Liber inter Libertas

In my initial Instagram post for this series, I recalled a quote made by the notorious champion against censorship - George Orwell.

“It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words.” This statement is extracted from the modern masterpiece that is “1984.” Whether or not you are an Orwellian fanatic, the influence this novel has imparted is absolutely undeniable, to the point where its evident that it is an objective masterpiece.

In the excerpt following the aforementioned quote, Winston and Syme begin to engage in conversation about the adoption of Newspeak, the dialect to be assumed with the aim of eradicating freethought amongst the common man by means of reducing the variability in words to freely express one’s thoughts. A slightly comical exchange, this excerpt helps bridge the gap between the very literal destruction of vocabulary, and its underlying effects on the undermining of freethought. The beauty in this excerpt lies in the fact there is logic standing behind the argument in favor of the adoption of Newspeak. Some of the new words to be put in place such as “Plusgood” and “Doubleplusgood” serve as the placeholder for words like excellent, or splendid. The mention of these words bring a sense of comedy to this conversation, as we read them and think of the absurdity it is to compile adjectives on the same word to increase or decrease the impact of that word.

As we follow along with the conversation, we realize that as absurd as these words may sound, Syme is correct in explaining the efficiency of communication a dialect like Newspeak can provide. As they rear the end of this excerpt, Syme covers the fact that in as little as a couple of decades, even the conversation that they are engaging in as of that very moment, will be incomprehensible to the laymen as a direct effect of Newspeak’s yearly reduction in words registered. Put simply, where the age of enlightenment saw an exponential increase in the amount of adopted words, the age of suppression is to be ushered in with the reduction of vocabulary.

The reason why I decided to reflect on this concept is, as I wandered around a beautiful bookstore with an old friend who takes a particular liking to enlightenment, i noticed the walls and shelves were engulfed in this theme. Books with titles referring to war amongst men, war for freedom, war for thought. Walls painted with titles of other publications also celebrated as antagonists of censorship. The bookstore was even to have a meet and greet with Cuban-American writers whose books documented a very familiar Latin-American fight for freedom. Places such as these deserve to be lived in, and shared amongst the general public. Bookstores like this exist for the people, as we continue to wage an ever-long fight against the suppression our societies exercise on the people.

Thank you Mandy for sharing your thoughts and opinions on literature, and thank you Books and Books, for fighting the good fight.

Stagnant Motion

I want to take this opportunity of curating a blog where I can approach photos that didn’t make it to my regular portfolio, or to my grid on my Instagram. The photo in question I believe is perfect to open this area for self-reflection, and is also representative of the theme above. Moments go by, and especially for the gentleman at the forefront of the photo, perhaps too regularly.

And what else is to be expected of him? The lot of us hop into our cars, regularly scheduled trains, buses, or anything in between to continue our routines as expected. Even though we’re told to enjoy every moment as if it were our last, humans are ritualistic by nature. We know that the new things in life excite us, yet we are reluctant to step into unknown terrain.

I’d like to make a disclaimer in that I also do not know this particular gentleman, so for all that I know I couldn’t be further from the truth. Perhaps he was boarding a train to the next art exhibit, or to embrace with a loved one he had been apart from for a significant period of time. As I make my assumptions, I’m evermore conscious of my ignorance in the life of a stranger.

I can only speak of my own impressions and understand that they are subject to a lack of understanding. Yet when I look into this photo, I think of all the places we could be in the world, and perhaps all the places we’d rather be as well. Missed opportunities, unknown passions. This contemplation brings me once again to the redundant idiom of seizing the day, enjoying each day as if it were your last. Carpe Diem.

I believe the balancing act between the desire to return to what we know and the craving for something new is what can play a vital role in the concept known as the human dilemma. Though our dilemma can stem from this very familiar sentiment, this dilemma is all our own. Individual, catered to ourselves, as a result of our own thoughts and actions. These thoughts and actions are what perpetuate this conundrum, and they are they only thing that will take us out of it as well. For these reasons, we feel forever stagnant, but are always inching in motion.