大象传媒

In the last few years, George Orwell鈥檚 writing and thinking have come to seem ever more timely. But they are also much misrepresented. As 大象传媒 Radio 4 marks the 70th anniversary of his early death, 大象传媒 documentary-maker Phil Tinline takes five words that resonate through Orwell鈥檚 work, and tests out what light they can shed on our problems today.

Orwell thought the very idea of objective truth was in mortal danger from the totalitarian mindset, writing that: 鈥淭he truth, it is felt, becomes untruth when your enemy utters it.鈥�

In the era of 鈥榝ake news鈥� and extreme online polarisation, copies of Orwell鈥檚 work have been flying off the shelves. But he wasn鈥檛 only worried about dictators and demagogues. So today, just how widely do his fears for the future of truth apply?

Series contributors include: Abduweli Ayup, Nick Cohen, David Dwan, Maurice Glasman, Joanna Kavenna, Robert Jay Lifton, Dorian Lynskey, James Millward, Ferdinand Mount, Jean Seaton, Joanne Smith Finley, Timothy Snyder, Mihrigul Tursun

Presenter/ Producer: Phil Tinline