"Big Brother" in Himalaya

Reading the materials on Tibet, I was struck by the similarities to George Orwell's novel 1984. Orwellian themes resonate throughout China and Tibet.

This website is intended to support a unit of study which will culminate in a research paper synthesizing Orwell's themes and China's realities. It is geared toward English IV/ Research students.

Reading Propaganda examines how images can be analyzed and used for persuasive purpose.

Historical Background provides a historical timeline of recent history of China in Tibet and introduces Mao and the Dalai Lama. Connected to this information is an exercise involving source evaluation.

The Power of Faith provides an overview of the basics of Tibetan Buddhism in order to help establish how and why the religion of Tibet is entwined with its politics.

Tsering's Experience examines an excerpt from the life of Tashi Tsering. It raises specific topics related to the Cultural Revolution and life under totalitarianism.

Finally, Big Brother is Watching incorporates the analysis skills explored in the first four exercises and will extend student learning by synthesizing information garnered from their independent research.

The Himalayan region is a fascinating, diverse frontier. Many thanks to Professor Todd Lewis and Professor Leonard van der Kuijp for providing this opportunity for learning.

Namaste.