Animal Farm - This Was Probably A Bad Idea

Overview

This episode critiques the upcoming animated adaptation of George Orwell's Animal Farm, directed by Andy Serkis and starring Seth Rogen. The discussion explores the adaptation's departure from Orwell's original themes, the concept of death of the author, and the challenges of reinterpreting classic works for modern audiences.

Notable Quotes

- I can't be 100% sure with this one, but I'm pretty confident we live in the worst timeline imaginable. – On the absurdity of the adaptation's premise.

- The cycle of revolution, corruption, and exploitation keeps repeating because fundamentally humans are not equal, and you can't force them to be. – On Orwell's core message in Animal Farm.

- Animal Farm isn't the framework to criticize modern-day crony capitalism. Fundamentally, you're trying to tell the wrong story in the wrong setting. – On the misalignment of the adaptation's themes.

📖 The Concept of Death of the Author

- The episode introduces Roland Barthes' idea that the creator's intent becomes irrelevant once a work is released, leaving interpretation to the audience.

- This concept is applied to Animal Farm, questioning whether the adaptation's drastic thematic changes align with Barthes' theory or undermine Orwell's original intent.

🎥 The Adaptation's Premise and Execution

- Andy Serkis' version reimagines Animal Farm as a contemporary animated comedy, replacing Orwell's critique of Stalinism with a satire of tech billionaires, particularly a character resembling Elon Musk.

- The host criticizes this shift, arguing it trivializes the original's profound commentary on power, corruption, and human nature.

- The adaptation's comedic tone and casting of Seth Rogen are seen as mismatched with the gravity of Orwell's themes.

📚 Orwell's Original Themes and Relevance

- The episode revisits Orwell's intent: a critique of Stalinism, totalitarianism, and the cyclical nature of revolution and corruption.

- Orwell's message highlights the inevitability of inequality and the human tendency toward greed and exploitation, which the host argues is lost in the new adaptation.

- The host laments the diminishing public understanding of the Russian Revolution, which weakens the impact of Orwell's satire.

🤔 Missteps in Modernizing Classic Stories

- The host acknowledges the potential value of adapting classic works to contemporary issues but stresses the importance of preserving their core themes.

- Examples like Apocalypse Now are praised for successfully recontextualizing Heart of Darkness while maintaining its essence.

- The episode critiques the adaptation for using Animal Farm as a vehicle for unrelated critiques of capitalism, suggesting a new narrative would have been more effective.

🎭 Criticism of Creative Choices

- Andy Serkis' 15-year effort on the project is questioned, with the host expressing disbelief at the final product.

- Seth Rogen's involvement is criticized, with the host suggesting his comedic style undermines the story's potential depth.

- The episode concludes with skepticism about the viability of remaking Animal Farm for modern audiences.