When NEHS announced the launch of its inaugural Literary Artwork Contest, focusing on a redesign of the classic work of dystopian fiction 1984, we didn’t know what to expect. This year (2024), 1984 is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its first publication. Since then, it has been translated into at least 65 languages and has gone through thousands of print runs meaning it has also had thousands of different covers.
Thus, our challenge to NEHS student members—to design a new cover for 1984—was met with some trepidation. Would the students be able to come up with new and original ideas for a book that is so well-known and has already been artistically interpreted in so many different ways? Do NEHS student members even enjoy creating visual art? Will they be interested in this topic?
The answer to all the questions above was a resounding “yes.” The evaluating committee, made up of Chapter Advisors from around the world, was astounded by the quantity and quality of the submissions we received and making a choice as to which of them should be published and receive prizes was incredibly difficult. To that end, we have selected four overall winners and four honorable mentions. Congratulations to all the students mentioned here!
Winners
Angélica Calderon de Borbón, PrepaTec Sinaloa, Mexico
The book cover design for 1984 written by George Orwell symbolizes the novel’s principal topics. The central theme is represented in the central mechanical eye. My 1984 cover directly symbolizes omnipresent surveillance, reflecting how Oceania’s citizens are constantly monitored through devices, causing the loss of privacy and freedom.
The dark lighting and the city collapsing in the background represent the community rotting under the Party’s oppressive regime, and the suffocation of progress and individuality. The dark color palette (black, gray, brown) conveys fear, control, and violence, with lesser amounts of lighter colors signaling both repression and constant danger. In this book cover, each element evokes fear, hopelessness, and repression central to Orwell’s dystopian world.
Angélica Calderón de Borbón was born in Culiacan, Sinaloa. She is currently studying at PrepaTec Sinaloa and is in her fifth semester. Enthusiastic about arts, literature, music, and social development, she participates in many school projects that help shape her future goals. Alongside her artistic pursuits, Angélica is a skillful volleyball player. Excelling in her studies, she has received several awards for her outstanding academic performance. With a strong interest in architecture, she is considering it as a career; her fascination with architectural design inspires her to dream of attending a prestigious university where she can develop her talents and reach her full potential. Supported by her caring family and her cat, Silver, Angélica is ambitious and determined to achieve her goals through hard work and perseverance.
Kine Ziethen, International School of Zanzibar, Tanzania
The background is composed of a newspaper article folded into a skyline, with the three ministries towering up over the rest of the “houses.” Parts of the newspaper have been censored, a direct reference to Smith’s job of removing any information that is no longer true. The hands reaching out of the sky are meant to symbolize Big Brother and the control of people—even people like Julia and Winston who try to rebel.
The two main characters are made into marionette dolls—they were never out of reach of the ministries and the observation of Big Brother. Why were they allowed to commit “rebellious activities” when they were observed from the start? The color scheme (red and blue) is inspired by traditional political colors. The leaders in 1984 condemn capitalism for its oppressiveness yet are far more oppressive themselves.
Kine Krøger Ziethen is from Denmark and currently lives in Zanzibar, where she studies at the International School of Zanzibar. She is a keen reader and uses any opportunity to talk about books. Kine likes scouting and just started a YMCA scout group (Zanzibar Adventure Scouts) together with a friend. She is part of her school’s MUN team and likes debating.
Ivanna Daniela Velásquez Díaz, PrepaTec Santa Fe, Mexico
The title of 1984 appears at the top of the cover design, where I blended it with red, irritated eyes embedded in the numbers. This symbolizes the omnipresent surveillance of Big Brother. In addition, the imposing and somber buildings rising in the background, in steel blue and greenish-gray tones, reinforce the oppressive and dystopian atmosphere, evoking the architecture of totalitarian power. These cold tones contrast well with the red background, a color that represents both repression and danger. The human figures are mostly shadows, depersonalized because of extreme control over the people, except for the two characters in the foreground who are trying to escape. They are depicted in muted green tones, standing out slightly against the background. The overall cold and bleak tone, along with the absence of detailed faces, effectively communicates the themes of control, which are central to 1984.
Ivanna Daniela Velásquez Díaz was born in Mexico City, into a Peruvian family. Although she spent her early years in Mexico, she moved to Peru at an early age, where she was deeply influenced by the local culture until her return to Mexico. Currently, she is a student at PrepaTec Santa Fe, where she founded a student organization dedicated to digital animation called “Kreart Kuxtal.” This group, comprised of talented artists, organizes events and activities that promote the development of digital and artistic skills, an achievement of which she is particularly proud. Outside her academic life, Ivanna’s artistic pursuits include painting and sewing, which have enriched her personal growth and honed her creative abilities. Her work reflects dedication to her values of perseverance, respect, loyalty, and empathy, which are central to both her personal and artistic endeavors.
Maya Shetty, Kodaikanal International School, India
The cover consists of a simple yet meaningful palette; most elements are within the shades of grey apart from the bright red. This dull color scheme helps symbolize the dystopian nature of 1984. It is dreary, sad, and lifeless, depriving any individuality while mimicking the state of society within the novel. The red focal point is used to create an eye representing Big Brother with a pupil pointing toward a figure of a man. The man is Winston Smith. He is shown to be writing in an “illegal” diary entry that is also bright red. This represents rebellion and is further built upon by the presence of red “smoke” leading from the pen to the eye. Furthermore, the background has a silhouette of a city allowing the eye to look as if it was simply part of the sky and yet being such a dominant governing force.
Maya Shetty is a student at Kodaikanal International School in India. She has a passion for any medium that allows her to think creatively. This includes many forms of art and literature. Maya is an extensive reader and deeply appreciates the art of writing and its effect on society. She started her journey with pen and paper writing fantasy stories with her grandmother from the age of three. Her hobby has grown into dedicating most study time to writing and reading, which influenced her decision to join NEHS and fulfill her urge to create a written masterpiece.
