...Where images are seen as too sickening to watch they serve to open the audience’s eyes into a more direct sense of agony. The film begins with the image centralized in a beautiful brown horse then switching visuals to a pregnant woman. This horse symbolizes freedom and high energy as you would expect in a horse making the viewer believe that the world was meant to be in a perfect world or a utopia. Now the pregnant woman represents a picture that is full of life where people are supposed to be cheerful and raise a family. However, the visual is quickly referred to a man being shot and killed to death. Ironically, these two juxtaposing images show somebody giving life, then someone taking away a life. By having these two contrasting images indicate that this society isn’t fortunate enough to live in a world where everyone is joyful. Life cannot exist where it is taken away so quickly without...
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...Dystopia Dystopia is often a society set in the future that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state, often under the control of some form of government but not always. A dystopian society can also be a planned structured society in which the conditions of life are deliberately made miserable. Some examples of these can be characterized by poverty, oppression, violence, disease, scarcity, and/or pollution for the benefit of a select minority or some unnatural societal goal. I am going to discuss how the short story “The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson and the film Demolition Man directed by Marco Brambilla exhibits dystopian. In the short story “They Lottery” the author makes a society where the town people are willing to kill each other in order to preserve a their idea of balance and success. The town in "The Lottery,” have employed what they sees as the fairest way to continue this ancient tradition. “The Lottery” is a story of misguidance and ultimate horror. The way the plot is structured takes the audience from one extreme (a very sunny, happy day) to another (a ghastly murder). The town is described as a simple and beautiful one, with children running and playing, happy to be out of school for the summer. The reader is led to believe that everything is perfect and the community is gathering for a raffle of some kind. After all, the story’s title is “The Lottery”. Lotteries have a positive connotation in most peoples’ mind. Lotteries are usually grouped...
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...Wall-E’s quest and search are hallmarks of dystopian fiction. The movie’s use of imagery, symbols, places, and other objects reinforce the vast dystopian society that Earth has become. The opening scene of the movie, as well as other key scenes, reflect the result of the overconsumption, wasteful consumerism that is plaguing modern man. According to Wall-E’s director, if man does not change his wasteful way, then a grotesque, dead Earth is in our future. Things to mention/prove in the paper based on the opening paragraph: WALL-E’s adventurous quest and search for love as the main storyline Key point: Seemingly innocuous, children’s entertainment. Wall-E’s quest and search are hallmarks of dystopian fiction Key point/task: apply the five essentials of dystopian fiction to Wall-E Wall-E is left alone on a desolate Earth marred by trash and devoid of life The only viable sign of life is the cockroach The cockroach is the only being that could survive a nuclear holocaust (research this) Its seemingly indestructible nature is depicted in the film when Wall-E runs over it. The cockroach springs back into form, unharmed. Transition point: Wall-E’s world on a future Earth is dismal because of the landscape and lack of human interaction. Key point: Wall-E is lonely and deeply desires companionship/love (Eve) In Wall-E, the lack of human interaction and companionship fosters its classification as an accurate depiction of dystopian fiction. (movie’s use of imagery, there...
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...The three different forms of Dystopian texts we have looked at in class have definitely had an impact on my understanding of this genre. We are able to visualize how the dystopian society reflects our own society and are able to connect the genre to the social issues in our present world. In the article “How Dystopian Futures Are Merely Mirrors Into Our Own Society” the author comments: “After our appetite was recently satiated on Hunger Games, we are diverging our fingers to the next tasty literature meal: The Divergent series by Veronica Roth. Again we sink our teeth into a dystopian society and a bleak prediction of our future Earth. What these books never fail to dish up are the faults with society, humans and their failure to actually...
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...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 constructs of adolescence despite our interaction with seemingly critical texts. In the last few years, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of dystopian novels marketed to young adults. The story always begins in media res, where some kind...
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...A text is shaped by the circumstances in which It was composed, this is certainly true of Michael Parkers Doppelganger. Parker s 2006 Dystopian novel illustrates the ideas of thirst for power and darkness within humanity as the protagonist Andrew is placed in a dystopian parallel of his own world. These ideas reflect the major concerns of late 20th century Australian society. Parker examines deeper issues and illuminates universal aspects of the human condition. Parker exposes the potential for the darker side of humanity in Doppelganger, reflecting issues of his context. Cleary derived from themes in modern literature, such as Golding's "Lord of Flies" which examines the conflict between two competing impulses in all human beings, the instinct to live by rules, act peacefully and follow moral commands opposed to acting selfishly to gratify ones immediate desires. The darker side of humanity is introduced through Andrew’s character, an ordinary Australian teenager governed by his philosophy "don’t disturb the world and it won’t disturb you”. Andrew finds himself incapable of standing up for what he knows is right and this is exemplified early in the novel when Josh in an act of unprovoked evil, tears apart miss swains photograph. Andrew, convinced he is “hardwired” to be compliant with josh, aids his vindictive nature as it is easier than standing up for what he knows to be right. Andrew discovers his own darkness in the parallel Sydney, under the influence of mind altering...
