1984/graphic novel vocabulary

Doublespeak

Language that is used to conceal or misrepresent the truth

Ingsoc

An acronym for “English Socialism”, the official ideology of the totalitarian government

Doublethink

The ability to hold two contradictory beliefs at the same time

Big Brother

The omniscient and all-powerful leader of Oceania, symbolizing the government’s surveillance and control

Ministry of Truth

The government agency responsible for falsifying history and propaganda

Prole

A short form for “proletarian“, a member of the working class

Comrade

A term used to address fellow members of the party

Thoughtcrime

A crime committed by thinking or expressing a forbidden thought

Unperson

A person who has been erased from existence, as if they never existed

Facecrime

A crime committed by displaying a rebellious or unorthodox facial expression

Telescreen

A device that monitors and controls citizens’ activities, serving as a constant reminder of Big Brother’s surveillance

Room 101

A prison cell where prisoners are subjected to their greatest fear, intended to break their spirit

The Brotherhood

A secret underground organization that seeks to overthrow the Party

Memory Hole

A chute in the Ministry of Truth where documents and records are destroyed, erasing historical records

Newspeak

A simplified, controlled [language used to limit thought and expression

Thought Police

The government agency responsible for detecting and punishing thoughtcrime

Freedom

A concept that is denied to citizens of Oceania, who live under the constant threat of surveillance and control

Victory

The perpetual state of war between Oceania, Eurasia, and Eastasia, used to justify the government’s totalitarian rule

Red Alert

A state of emergency declared when the enemy is detected, used to justify increased repression and surveillance

Airstrip One

The official name for England, reflecting its subjugation to the totalitarian government

War is Peace

A slogan that illustrates the contradictions and absurdities of totalitarianism

Freedom is Slavery

Another slogan that highlights the inversion of values in Oceania

Ignorance is Strength

A phrase that emphasizes the importance of ignorance and obedience in maintaining the totalitarian regime

We Shall Win the War

A slogan used to rally support for the perpetual war effort, masking the true nature of the conflict

Oceania Forever

A slogan that reflects the government’s attempt to create a sense of national identity and unity

Surveillance State

The condition in which citizens are constantly monitored and controlled by the government

Cultural Revolution

A period of intense repression and ideological cleansing that aimed to eliminate any remaining opposition or dissent

The Proletariat’s Role

The Party’s ideology that emphasizes the importance of the working class in maintaining social order and stability

Ruling Class

The Party leadership, which maintains its power through control of information, propaganda, and surveillance

Eternal Victory

The ultimate goal of totalitarianism, which seeks to eliminate all opposition and maintain its power indefinitely

Panel

A distinct segment of a comic, containing a combination of image and text in endless variety. Panels offer a different experience then simply reading text:

-The spatial arrangement allows an immediate juxtaposition of the present and the past.

-Unlike other visual media, transitions are instantaneous and direct but the exact timing of the reader’s experience is determined by focus and reading speed.

Frame

The lines and borders that contain panels

Gutter

The space between framed panels

Bleed

An image that extends to and/or beyond the edge of the page

Foreground

The panel closest to the viewer

Midground

Allows centering of image by using natural resting place for vision. the artist deliberately decides to place the image where a viewer would be most likely to look first. Placing an image off-center or near the top or bottom can be used to create visual tension but using the midground permits the artist to create a more readily accepted image.

Background

Provides additional, subtextual information for the reader

Graphic Weight

A term that describes the war some images draw the eye more than others, creating a definite focus using color and shading in various ways including:

-The use of light and fark shades; dark-toned images or high-contrast images draw the eye more than light or low-contrast images do

-A pattern or repeated series of marks

-Colors that are more brilliant or deeper than others on the page