How dystopian art helps us understand Minnesota episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 28, 2026 · 35 MIN

How dystopian art helps us understand Minnesota

from Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud

Along with the images of the anti-ICE protests in Minnesota, this George Orwell quote is popping up everywhere, “The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” People are turning to Orwell’s seminal dystopian novel ‘1984’ to understand this moment. Culture critics Jay Smooth, El Jones and author Lyz Lenz join Elamin to talk about the clashes between ICE agents and protestors that have resulted in two deaths, and the cultural touchstones that help us process.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jan 28, 2026

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How dystopian art helps us understand Minnesota

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