The Propaganda Machine of Animal Farm

George Orwell's Animal Farm isn't just a story about talking animals; it's a powerful exploration of how propaganda can twist reality, control people, and concentrate power in the hands of a few. In an age where TikTok trends can shape opinions overnight and misleading social media posts can go viral before fact-checkers catch up, Orwell's themes are more relevant than ever. Just like today's influencers and social media campaigns, the pigs in Animal Farm expertly use catchy phrases, powerful symbols, and manipulated facts to reshape how other animals see their world.

Propaganda Defined

Propaganda is the deliberate dissemination of information, ideas, or opinions, often biased or misleading, aimed at influencing public perception and behavior. It is commonly used by governments, organizations, and individuals to promote specific agendas or ideologies. Different forms of propaganda include political propaganda, which seeks to sway elections or policies; commercial propaganda, utilized in advertising to sell products or services; and social propaganda, aimed at shaping social norms or public opinion on issues such as health or the environment. Techniques used in propaganda can encompass emotional appeals, rhetorical strategies, misinformation, and the use of symbols or imagery to create strong associations in the minds of the audience.

Propaganda: The Engine of Revolution

The revolution on Animal Farm starts with Old Major, a wise pig who dreams of a perfect society free from human control. His song "Beasts of England" works like the ultimate viral hit—it's catchy, inspiring, and impossible to get out of your head. Think of how powerful hashtags like #Saveyourbrain or #ClimateAction unite people around important causes today. Old Major's song does the same thing, giving the animals a shared anthem to rally behind.

Old Major, like a visionary social leader, presents a dream of equality. But the pigs who take over after him—Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer—don't just carry forward his ideas; they manipulate them. Just as complex social issues get reduced to oversimplified TikTok soundbites or Instagram infographics, the pigs condense their revolutionary ideals into one basic slogan: "Four legs good, two legs bad." It's easy to remember, hard to argue against, and perfect for shutting down any debate—much like how trending hashtags can sometimes oversimplify nuanced issues.

Control Through Rewriting Reality

This is where Animal Farm feels scarily modern: Napoleon and Squealer don't just use propaganda; they weaponize it to erase inconvenient facts. Imagine if someone could edit your class's shared Google Doc of study notes, gradually changing key information without anyone noticing. That's exactly what happens when the animals watch their commandments—rules that once promised fairness—get secretly modified. "All animals are equal" becomes "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others." It's like when social media platforms quietly update their terms of service, hoping users won't notice the changes.

Squealer, the farm's propaganda expert, is like that one friend who always has a convenient explanation for everything. When the pigs keep all the apples and milk for themselves, he convinces everyone it's actually beneficial: leaders need extra brain food to manage the farm effectively. Sound familiar? It's like when ASB Officers justify having a special parking lot or separate lunch area because they need "additional resources to lead effectively."

Squealer's most dangerous tactic is rewriting history. Snowball, once celebrated as a hero of the rebellion, gets transformed into the farm's biggest villain. By erasing Snowball's achievements and painting him as an enemy, Napoleon strengthens his own power. This is similar to how false rumors can spread through Snapchat or WhatsApp groups, completely changing someone's reputation before they even have a chance to defend themselves.

The Power of Symbols

Orwell also understood how visual propaganda works. The green flag of Animal Farm, with its hoof and horn design, starts as a symbol of hope and unity—like a school mascot or team logo that everyone rallies behind. But eventually, it becomes a tool to glorify the pigs' leadership. Similarly, Old Major's skull, displayed prominently, serves as a constant reminder of the revolution's ideals while subtly reinforcing the pigs' authority—much like how schools might use founders' portraits or mission statements to reinforce traditional values.

These symbols work like school spirit merchandise or club logos today. They give everyone a sense of belonging and purpose, but they can also be used to maintain systems of control.

Orwell's Warning for Today

What makes Animal Farm so relevant is how it shows us the ways propaganda can distort truth and break down trust. In today's world of Instagram filters and edited realities, where deep fakes and AI-generated content make it harder than ever to distinguish truth from fiction, Orwell's message is crucial: question everything. Whether it's a viral TikTok trend, a shared Instagram story, or a reposted tweet, propaganda tools are designed to make us stop thinking critically.

Just like the animals on the farm, it's easy to believe something when everyone around you is sharing and repeating it. But Orwell warns us that blindly accepting what we're told can have serious consequences. The pigs' oppressive rule shows that propaganda isn't just about controlling information—it's about controlling people.

So next time you're scrolling through your social media feed, sharing posts, or joining in on trending hashtags, remember Animal Farm's lesson. The tools of manipulation might look different now—we have smartphones instead of barn walls for spreading messages—but the ways people try to control others remain the same. Like the animals of Animal Farm, we need to stay alert and think critically, or we might find ourselves trapped in a system we helped create without realizing it.