Antiques

 Antiques in 1984 


The concept of antiques in 1984 is actually very similar to that of our own world. Not everyone enjoys spending their Saturdays hunting through second hand stores, but those who do are usually really passionate about it. In our world, typically the motivation behind antique shopping is to find things that are rare and therefore “cool”, as well as learning about the object’s past and some of the history behind it. If Winston wanted to know the truth badly enough to risk his life looking for answers in an antique shop, I think in our world he would be considered a somewhat intense antique seeker. I find it interesting that he even thought to look for answers in an antique store, when he could have continued asking older people or given up looking. I also think it’s important that Winston and Mr. Charrington bond over their shared interest in old artifacts, despite the rest of their society having no interest in them. 


If Winston were in our world, would he have his own “American Pickers”-type tv show featuring him hunting antiques that reveal secrets about the history of our society? 


Comments

  1. Mayahuel MalikFebruary 12, 2021 at 7:27 AM

    this is really interesting because i definitely agree but i dont think he would want to be televised. i can imagine him being an avid antique hunter but i think that a show like american pickers would put him too far in the publics eye

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anna ParkFebruary 12, 2021 at 7:28 AM

    I think he totally would! He already seems to be a bit of an overdramatic guy and all he thinks about is finding answers to his history that he's never had access to because of the party. I think he might be a little scared in sharing that information to the public even if he wanted to, but he would want people to know about it. I don't really know how entertaining he would be as a tv show host...but who knows?

    ReplyDelete
  3. L. MoffittFebruary 12, 2021 at 7:35 AM

    Nah, he'd be stuck in the reality show Big Brother, since that's kind of what his life is already. :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. DinaFebruary 12, 2021 at 7:36 AM

    I feel like Winston going through antiques has less to do with his love for scavenging and picking but instead more to do with his willpower. I think the fact that he went to look at antiques is a show of how determined he is to find the truth.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Noel ChiFebruary 12, 2021 at 7:44 AM

    I don't think Winston has a fascination with antiques themselves, per se, at least not in the way that antique collectors do, but he is interested in committing tiny acts of rebellion wherever he can. If that means purchasing a candlestick from a prole antique dealer, so be it. He also longs for life before the revolution; hence his "crazy idea" of renting the upstairs room from Charrington to live in for a few nights and pretend he was free.

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