...In Balaka Basu’s, The Pleasure of Being Sorted in Veronica Roth’s Divergent, Basu states, “Whatever else they may do, all heroes of young adult fiction- and by extension, their readers- are eventually asked to consider the two great questions of adolescence; ‘Who am I now? And who do I want to be when I grow up?’ As they do so, they inevitably embark upon a quest for identity, an apparently innocuous pursuit that lies at the very core of the genre.” (The Pleasure 19) In each of the three books, the reader can see individual or groups of young adults having to unite to achieve a certain goal. In class Professor Walker discussed how rebellious many young adults become as they reach their mid-teens and twenties. Becoming rebellious as a young adult is often seen by our parents as a reckless, impulsive eruption of emotions from within that allow rash decisions to be made. However, in each of the young adult, dystopian novels being reviewed, the main characters are considered rebellious by the law makers and rulers even though they are pushing for change in their unjust society. This essay will discuss three dystopian young adult novels, Divergent, The Hunger Games and Unwind and how each of them reflects on possible futures for humanity and the way young people are called to respond to the changes in the worlds they live in. Before getting started with the novels themselves, getting a brief overview of dystopian societies in Young Adult fiction is necessary. In, Contemporary Dystopian...
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...dystopian fiction is not a new subgenre with its famous masterpieces such as 1984 by George Orwell or Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, it can be stated to be new in Young Adult Literature since House of Stairs by William Sleator in 1974 and The Giver by Lois Lowry in 1993 (article 1 and 5). However, the incredible success of The Hunger Games and Divergent as best sellers on bookshops and movie adaptations on theatres seems undeniable. Especially The Hunger Games has been on the best-seller list of the New York Times for 180 consecutive weeks (article 5) and the opening week of the motion picture adaptation had box office...
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...Youth in Dystopia (DRAFT) Christopher Lewis Chapman University May 21, 2014 Vadeboncoeur (2005) criticizes the age-old question: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and explains that youth are always defined as being in the process of becoming an adult. But what happens if this question is no long applicable or even necessary? Dystopian novels remove this illusion of choice. In each of the novels I will address, all teenagers attend or participate in a ceremony whereby they transition from young adult to adult. The first series I will address is Scott Westerfield’s Uglies series, where youth undergo plastic surgery as their rite of passage. Maturation and growing up require endure body modifications to create same-ness and the perfectly pretty white race. Second, I will analyze Ally Condie’s Matched series, where social order to determined by sorters who decide vocation and spouses. All teenagers attend a ceremony where a person’s perfect match is determined by a computer program. Lastly, I will use Veronica Roth’s Divergent series to explore how the world is constructed by personality type. Youth choose to participate in factions that are determined by a psychological examination that detects a youth’s instinctual predilections when facing their fears. As readers begin to figure out the rules to this new society, they are challenged to make comparisons to their own world. We are forced to wonder whether or not, as educators, we reinforce stereotypical...
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...A dystopian society means that it is a total opposite to a perfect utopian society. And yes every person version of their own utopia but there are some things that most people will agree on. The literature version of dystopian future has been written about a lot. This is especially true of books like The Hunger Games, and Divergent have given new to life and popularity to the genre. However, the messages are a little misread by a society obsessed with stories. These stories in actuality remind us of what we could become in the future. There are many classical works of literature that shows us the future of our society. There is Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury where knowledge and reading are sin. There is Anthem by Ayn Rand which handles the topic of collectivism, and only doing what the party tell you to do. There is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, where the main topic of discussion is how media distracts and brainwashes you, while also...
