Difference between revisions of "Talk:2011 AM Literary Representations of Torture"

Revision as of 14:35, 4 May 2011

General Discussion

Questions/Critique/Proposals:

Additional representations of torture in: Literature / Drama / Film / Music

Please leave your name and a short explanatory note for each work you found:

• Mark Ravenhill. Shoot/ Get Treasure/ Repeat Methuen, 2008.

Drama performed in 2010 by the Berliner Ensemble with the altered titel "Freedom and Democracy I hate you" (Sip)

• Mel Brooks. "The Inquisition". The History of the World. Part I. 1981.

Expert Groups

Please put your name in one of the groups:

Authority/Society/Context (Niewint/Senkbeil)

What status does torture have in Oceania's society? Is it allowed, condemned, etc.? Briefly comment on your opinion and give a page number as proof.

• In general, I would argue, that torture is an aspect of everyday live, like the permanent monitoring and noise of the telescreen for example, and thus accepted. Besides this "everyday torture", there are also the methods of the Thought Police, as described on page 108: "[...]before death (nobody spoke of such things, yet everybody knew of them) there was the routine of confession that had to be gone through: the grovelling of the floor and screaming for mercy, the crack of broken bones, the smashed teeth and bloody clots of hair." The application of torture is at least known among the society. Julia also states on page 107 that "Everybody always confesses. You can't help it. They torture you." Torturing is thus used by the authorities to sustain the status quo. As Winston read in The Book torture "[...] not only became common again, but [was] tolerated and even defended by people who considers themselves enlightened and progressive." (p. 213). But it is not only tolerated, it is even institutionalized in the Ministry of Love (p. 225). However, there is a different treatment of different social classes. It seems that only Party members have fear torture, while the class of Proles is not affected.

Sören Niewint

• The government of Oceania uses torture with the intention to convert people, who try to liberate themselves of the leading party and "Big Brother". So torture is a legitimate way to fight the opposition. I think, the people of Oceania have an idea of the governmental torture, at least they know of the hard punishment for people, who act against "Big Brother". In Chapter 3, Part 2 (Pages 272 / 273), while Winston is in the third stage of "reintegration", he is allowed to ask O´Brien some questions. One of these is the question "What is in Room 101?". O´Brien states, that Winston actually knows the answer as everybody does, which implicates that the people of Oceania know about the torture chambers of the government or at least heard rumors about them. (KS)

Torture Methods (Dragomir, Zielonki, Bagus)

Name two torture methods (give page numbers) and explain why you consider them torture.

• Despite the fact that the whole setting of Oceniana with it`s totalitarian system could be considered as torture there two literally tortue methods. These methods are used to "re-educate" Winston to stop his rebellion against the Party and Big Brother.

1. The physical torture, which is more like the classic torture (p.251ff). Winston gets physically beaten up by guards before the intellectuals start more subtle ways like electroshocks (p.257). In additon he gets injected a pain-increasing substance.

2. The room 101 is another torture method. Since Winston resists all attempts of "Education" he is brought to room 101 (p.295 ff). There people get confronted with their worst fear, which is of course always individual and the most effective. Winston is tortured with his fear of rats until he finally gives up and confesses. (CZ)

• Two further methods of literal torture, despite things like constant surveillance and deprivation of personal life, sexuality, opinion, freedom of speech...etc are encountered by winston in the Miniluv.

1. The distortion of time and space (p.237, p.241, p.243) which is used to confuse the prisoneres and confer a feeling of total and utter isolation.

2. Another technique that is used is starvation(p.237, p.247, p284) which is not only used to merely weaken the body but alo the psyche. (RD)

Truth/Confession (Sieling, Barkemeyer)

1. Can or how does the reader know if Winston speaks the truth under torture? (Give a page number to support your argument) On page 259, Winston explains that remeberes a photograph, which actually could have saved three men from death. This photograph is in his memory and so the reader can be sure that Winston speaks the truth. O’ Brien tells him that this is not true and that it’s just Winston’s truth. On page 262, Winston speaks the truth under torture by telling O’ Brien that he’s showing four fingers. O’ Brien doesn’t accept this answer and keeps tortuering Winston. (VS)

2. When does Winston confess under torture and what does he confess/give away? Please describe how his confessions are located within the structure of the book. (Give a page numbers to support your argument)

After the first torture procedures, Winston cofesses that he is a murderer and a spy (p. 254). He confesses all these things because he is scared of the torture. He gives away his freewill. (VS)

Assignment I: Poetry (distributed on April 22, due on May 06)