English 11 students changed their classrooms into galleries of creativity on Oct. 29, displaying projects that drew parallels between the dystopian world of George Orwell’s “1984” and contemporary social issues.

Assigned to students on Oct.13, the project required them to express modern examples of authoritarianism, surveillance, censorship, and other Orwellian concepts through diverse artistic media of their choice. From websites, videos, and songs to hand-drawn cartoons, collages, and full-length illustrated books, each project reflected students’ distinct interpretations and creativity.

Students focused on a diverse range of topics. Some projects explored the influence of social media algorithms, while others examined various other areas, including beauty standards, political control, and modern-day propaganda.

“I am surprised every time I do this lesson,” Phoebe Borst, English 11 teacher, said. “I am surprised at the final finished product. I can encourage a student to refine or revise, or get them thinking about how to elevate their final product. Still, ultimately, when I look at the level of attention to detail, care, and creativity, that blows me away every time.”

The creative project, which shifted away from traditional summatives like essays, was designed to help students connect literature to the real world, encouraging them to explore its themes through their own creative voices.

“I hope they learned that there are real implications for living in a dystopian society today,” Ms. Borst said. “I also hope they learned that they can push themselves creatively, experimenting with diverse mediums and ways of thinking.”