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"Big Brother" was the name of the everwatchful government in George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984. According to the book, all over the land of Oceania, there are posters with pictures of eyes on them with the slogan "Big Brother is Watching you." Some of these posters have cameras behind them to watch passersby to make sure that they are abiding by all the laws of the government.

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Q: Where did the big brother phrase come from?
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Where did the origin big brother come from?

A novel by George Orwell


What part of the world did the phrase fair enough come from?

england


How did the expression 'big brother' originate?

'''Before we were bombarded with the Television reality series, "Big Brother" described any overly-inquisitive or overly-controlling authority figure, or attempts by government to increase surveillance. So where did the term originate?''' "Big Brother" is a fictional character in George Orwell's novel "Nineteen Eighty-Four" (penned in 1948). Big Brother is the enigmatic dictator of Oceania, a totalitarian state taken to its utmost logical consequence. In the society described by Orwell, everybody is under total surveillance by the authorities via telescreens (combined camera/screens) and spies. The people are constantly reminded of this by the phrase "Big Brother is watching you", which is the core "truth" of the propaganda system in this state. The physical description of "Big Brother" is reminiscent of Joseph Stalin or Lord Kitchener. In Orwell's novel, it is not clear if he actually exists as a person, or is an image crafted by the state - a personification of the totalitarian Party ruling Oceania. It is stated in the book that "nobody has ever seen Big Brother. He is a face on the hoardings, a voice on the telescreen… Big Brother is the guise in which the Party chooses to exhibit itself to the world. His function is to act as a focusing point for love, fear, and reverence, emotions which are more easily felt towards an individual than towards an organization." In the essay section of his novel 1985, Anthony Burgess states that Orwell got the idea for Big Brother from advertising hoardings current during World War II for educational correspondence courses run by a company called Bennett's. The original posters are claimed to have shown Bennett himself - a kindly looking old man offering guidance and support to would-be students, with the slogan: "Let me be your father." When Bennett died, his company was inherited by his son, whose rather aggressive-looking face appeared on the posters instead, accompanied by the unappealing slogan: "Let me be your big brother." The ideological basis for Big Brother likely comes from Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace, particularly the discussion of the science of history in part two of that book's epilogue. Napoleon Bonaparte and various other military and political figures traditionally revered as geniuses, are presented in the theory of history Tolstoy opposes as the cause of the movement of humanity and nations. Orwell appears to call upon this previous work by his invention of just such a patriarchal figure. The historical background during which Orwell wrote his work included several national leaders who had held considerable power, including British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, German chancellor Adolf Hitler, and Soviet premier Joseph Stalin. Stalin, among other leaders, is often cited to have developed a cult of personality around himself. Additionally, Big Brother's omnipotent, omniscient, eternal, and non-verifiable nature (as well as his demand for absolute obedience) have led some to suggest that Big Brother may have been a parody of God.


Why did peter lalor come to Australia?

because he wanted to start mining in Australia


Lost brother symbol?

symbol for brother

Related questions

What does the phrase big brother mean?

The phrase "Big Brother" typically refers to a figure of authority or surveillance who exercises control and watches over the activities of others. It often implies a sense of oppression or invasion of privacy.


Who will win big brother 2012?

Ashleigh will come 3rd Luke A will come 2nd Luke S will come 1st I am a camera man, who works on the big brother set. This informtion is highly classified and i should not be telling you but my identity is anonymous and these are the results 2012. Big Brother is a fix. -Anonymous


When does big brother come on?

June 18th should be i think


Where did the origin big brother come from?

A novel by George Orwell


What does PSY say in gangnam style?

All i know is that the phrase "Oppa Gangnam Style " means is "Big brother Gangnam Style". Oppa is big brother in Korean and Gangnam is a city in Korea.


Did muhamad ali come from a big family?

no, just him and his brother rudi.


When does big brother 11 come on?

June 18th should be i think


What does the term big brother is watching you mean?

This phrase was coined in the book 1984. Big Brother represents the government and it's omnipresence within society. So in a sense the government is watching every move you make


What is the verb phrase of has my brother arrived yet?

"has arrived" is the verb phrase in "has my brother arrived yet".


Where did the phrase Tread Softly and Carry a Big Stick come from?

Theodore Roosevelt used the phrase regarding the diplomatic use of force. It was "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far".


Where does the phrase no greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his brother come from?

John 15:13


What is big brother in bengali?

big brother