posted on Aug, 11 2006 @ 11:28 AM
Orwell's writings are perennial classics, in my opinion. I remember that in December of 1983, my roommate and I were discussing whether or not to
have a New Year's Eve party. We agreed that some of the most boring parties we had ever been to were New Year's Eve parties. Then inspiration
struck, and I hollered:
"Oh wow! Next year is 1984! That was the title of the apocalytic novel by George Orwell! This is our chance to host a 1984-theme New Year's Eve
party!!" So we did have such a party, and a mob of people - and their friends - attended and had a great time. Let's see, I think the cover of the
invitation card was the following:
Some say the world will end in fire, some say in ice, but everyone agrees the world will end in 1984. So celebrate the coming apocalypse with us at
our New Year's Eve party, and come dressed as one of the following: One of the four horsemen of the apocalypse, George Orwell. (etc.).
Inside the card, we defined joke rules to be followed at the party, such as:
1) When you arrive at the party, you will be given a page with a 2-part number. The 1st number is your individual number (of course you have no name
in 1984, just a number), the 2nd number is your family number so that you can look around at the party and see what other "family" members you have
been assigned to.
2) The shower stall in the bathroom is the official political prison (complete with dry ice "fog"), where rule violaters must serve a 5- minute
sentence for each violation of the rules they commit.
3) A camera is set up in the living room to record everything you do, so that you will remember that Big Brother is always watching.
Well, the rules went on and on, but we did have fun with it.