Honorable Mentions
Sofia Castro, PrepaTec Santa Fe, Mexico
This cover redesign for George Orwell’s 1984 aims for an aesthetic inspired by Cold War communist propaganda, representing the ideals and thoughts of Big Brother’s totalitarian society and the feeling of surveillance and control that the protagonist experiences throughout the book. The red, black, and yellow color palette is inspired by Cold War-era posters, reinforcing the dangers of totalitarianism.
The giant hand at the top is the main element, symbolizing the power of the totalitarian government, manipulating society like puppets. The man’s slumped posture shows his lack of control over his life and his loss of freedom; it represents how in the end, he surrendered to the system and was re-indoctrinated, losing his autonomy and independent thought just like everyone else. The cityscape features tall, cold buildings that create a sense of oppression, reflecting Orwell’s dark and dehumanizing world; the eyes on the buildings represent Big Brother’s constant surveillance.
Sofía Castro is a high school student currently in her 5th semester. She lives in Mexico with her mom, older sister, and cousin, and spends weekends at her dad’s house. Sofía has a deep love for the arts, especially young adult literature, and has published short stories with a publishing house. She also enjoys painting, drawing, embroidery, baking, acting, traveling, and likes going to the gym and playing tennis. She has been part of the Scout community, volunteers for an organization focused on preventing and addressing child sexual abuse, and has attended leadership camps. In middle school she started a debate club to create a respectful space for learning research and argumentation skills. Sofía is passionate about social activism, particularly feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, and child protection, and hopes to make a positive impact on society.
Sol Araya, International Christian School, Costa Rica
In my artwork, Winston Smith is standing in a puddle. The buildings reflected in the puddle are pointing at Winston since society is pushing him to follow the Party. Everything is colorless except Winston, in order for that message to stand out. While in the book his jumpsuit is blue, I painted it red due to the symbolism that comes with the color. Red is a color that represents strength, power, and danger. The Big Brother poster serves to represent the impact that the message and character have when influencing characters and their choices. The raindrops represent the people that are manipulated into believing lies of the Party, which creates the puddle Winston sees himself in. His face is blurred with a raindrop because he also fell under the Party’s control.
Sol Araya is a 15-year-old writer and artist whose work is inspired by fantasy, myths, and even dreams she’s had. She has successfully participated in slam poetry, winning recognition for her use of language. As she loves storytelling, Sol started to envision a future career in the film industry, where she hopes to combine her passion for writing with visual media. Sol also enjoys drawing and painting, expressing her creativity in multiple forms. Though naturally introverted and analytical, she enjoys conversations with those she’s close to. Beyond writing and art, Sol finds inspiration in 80s music, particularly from artists like Michael Jackson, whose energy and creativity fill her. Even though she recently changed schools to the ICS, she hopes her love for writing continues to grow since she joined NEHS for the first time.
Ana Sofía Flores Loranca, Fundación Colegio Americano de Puebla, Mexico
As a focal point, there is a central eye above all the people, surrounded by other eyes, which are all looking at the people below them, representing the suppression and extreme observation that a totalitarian regime has over its population. Both heart and brain are chained, illustrating how in this dystopian world neither freedom of speech nor love are permitted and must be reserved, in this case, for Big Brother.
The main silhouette is of Winston, the protagonist. At the bottom, there are other people drawn as silhouettes, all being observed. Beside Winston’s figure, on the left, there is the silhouette of a woman, Julia. In the background, light is used to emphasize observation and provide drama to the image, along with vivid red colors.
Ana Sofia was born in Puebla, Mexico, and has always been full of energy. She spent her early years with both parents, but later moved in with her mom and grandmother, from whom she learned many valuable lessons. After another move, she gained a stepfather. As life progressed, Ana Sofia discovered her passion for football, which became one of her greatest interests. She also loves drawing and is enthusiastic about all kinds of sports—she’s always on the move.
As the eldest of three siblings, she proudly embraces her role as a big sister and is a devoted dog mom to two pugs. Ana Sofia enjoys learning new things, exploring various fields of knowledge, and continually striving to improve. Her love for animals extends beyond her dogs, and she has a deep empathy for all living beings. This empathy drives her to help anyone in need, making her an advocate for kindness and compassion.
Zoie Alexander, Xavier College Preparatory, Arizona
In this design, I have included various elements depicted in George Orwell’s 1984. The color scheme of maroon, black, and white is meant to show the harshness of the regulations and rules implemented by Oceania and its totalitarian government. Maroon, black, and white catch the eye and together are somewhat daunting. The eyes making up the silhouette of the man, or Big Brother, convey the theme of surveillance in the novel. This also applies to the quote displayed on the cover, “Big Brother is watching you,” which is often seen throughout the novel to highlight the control this figure asserts over the citizens. Additionally, the film strip emphasizes the theme of surveillance as Winston often encounters the many cameras in his city.
Zoie Alexander is an artist and vigorous reader originally from Ashburn, VA, and now residing in Phoenix. From an early age, her passion for creativity sparked a journey in art, specifically graphic design and culinary art. A current junior at Xavier College Prep in Phoenix, AZ, Zoie has found her place in high school being a student designer for her school’s gear shop, quickly making her mark with a unique vision for student attire. Beyond her artistic pursuits, Zoie is deeply committed to giving back to the community through ACES Foundation which assists children struggling economically through sports. In her free time, she enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, and lacrosse. As she continues to explore new creative horizons, Zoie hopes to attend a college where she can both pursue her corporate and artistic dreams. She remains dedicated to creating artwork that tells stories and connects and inspires simultaneously.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
