[分享]从圣徒到先知
Because history repeats itself? Animal Farm was obviously based on the internal conflict between Stallin and Trotsky (ie, Napoleon and Snowball). The tactics of politicians, even brilliant ones, end up being reused. By summarizing and reducing history (and, for Orwell, the present history), one is eventually describing the future of mankind as well simply because given enough time people will just do what their ancestors have done many times before.
The review does not point out what exactly "turned" Orwell against the Communist movement. From what I heard, he got himself in trouble with the Socialist leadership during the Spanish Civil War (not unlike what happened in Yan'an after the Long March?) and almost got "purged" by his comrades. From then on he became a sharp critic of the movement.
The review does not point out what exactly "turned" Orwell against the Communist movement. From what I heard, he got himself in trouble with the Socialist leadership during the Spanish Civil War (not unlike what happened in Yan'an after the Long March?) and almost got "purged" by his comrades. From then on he became a sharp critic of the movement.
I disagree with the raving endorsement of this reviewer on Orwell. Perhaps to him Orwell is THE BEST, THE DEEPEST, THE MOST COMPLETE, THE BEGINNING AND END of all literature, but to deny anyone else's opposing or disagreeing point of view is problematic. And I shudder at this statement: 我自己对这个世界的具体看法，其实也就是奥威尔的看法；I don't think I need to explain why I find such statements dangerous. My opinion is xxx's opinion. That is exactly led to a world that Orwell, or perhaps better done by Huxley in Brave New World, warned against.
It is fine that Orwell's works are intended to be "art as a tool for politics." He has the goods to pull it off and make politics artistic and palatable. But this principle should not be generalized to all art. In fact, I hope it is confined to a few people. Political art has its place, but I refused to accept that it is higher than other arts that are not driven by politics.
To me, George Orwell is a great writer and thinker, and his passion and craft made propaganda (on his own behalf and for his own ideas) high art. To me he is neither a saint nor a prophet, but a penetrating observer of hippocracy (which I love) and a devoted political idealist and fanatic. He is characterized with a FANATICISM that drives his vision, ironically not unlike the fanaticism that almost killed him. I respect it but I also think it could be misplaced and misused.
It is fine that Orwell's works are intended to be "art as a tool for politics." He has the goods to pull it off and make politics artistic and palatable. But this principle should not be generalized to all art. In fact, I hope it is confined to a few people. Political art has its place, but I refused to accept that it is higher than other arts that are not driven by politics.
To me, George Orwell is a great writer and thinker, and his passion and craft made propaganda (on his own behalf and for his own ideas) high art. To me he is neither a saint nor a prophet, but a penetrating observer of hippocracy (which I love) and a devoted political idealist and fanatic. He is characterized with a FANATICISM that drives his vision, ironically not unlike the fanaticism that almost killed him. I respect it but I also think it could be misplaced and misused.
我也很不同意“艺术是政治的工具“这种说法。我马上反映出延安文艺座谈会及其深远影响。后果如何，大家都很清楚了。
我的个人看法是艺术是表达人的关系的工具，人和自己的关系，人和自己喜欢的人的关系，人和自己讨厌的人的关系，人和没有关系的人的关系。除非把政治定义为“人的关系“（好象还真有这么定义的）。
在现在很多中文网络和报纸辨论里，扯上名人哲人的话支持自己的论点，是常用的手段。这不都是当年中学语文老师教的吗？
我的个人看法是艺术是表达人的关系的工具，人和自己的关系，人和自己喜欢的人的关系，人和自己讨厌的人的关系，人和没有关系的人的关系。除非把政治定义为“人的关系“（好象还真有这么定义的）。
在现在很多中文网络和报纸辨论里，扯上名人哲人的话支持自己的论点，是常用的手段。这不都是当年中学语文老师教的吗？
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