A Five Part Series from TTBOOK!

Public Radio International

Wisconsin Public Radio

ORWELL AND THE WAR ON TERROR

Program 08-07-06-A

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George Orwell wrote "1984" in response to two of the reigning ideologies of his day - fascism and communism. Does his dystopian story of Big Brother and Doublethink still matter today? In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge we'll talk with actor Tim Robbins, who recently staged a theatrical adaptation of "1984" set in our own time. He says the story is more relevant than ever.

SEGMENT 1:

Documentary film-maker Errol Morris has made a film called "Standard Operating Procedure" about the American soldiers at Abu Ghraib. Morris and journalist Philip Gourevitch have written a companion book. Gourevitch tells Steve Paulson that the nauseating photos from the prison are remarkable for many reasons, including what they don't show. We also hear excerpts from the film including interviews with soldiers who worked at Abu Ghraib prison.

SEGMENT 2:

Australian writer Richard Flanagan is the author of "The Unknown Terrorist." He says that his book is the story of a society gone haywire; Also, Fred Burton says we're right to fear the insidious threat of terrorism. Burton was one of the first three agents to serve in the U.S. government's elite Counter-Terrorism Division and is the author of "Ghost: Confessions of a Counter-terrorism Agent." He tells Anne Strainchamps who we should really be worried about, and what kinds of threats are foiled by the intelligence services every day.

SEGMENT 3:

Three members of The Actors' Gang, a theater group in Los Angeles, perform a scene from George Orwell's "1984" which the group recently staged, set in our own time. Artistic Director for The Actors' Gang is Tim Robbins, star of such films as "Bull Durham" and "Mystic River." Robbins tells Steve Paulson what Orwell got right, and why he's still relevant. Also, Actor Jim DeVita has written a novel called "The Silenced." He tells Jim Fleming about the dystopian society he's created and why he's afraid that something like it could happen to our world. And he reads an excerpt from his novel.

CD copies are available at 1-800-747-7444. Ask for program number 08-07-06-A.

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Books:

Fred Burton, Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent (Random House)
James DeVita, The Silenced (Eos)
Philip Gourevitch and Errol Morris, Standard Operating Procedure (Penguin Press)
Richard Flanagan, The Unknown Terrorist (Grove Press)

Films:

• Standard Operating Procedure
  http://www.sonyclassics.com/standardoperatingprocedure/
  

Music:

• In Flanagan:
  From Miles Davis'"Ascenseur pour L'echafaud"
  *"Nuit sur les Champs-Elysees"
  "Assassinat"
  Fontana
  
• After Burton:
  S-Tone Inc. w/ "Limbe"
  On "Euro Lounge"
  Putumayo World Music
  
• After Robbins:
  DJ Shadow w/ "Dark Days"
  On "The Score"
  Mojo Music
  
• After DeVita:
  Moby w/ "God Moving Over the Face of the Water"
  On "The Score"

Distribution dates: week of 07/06/2008 - hour 1 click here for timings and cues

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Questions and comments can be addressed to: flemingj@wpr.org

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