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All Art Is Propaganda: Critical Essays (2008)

by George Orwell(Favorite Author)

4.22 of 5 Votes: 5

ISBN

0151013551 (ISBN13: 9780151013555)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

review 1: “I often have the feeling that even at the best of times literary criticism is fraudulent, since in the absence of any accepted standards whatever -- any external reference which can give meaning to the statement that such and such a book is "good" or "bad" -- every literary judgement consists in trumping up a set of rules to justify an instinctive preference. One's real reaction to a book, when one has a reaction at all, is usually "I like this book" or "I don't like it" and what follows is a rationalisation.”George Orwell' best works, almost all are about the way politics influence language and art. He himself wrote a lot of book reviews but his reflections here are the things we so often fee, and so rarely express. I like this essay, thats all I can say, the rest is... more rationalization.
review 2: Critical essays from Geroge orwell depict his vast knowledge of literature, as well as his understanding of it perversion for "totalitarian" as well as other ends of repression. He is unflinching and severe in his critique of Fascism, Communist Russia and Left wing orthodox writers, Catholicism. His main concern is the abuse of power, which is concomitant with all systems of governance that is not liberal , and yet he understands that pacifism is not the way ahead for society, for it tolerates injustices, that violence is not alien to human condition but part of civilisation which necessitates it, in one form of other. The way ahead, he says is not a Yogic renunciation like that of Tolstoy or Gandhi, nor is it intellectual theorisation of kind say Communism as whole, but rather that of struggle, to the ideal of kind of Social democracy, and a liberal commitment to literature and its propagation.His critical appraisal of Dickens, Kipling , Graham Greene gives a deep insight into his understanding of way literature is not separated from politics and any writer that tends to promote conservative pacifism over socialist democracy is merely accepting the injustices of world. HIs critical comment of lack of ability of Dickens to look beyond surface appearance is scathing attack on a figure as tall as Dickens, yet vey aptly reveals the problem with Dickensian literature. Speaking against Dickens he continues, "No one interested in landscape ever seen landscape. " With Dickens it is profusion of the surface description, but none about what is behind that surface appearance. Orwell's stand is that pacifism is merely continuation of injustice, revolution is always necessary for a Society to progress and improve, not necessarily to happiness, but to a better order. "All writing is propaganda, and a writer is always imposing his thought, politically ", is a strong theme that runs through all essays. However, Orwell himself does not get over it, and as a writer he too is propagating a propagada, although cloaked in a liberal outlook. Yet, he doesn't deny that and is in debate with himself over the issue.Orwell in his essays is crisp, lucid and direct . He does not prevaricate , not does his dilly dally with unnecessary phrase ( an essay is dedicated to that art used by propagandist , especially Fascist and Communist). Not to be missed. less

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