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...Entrepreneur ambidexterity Ambidexterity = the ability both to explore and “search for new, useful adaptions”, and exploit through “the use and propagation of known adaptions”. This is vital to the survival and performance of organizations. Firms should maintain a balance between exploration and exploitation. There has been scant attention to what makes an individual ambidexterious. Several reasons warrant the examination of entrepreneur ambidexterity in small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs): 1. Small business have limited resource endowments. Since exploration and exploitation compete for scarce resources, attention and organizational routines, the situation is likely to heighten the paradoxes facing entrepreneurs. 2. Most SMEs are owned and managed by one individual or a very small group of individuals: the owner-manager makes virtually all the strategic decisions. Ambidexterity: 1. Literally: the ability to use both hands with equal ease. 2. In management: used to refer to an organization’s ability to do two seemingly paradoxical things simultaneously: * To explore and exploit * Be efficient and be flexible * Align and adapt Distinction between exploration and exploitation (March): * Exploration: includes things like research, variation, risk-taking, experimentation, play, flexibility, discovery, innovation. * Exploitation: includes thing like improvement, choice, production, efficiency, implementation, execution...
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...Joseph Jones Ms. Manchouck Humanities 205 March 10, 2013 The Giver Benchmark Essay In a community where everyone is recognized by age and every age has a task, things tend to stay in perfect order. “Sameness” is a very strict way of life. Every person has a job that is to be done every day. Things must be done the correct way or the violator will be punished accordingly. All of these rules and procedures were put in place to create a simpler life. Life is an assignment to complete each day. When the children become “8s” they begin volunteer work. This is when the Elders start to observe the individuals in order to choose their assignment. From an “8” to a “12” is the time for the kids to search for a job they may enjoy. Upon becoming a “12” they will be given their permanent assignment .When Jonas became a “12” he was given the assignment of being “Receiver”. As Receiver he must hold all memories from the past. Things become clearer as Jonas goes to his trainings with The Giver. The way of life that he and many of his ancestors had been taught was missing so many elements. The Giver explained that all of these things were obsolete in their life of “sameness”. Without the strong community influence this would be a completely different story. As Jonas progresses through his training the memories overcome him. After seeing the video of his Father releasing the smaller twin he burst into tears. This so called “simpler” life that he’s been living is an ugly lie. After receiving...
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...Dystopias: Definition and Characteristics Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions. Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system. Characteristics of a Dystopian Society • • • • • • • • • Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society. Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted. A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society. Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance. Citizens have a fear of the outside world. Citizens live in a dehumanized state. The natural world is banished and distrusted. Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad. The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world. Types of Dystopian Controls Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls: • Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include Minority Report and Running Man. Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless...
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...Ganelle Curry Professor Meredyth Puller English 102-12 February 27, 2013 Literary Research Paper This literary research paper is based on the book Welcome to the Monkey House: A Collection of Short Works by Kurt Vonnegut. Welcome to the Monkey House: A Collection of Short Works consists of 25 short stories most of which had previously appeared in magazines such as The Atlantic Monthly, Ladies Home Journal, Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, Collier’s Magazine, Saturday Evening Post, The New York Times, Esquire, Venture, and Cosmopolitan. The title story appeared in Playboy magazine the same year the collection was released. Eleven of the stories were reprinted from Vonnegut’s 1961 short story collection Canary in a Cat House (Vonnegut). This paper will focus on four futuristic science fiction stories from the collection. These stories, “Welcome to the Monkey House”, “Harrison Bergeron”, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow”, and “Unready to Wear” all share a dystopian science fiction theme. Science and technology are supposed to make the world a better place, but instead, Vonnegut concludes they only create a new set of problems (Farrell, “Science and Technology in the Works of Kurt Vonnegut”). Television is often a target of satire in much of his fiction from the 1950’s. He describes it as desensitizing and numbing while deceiving the masses (Werlock). Vonnegut uses satire and pessimism throughout these dystopian stories. Satire is a special form of literature...
