Prolefeed
Encyclopedia
Prolefeed is a Newspeak
term in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
by George Orwell
. It was used to describe the deliberately superficial literature, movies and music that were produced by Prolesec
, a section of the Ministry of Truth
, to keep the "proles
" (i.e., proletariat
) content and to prevent them from becoming too knowledgeable. The ruling Party believes that too much knowledge could motivate the proles to rebel against them. In the novel, Prolesec is described in detail:
The term is used very occasionally to describe shallow entertainment in the real world. For example, Charles Spencer
, reviewing the Queen
musical We Will Rock You
for the Daily Telegraph, described it as 'prolefeed at its worst'. Theodore Dalrymple wrote in the The Spectator
that "France .... is less dominated by mass distraction (known here as popular culture
, but in Nineteen Eighty-Four as prolefeed) than Britain is."
Newspeak
Newspeak is a fictional language in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. In the novel, it refers to the deliberately impoverished language promoted by the state. Orwell included an essay about it in the form of an appendix in which the basic principles of the language are explained...
term in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell is a dystopian novel about Oceania, a society ruled by the oligarchical dictatorship of the Party...
by George Orwell
George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair , better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English author and journalist...
. It was used to describe the deliberately superficial literature, movies and music that were produced by Prolesec
Prolesec
Prolesec is a Newspeak term in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. Prolesec was in charge of providing prolefeed: entertainment for the proles, the working classes in Oceanian society...
, a section of the Ministry of Truth
Ministry of Truth
The Ministry of Truth is one of the four ministries that govern Oceania in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four...
, to keep the "proles
Proles
Proles is a term used in George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four to refer to the working class of Oceania ....
" (i.e., proletariat
Proletariat
The proletariat is a term used to identify a lower social class, usually the working class; a member of such a class is proletarian...
) content and to prevent them from becoming too knowledgeable. The ruling Party believes that too much knowledge could motivate the proles to rebel against them. In the novel, Prolesec is described in detail:
The term is used very occasionally to describe shallow entertainment in the real world. For example, Charles Spencer
Charles Spencer (journalist)
Charles Spencer is a British journalist. He has been the drama critic of The Daily Telegraph since 1991. In 2006, Compton Miller of The Independent wrote in a profile: "This convivial ex-alcoholic is best remembered for his description of Nicole Kidman's nude scene in The Blue Room as 'pure...
, reviewing the Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
musical We Will Rock You
We Will Rock You (musical)
We Will Rock You is a jukebox musical, based on the songs of Queen and named after their hit single of the same name. The musical was written by British comedian and author Ben Elton in collaboration with Queen members Brian May and Roger Taylor...
for the Daily Telegraph, described it as 'prolefeed at its worst'. Theodore Dalrymple wrote in the The Spectator
The Spectator
The Spectator is a weekly British magazine first published on 6 July 1828. It is currently owned by David and Frederick Barclay, who also owns The Daily Telegraph. Its principal subject areas are politics and culture...
that "France .... is less dominated by mass distraction (known here as popular culture
Popular culture
Popular culture is the totality of ideas, perspectives, attitudes, memes, images and other phenomena that are deemed preferred per an informal consensus within the mainstream of a given culture, especially Western culture of the early to mid 20th century and the emerging global mainstream of the...
, but in Nineteen Eighty-Four as prolefeed) than Britain is."
See also
- Bread and circusesBread and circuses"Bread and Circuses" is a metaphor for a superficial means of appeasement...
- KitschKitschKitsch is a form of art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an extant style of art or a worthless imitation of art of recognized value. The concept is associated with the deliberate use of elements that may be thought of as cultural icons while making cheap mass-produced objects that...
- Low cultureLow cultureLow culture is a term for some forms of popular culture. Its opposite is high culture. It has been said by culture theorists that both high culture and low culture are subcultures....
- Penny dreadfulPenny DreadfulA penny dreadful was a type of British fiction publication in the 19th century that usually featured lurid serial stories appearing in parts over a number of weeks, each part costing an penny...
- Reality televisionReality televisionReality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...