Showing of “1984” on April 4th

News Release SWOCC. Southwestern Oregon Community College’s Society for the Cinematic Arts Club will be showing the movie “1984,” based on George Orwell’s novel, on Tuesday, April 4th at the Egyptian Theatre. This date corresponds with a nationwide art house showing of the film, and the first day the protagonist of the story begins keeping his illegal diary. There will be a brief pre-movie lecture, with an open Q&A to follow. The lecture will begin at 6:45pm, and will review the themes and current relevance of Orwell’s classic novel. Our speaker, Ian Bailey, is a political sociologist trained at Cornell University, who has researched social movements and global political economy.  Among other sociology classes, he designed and taught a seminar on 21st Century Utopias and Dystopias. It is our hope that presenting this movie will open up dialog, and alert people to the ongoing battle to preserve our fundamental rights. Will Orwell’s vision of a society controlled by the government through fear and the presentation of “alternative facts” become reality?  Will the pillars of democracy—independent press, independent judiciary, balance of power, etc.—be eroded or preserved in the 21st Century?  This film screening is an opportunity to engage and discuss these questions. The movie will begin at 7:00pm. Admission is free. For more information, please contact Suzan Villers at 541-888-7429.