May 21, 2025

1984 | Ch. 17.3 - Obedience by Design

1984 | Ch. 17.3 - Obedience by Design

In this episode of Banned Camp , Jennifer and Dan dive into Chapter 17.3 of Orwell’s 1984 , where Goldstein’s manifesto outlines how perpetual war preserves power, not peace. From floating fortresses that serve no purpose to a society engineered to stay just uncomfortable enough, Jennifer and Dan unpack the twisted logic of manufactured scarcity and distraction.

Things To Listen For:

  • Jennifer’s dried mango ASMR interlude mid-rant
  • Why building useless weapons is the whole point
  • A real-life story about a “mosquito bomb” that wasn’t
  • The growing suspicion that all three superstates might be one

Banworthy to Bingeworthy:

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Disclaimer:

Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines. Some sections may be lightly abridged for clarity and pacing, but we always stay true to the author’s intent. The material used from the book 1984 by George Orwell is shared under these principles. We strongly encourage you to purchase the book here to experience it in full.

This podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Orwell estate or its publishers. We exist to keep banned stories alive—because once you give someone the power to decide what’s “safe” to read, they’ll never stop using it.

Topics Covered:

1984, George Orwell, perpetual war, scarcity, censorship, obedience, propaganda, atomic bombs, doublethink, book bans, podcast comedy, authoritarianism