists would disagree on the first line
Smorty@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 3 pts · 1y
tru... bt they try to present as human, so mayb they'd say it without meaning it
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 23 pts · 1y
I'm not sure if this is obvious but the quote is from a explicit critique against Stalinism. Orwell was disillusioned from USSR's reaction in Spain (not supporting the anarchosyndicalists and thereby helping fascism to gain power; that's his reading of the events and he has been there). That inspired Animal Farm which is a direct allegory to the Soviet Union (starting with "all animals are equal", later adding "but some are more equal") and later 1984 which is a bit more about totalitarianism in general but still strongly apposed to Stalinism.
DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social · 9 pts · 1y
The Stalinists didn't just not help other socialist factions, they actively attacked them and the liberals when the war was hanging on a knife's edge.
Taleya@aussie.zone · 5 pts · 1y
Turns out that some shit is universal
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 12 pts · 1y
I'm fine with applying 1984 to literally anything but especially this quote is tailor made for authoritarian socialism because the first sentence fits the proclaimed ideals and the second part what really happened. But than again, many constitutions of liberal democracies do the same and the reality is a different story
Smorty@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 4 pts · 1y
ive onli heard this saying from some movie... with pigs... somethingsomething animal farm.
lugal@sopuli.xyz · 10 pts · 1y
Yes, they made a movie out of Animal Farm but the original is worth a read and not too long
teslasaur@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 1y
Except the book is about communism..
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
I wouldn't really characterise it that way.
More about how, like with the Russian revolution, if you have a violent conspirational uprising, you're far more likely to have a change of masters rather than a truly bettered society. That in choosing violent uprising with powerful masters, you're just continuing the chain of totalitarianism.
Orwell was not against socialism or communism. He was staunchly socialist himself. He just hated fascism, Stalinism, and any other form of totalitarianism intensely.
The critique of the book was never about economics, but of dictatorships.
teslasaur@lemmy.world · -6 pts · 1y
Of course you wouldn't, then you'd have to concede that communism is about as good of a solution to facism as capitalism is.
TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
What's there to concede? I'm not making any judgement on whatever economic system people are into, I'm just saying that if you think Animal Farm is about communism or any other economic model then you're misunderstanding the book and should probably have a quick re-read.
It's a critique of violent uprisings and totalitarian dictatorships, not a critique of communist or socialist economic theory, which was an economic theory Orwell himself supported.
v4ld1z@lemmy.zip · 12 pts · 1y
Yup, speciesism is quite the norm, sadly
pyre@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 1y
the perspective of the text is slightly off and it's making my eye twitch
Duke_Nukem_1990@feddit.org · 4 pts · 1y
Be a friend to animals - go vegan!
all4theTomatoes@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 1y
like bunnies :D
BroBot9000@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 1y
Check out “White Shadows” it’s a great video game that tackles this.