What Does "Orwellian" Mean?

“Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past.” -Orwell, 1984

When people call something “Orwellian,” they're referring to the controlling government in 1984.

When you hear this term, remember:

Big Brother is Watching You

“There are no private lives...Everything is public.” -Philip K. Dick, dystopian author

1984 focuses on warning against surveillance and control by the government- think “Big Brother is Watching You.”

What do you think are the risks of living in a watched world?

Before you decide, consider that:

Commercial surveillance is everywhere. We pay good money to stay accessible.
Surveillance society is increasingly common, meaning people are getting used to it.
Technology advances faster than regulations.

“It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” -Orwell, 1984

Which elements of society would you draw upon to create a worst-case-scenario future?

Define Dystopias. Dystopian fiction takes aspects of a problematic society and amplifies them to create dark, unsettling views of the future.
Identify and review the defining characteristics of dystopian worlds, like a controlling, pervasive force and a trapped, doubtful protagonist.
Write a description of your dystopia...who (or what) is in control?
If you're a visual thinker, try creating a storyboard of your dystopian world instead.