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...The action in Fahrenheit 451 takes place in a future world where watching television has turned into the main type of leisure. There, Ray Bradbury, shows us that leisure can be destructive to happiness because it hypnotizes people by making them forget about real life, and therefore prevents them from thinking or talking. All are so obsessed with TV that they do not have time to look around them and are not interested in real life. Leisure hypnotizes one so he places television above reality. This means that TV has obsessed people so much that they do not pay attention to their surroundings. An example is the scene from the novel where Ms Phelps is talking about what would happen if her husband passes away.” He said if I get killed off, you just go right ahead and don’t cry, but get married again, and don’t think of me.’ ‘That reminds me’, said Mildred. ’Did you see the 5-minute romance last night in your wall? Well it was about this woman who…” (103).This clearly shows what Mildred’s looks of life are. While her friend is talking for a possibility for her man to die, Mildred is “hypnotized” by TV and is thinking only about a soap opera she’d watched the previous night. The show is more important for her than the life of other lady. Thus, leisure in this world has greater importance than real life. Watching TV prevents one from talking. People are watching so much TV that they have forgotten the pleasure from speaking or even just pondering peacefully. A situation where Montag...
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...D'Andre Mickens Mr. Gamwell E Block 7 April 2014 Imperfect Perfect World Some people believe that a utopian world may be better than a less perfect world, yet the imperfections of a utopian society realistically outweighs its ultimate goal of perfection. Perfection is defined as the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects. When it comes down to it, a utopian society has many rules and regulations. Yet, if a so called perfect society is so perfect, then there should be no need for any rules or regulations. However, a Utopia's goal of perfection in itself is a contradiction, because of its goal of being "more perfect and less free" (Huxley 1). As a matter of fact a utopian society would be like a heaven on earth. At the same time there is not really a unified view of utopia. All views of utopia involves change which affects human systems and institutions. How can a society aim to be perfect when by definition freedom is needed in order to be perfect. In fact that's something people still find hard to understand and today's society. Have you ever ask yourself what is freedom,it's the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint. Foremost this is something they didn't have at the time of the utopian society. Well by definition a utopia is a perfect world where everything is prefect and equal but you have no freedom to do what you want; Basically your life is scripted like a book. However...
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...Dystopia ≠ Utopia A dystopia is a fictional society, usually portrayed as existing in a future time, where the conditions of life are extremely bad due to oppression, or terror. Science fiction (particularly post-apocalyptic science fiction and cyberpunk stories set in an imaginary future world controlled by technology and computers) often feature dystopias. Common traits of Dystopian fiction: The setting is the future, but often with contemporary social trends taken to extremes incorporated on purpose. A hierarchical society where there are unbending and definitive divisions between the upper, middle and lower class Society is conditioned to fear the outside world, and one of the methods for achieving this is the restriction of information and freedom. A corrupt authoritarian and totalitarian government creates or sustains the poor quality of life This government makes people believe that society is proper and just, even perfect. State propaganda makes citizens worship the state the leader of the state and the government. There is strict conformity among citizens and the general assumption that having opinions and individuality is bad The penal system often employs psychological or physical torture Violence, cruelty and aggressiveness are always present. Dystopias are frequently written as warnings, or as social satire, criticizing a current trend, norm or political system. In order for the dystopia to have an effect on the reader, the author uses characteristics...
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...HOW THE THEME EDUCATION EXTENT IN THE NOVEL ENTITLED FAHRENHEIT 451 BY RAY BRADBURY Fahrenheit 451 is a science fiction novel by Ray Bradbury that tells the story of a future world in which books are banned and burned, TV becomes everyone’s drug of choice, and independent thinking is basically illegal. This novel describes about what happens when books are forgotten or suppressed, and it makes the author’s arguments about the book as a keystone to intellectual freedom and education of the human being. Fahrenheit 451 begins with an ambiguous opening line: "It was a pleasure to burn" (33). The story emphasizes on the live of a fireman named Guy Montag. Inside this story, the author describes that the people live in an era where the houses are all fireproof, people are addicted with TV and radio and the most extreme is that the main job of the fireman is not to end a fire but to start one. Fireman’s job is to find books and burn them. In the beginning of the story Guy Montag was very confirmative, went along with everything the government had ordered him to do and didn’t really question anything. But by the end of the story, he was completely different. He had changed his views completely. One reason that motivated Montag to change was his curiosity. His curiosity started when Montag saw Clarisse McClellan, the 17 years old girl who lived in his neighborhood. Clarisse was really the first person to open up Montag’s mind by asking him questions about his job, “But why do you...
