Blog #20 (Sophomores 2020)
Theresa Morano
Period 9
4/23/20
Aim: How does “Chapter 7” (of Animal Farm) portray the psychology of memory and authority?
Blog Content:
Class Notes:
Do Now:
- What makes for a good leader?
The class agreed that a good leader should have good communication skills, a goal, and confidence. Good leaders have the ability to influence others and get their point across to many.
- What qualities or attributes are associated with a good leader?
The class discussed that good leaders most often have confidence, courage, charisma, and generate enthusiasm among the people they lead. The class all agreed that these qualities allow a leader to influence as many as possible.
- Is there a point/degree in which a leader must forge ahead through their vision; despite the cost(s)?
The class discussed that if a leader believes strongly enough in their cause that they will go to extremes to further their message. For example, the protestors during the sit in movement endured physical and verbal abuse during their protesting but stayed in order to further the Civil Rights Movement.
- What cost is too great? How do you know?
The class discussed that a cost that involves causing harm to many innocent people is too great. This is because a cause that leads to many getting innocent people dying or getting badly injured is too extreme and possibly unethical.
Following the Do Now, the class discussed how authority and memory were portrayed in Animal Farm and how the events in the book were able to unfold.
The class agreed that the pigs were able to gain authority on the farm by saying how they had superior intelligence. Therefore, they were the ones who were to govern the farm and create laws. The pigs also used memory to gain influence over the rest of the animals. For example, the pigs often changed the Seven Commandments to fit their narrative. They changed a commandment from “No animal shall drink alcohol” to “No animal shall drink alcohol to excess” .
Following this discussion, the class watched the Khan Academy video about the Milgram Shock Experiment. ( Milgram Shock Experiment )
The class then compared the Milgram Shock Experiment and the leadership in Animal Farm using memory and authority. For example, it was discussed that in both instances, the person administering the experiment/the pigs had a strong influence on their subjects.
The class then discussed how reliable their memories are and how memory was portrayed in Animal Farm. The class also viewed a video about the trustworthiness of memory. The animals on the farm had their memories greatly influenced by the pigs and were therefore manipulated.
ENRICHMENT:
Memory and Authority Discussion Board:
At the end of the lesson, the class had to answer the following questions -
We have previously learned that Old Major based his philosophy on idealism, but that idealism didn’t last. It has also become abundantly clear that there are those who continue to wield significant power. Now, today we discussed memory, authority and their impacts on others. Based on your understanding of the aforementioned create a post which addresses topics: 1, 2 or both, and respond to a classmate’s post as well.
1) Identify a character which is using memory and authority to their advantage and explain how it’s being used to their advantage.
2) How does the acquisition of this kind of power tend to affect both individuals in the novel and in real life?
The students also had to respond to a classmate’s post.
What it’s like working from home:
Although I miss school, I do not mind working from home. I attend my classes on Google Meet and then complete the work that my teachers assign. However, working from home requires good time management since days aren’t regimented like normal school days would be. This is why I have a notebook where I plan out my days and write down assignments. For example, today I had to complete a physics worksheet, this blog, homework for other classes, and attend online classes.
Updates around the world/community regarding the virus:
Currently, there has been a lot of controversy regarding stay-at-home measures in the United States. Many feel that the government is taking away civil liberties by forcing people to wear masks, closing down churches, and not allowing large gatherings. This has led to protests and conflict all across the country. For example, healthcare workers in scrubs defiantly stood in front of protesters’ cars in Denver, Colorado. Even locally, there was a protest planned on Staten Island. The flyers said things like “No mask needed” and “If you’re sick still come, it’s your right”. However, the protest did not actually happen.
Personal feelings and thoughts about what is happening right now:
I feel anxious about what is occurring right now since I do not want my family or friends getting sick and possibly dying. I am also sad since I miss my friends, school, and family members who live far away. However, I am less stressed due to online classes and I am able to pursue other hobbies and interests in my free time. Additionally, I feel frustrated about the protests occurring across the United States and other countries. These people do not understand that we must be socially distancing ourselves in order to flatten the curve and not overwhelm hospitals. By staying inside, we are saving lives.
Reflection of the Day’s Lesson:
In today’s lesson, we connected the psychology of memory and authority to Animal Farm. We discussed how Napoleon used his authority and ability to change the animals’ memories to gain power. This was observed when Napoleon exiled Snowball. Prior to this, Napoleon was disapproving of the windmill. He did not want the animals to become comfortable if the construction was successful. However, once Snowball was out of the picture, Napoleon’s opinion changed. He told the farm that the construction of the windmill was his idea. Napoleon realized that the windmill was a good distraction for the animals that kept them occupied and wore them out. We also discussed how the windmill is analogous to Stalin’s Five Year Plan. The Five Year Plan attempted to modernize the Soviet Union with the construction of infrastructure, collectivization of farms, and rapid industrialization. This connects to the windmill since the windmill demanded heavy labor from the animals and represented a power struggle between Snowball and Napoleon. We learned this in order to recognize the parallels between the novel and the events of the Russian Revolution. Recognizing these parallels is vital for understanding the true meaning of Animal Farm. Additionally, recognizing the power authority figures have over those they rule is important for preventing a dictator from coming to power. If we realize that dictators often try to change the memories of the people, then we may not be fooled in the future. In class, we also discussed the Milgram Shock Experiment - an experiment conducted by Stanley Milgram, a psychologist at Yale University. The conclusion of the experiment found that ordinary people are more likely to obey commands from an authority figure, even in extreme circumstances (like killing a human being). We learned about this experiment since it connects to Animal Farm and the real world. The animals blindly followed the rule of Napoleon and accepted the new “fact” that the windmill was his idea. The Russian people followed the rule of Stalin in hopes of a better life. However, Stalin was a cruel leader who ended up killing millions. The experiment also connects to the rise of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. Many supported or turned a blind eye to the Nazis. When Hitler ordered the Jewish population to be labeled, segregated, and eventually murdered, few protested. I will use what I learned in today’s lesson to be on the lookout for public figures using their authority for the wrong reasons. It is important for people to recognize strategies politicians use to rise to power. For example, as discussed in a previous lesson, they may use propaganda (bandwagon, card stacking, fear, logical fallacies, testimonial) to gain a following or target a specific group.
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