Book in the News: 1984

Well, they say timing is everything. Yet another one of the upcoming Readers Roundtable books is in the news. This time it's George Orwell's book 1984, which we'll be discussing next month on May 5.

As you've probably heard, someone distantly associated with Barack Obama's campaign doctored the famous Apple Superbowl 1984 ad, superimposing Hilary Clinton's face over the original Big Brother (presumably Microsoft) face and then posted it on YouTube where it's been viewed nearly 3 million times.

What I find interesting about this story is that it contradicts the entire premise of 1984. If anyone can post a political ad that is viewed by millions, then how can a Big Brother or a Microsoft or even Senator Clinton impose thought control?

No one person controls access to the internet, no national agency regulates it. Anybody with minimal technical skills can publish an ad, article, photo, video, etc. Does this mean that the internet makes 1984 obsolete, or as Gen Y would say, "so 2oth Century"? I look forward to our discussion. Or post your thoughts now.

-Lori