Literature as Resistance: Recognizing, Unmasking and Countering Totalitarian Tendencies​ - IPAK-EDU Fall Course

Brad Miller's New Course @ IPAK-EDU

What comes to mind when you consider words like "tyranny", "totalitarianism", "dictatorship", "authoritarianism" and "autocracy"? For many people, prior to 2020, the thoughts that would come to mind would be "Nazi", "Hitler", "Stalin", "The Communist Party", and similar historical despotic persons and organizations.

Since 2020, many more people now recognize that oligarchic authoritarianism has been and is being used as a tool to force certain lifestyle options upon the masses not just in the US but around the world.  While intolerance of the overreach has led to a blowback, the cost has been great.

Many literary authors in the past issued forewarnings in the literature that have provided key insights and clear-headed thinking about the absurdities and evils of totalitarianism. The advancement of technology and the centralization of science led to immense, centralized influence and power that we saw in action during 2020-2022, which seems now to be coming to heel under the pressure of a more ideologically balanced rational legislature. 

In this dynamic and thought-provoking course offer by former US101st Battalion Commander Brad Miller, students will explore selected literary works that delve into the perils of totalitarianism and the quest for the preservation of freedom.

By examining influential authors such as Orwell, Huxley, Atwood, Forster, and Bradbury, participants will uncover profound insights and develop a strategic and nuanced understanding of countering emerging authoritarian tendencies. Through critical analysis of these thought-provoking texts, students will engage in a comprehensive study of resistance, uncovering alternative pathways, and honing their ability to identify, thwart and dismantle oppressive systems. By fostering deep discussions and employing analytical tools, participants will uncover creative approaches, forge intellectual resilience, and develop the skills necessary to safeguard individual liberties in a rapidly evolving world. Together, we will explore the power of ideas and narratives to challenge and disrupt the trajectory of emerging totalitarian forces

Further sessions as a Part Two or continuation of the course may expand readings into Tolstoy, Solzhenitsyn, Dostoevsky, and others, depending on interest. 

Full Syllabus is online at the registration page. As always, if you miss a live class meeting, you can catch the video following the live.