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...Guy Montag: Hero or Villain? In Ray Bradbury’s dystopian society Fahrenheit 451 Guy Montag, the protagonist, struggles with finding a meaning for himself. Montag’s rash actions consequently put his and other people around him, lives in jeopardy. Montag is a fireman who is hiding books; he has a strong nostalgia for learning the history of his world, and he wants to learn to put his dreams into actions. In our society fireman extinguish fires, but in Bradbury’s dystopian society they ignite them. “How did it start? How did you get into it? How did you pick your work and how did you happen to think to take the job you have? You’re not like the others. I’ve seen a few; I know. When I talk, you look at me. When I said something about the moon, you looked at the moon, last night. The others would never do that. The others would walk off and leave me talking. Or threaten me. No one has time any more for anyone else. You’re one of the few who put up with me. That’s why I think it’s so strange you’re a fireman. It just doesn’t seem right for you, somehow” (23-24). Montag discovers his averse view on the world he is living in and sets out on a journey to find truth. His hasty decisions come off as fortitude, but in reality it is him not thinking about the consequences that his actions hold. In addition to Montag’s career as a fireman, he also has a deep longing for knowledge of generations before his. He wants to know about the time when books were valuable and considered...
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...Abstract Student describes how Neil Postman, uses ethos, pathos, logos to argue that American culture is moving towards the dystopian future described by Huxley in “Brave New World,” and not the world described in Orwell’s “1984.” He does an excellent job proving facts and disturbing anecdotes, but he lacks showing the audience an opposing viewpoint. Despite this he is able to clearly show is agreement, by proving emotion supported by fact. Postman is able to connect with his audience through his credentials. The student feels that Postman shows a dangerous path that American Culture may be on, and is able to provide a warning to those who listen to his speech. Analysis of Neal Postman’s “Amusing Ourselves to Death” “What is dangerous about television is not it’s junk. Every culture can absorb a fair amount of junk, and, in any case, we do not judge a culture by its junk but by how it conducts its serious public business. What is happening in America is that television is transforming all serious public business into junk.” (Postman, 1984, p. 2) In his speech, "Amusing Ourselves to Death," Neil Postman, Columbia University graduate, and one time chair of the Department of Culture and Communication, made the point that American culture is headed for a culture like that described in Adlus Huxley's "Brave New World," and not the culture described in George Orwell's, "1984." He described the world imagined in 1984 as a place where there were no books, and where the people...
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...Fahrenheit 451 (Ray Bradbury) The story under discussion is written by Ray Bradbury. The title of the story is Fahrenheit 451. The title is in the strong position there. It refers to the temperature that Bradbury understood to be the auto ignition of paper. The main idea of the novel is to show a future American totalitarian society where books are outlawed. Human relationships are portrayed as dying ones. Author shows people who have lost communication with each other, with nature, with the intellectual heritage of mankind. People rush to or from work, never talk about what they think or feel, but rant about pointless things and admire only material values and "firemen" who burn any book that are found with their owners. They surround themselves with interactive television which is projected directly on the walls and fill their free time watching television, watching endless and useless TV-series. The state is on the verge of a total destructive war, which is happened in the end of the book. Now we get to know the main characters of the story. The plot of the novel is built around life and destiny of Guy Montag. Guy Montag is a "fireman" hired to burn the things of those who read outlawed books. The author doesn’t give us a good portrait of the character: he makes him act, speak, think – and lets the reader judge for himself. Throughout the entire narration there are a lot of dialogues which serve the purpose of characterization. The reader understands that Guy is he...
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