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...YA Dystopian Steffan Larsen’s chief points from the article “Why does dad not want to read ‘The Hunger Games’” Young Adult Dystopian fiction has grown as a genre and continues to evolve. But not every generation follows the new genre. Steffen Larsen is giving his thoughts on, why YA Dystopian has not reached his generation, where as books such as Harry Potter have appealed to several generations, including his own. YA Dystopian is one of the biggest and most popular genres today, which is accomplished by hitting the right target group (the teenagers). Steffen Larsen argues why YA Dystopia has not reached his generation as follows: “But most of all- I think- the books tells about manipulation, newspeak and the limits of reality shows”. Here Steffen Larsen reveals his negative view on ‘The Hunger Games’ but also the genre YA Dystopia by using words as manipulation and limits of reality. Particularly the concept of a “reality show” does not have a good renown, especially not in the older generation, where Steffen Larsen belongs. Steffen Larsen’s criticism of ‘The hunger games’ and the genre, could be reasoned with “times have changed” as he also points out: “In the reddish seventies where you overturn capitalist’s and than every thing went good. That is not how it is anymore”. Furthermore, Steffen ironically praises Suzanne Collins for being the only one who tries to dissimulate a new utopia – a dissimulation from which...
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...Comparing the dystopian features of 'Lord of the Flies' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' 'Lord of the flies' and 'The Handmaid's Tale' are two dystopian novels that I'm going to compare. These two novels have got various dystopian features. Dystopia refers to a work of fiction that describes an imagined place or state where everything is unpleasant or bad due to terror or deprivation. Lord of the Flies is a very gory dystopian novel. This novel includes various dystopian features. One of them is greed which has been reflected by the behaviours and attitudes of the characters. Greed has been shown by Jack's obsession over killing the pig as once the pig escaped, getting it back and killing it was his only goal. He proclaimed that he was hunting for the group but his desperation to kill the pig said otherwise. This act showed his greed for pride as his ego got hurt when the pig escaped. Another way greed has been shown is by Ralph's desire to constantly be in charge and have control. This has been shown when Ralph first went with the hunter group he saw that the boys had started lazing about so in order to get control over them, he yelled at them to get back to work and light the fire. At denial, his ego got hurt and so he screamed at them until they agreed to do do. This reflects Jack's greed for authority and control over others. One other way in which greed has been shown is through Jack's intense and selfish desire for power. Jack's greed for authority and power has been shown...
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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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...Introduction It was the year of 1516 when Utopia was brought into being by Sir Thomas Moore, and from then on to the 19th century, utopian fiction has experienced a development and a dramatic turn into just the opposite tone, dystopian. These two distinctive streams in British literature, with a same distant source, contain totally different settings—if the utopian novels have demonstrated the perfectly idealized future society for mankind, then the dystopian ones describe the least ideal society, and it is usually considered that a dystopia is the vision of a society in which condition of life are miserable and characterized by poverty, oppression, war, violence, disease, pollution, nuclear fallout and/or the abridgement of human rights, resulting in widespread unhappiness, suffering, and other kinds of pain.1 As material civilization develops into a certain level and can be considered as more than sufficient, then the world is superior to spiritual civilization; however human spirit is the reflection and is controlled by the substances. So, in a highly-developed society with rich material life and high technology, human spirit indeed has no real freedom. Of course, flooding modernized technologies provide human beings a better living condition, but they are covering up an empty and weak spiritual world. Human beings are made to be squeezed to become the flat and instrumental existence surround by machines which makes them feel it is a perfect world. It is obvious...
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...forced to adapt to the difficulty of the dystopia. Ultimately, the New World was a combination of both utopian and dystopian qualities. There is a major contrast between utopias and dystopias. Each is characterized by opposite qualities, making the two entirely different. While a utopia is considered to be a perfect world that is void of conflict, a dystopia is regarded as an imperfect world that is full of difficulty. Although these definitions appear to be rather definitive, the New World shows a correlation to both. However, it is clear that the New World has more correspondence to a dystopia than to a utopia. The New World presents several utopian qualities. A utopia is characterized by a peaceful, safe environment, abundant with opportunity. Utopias are generally considered to be perfect. Ideally, a utopia would be free of any conflict, poverty or disease. The New World offered the settlers a chance at a new life. They viewed it as a land full of knowledge and undiscovered resources. In Christopher Columbus’ Letter, he affirms that the beautiful land is perfect for planting and sowing, as well as building towns and villages (Belasco 82). Everyone was treated equally and they worked together to grow as a community. These are all characteristics of a utopia. Although the New World consists of many utopian attributes, a larger majority of them are dystopian. A dystopia is a place full of difficulty and hardships. It is unorganized, chaotic, and dangerous. When the settlers...
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...Dystopian world’s are interesting since they create a world parallel to our own to attack some part of society indirectly. In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury shows us how people’s hunger for happiness can completely turn our world over so that our values no longer exist, leaving only our selfish need of technology. Another author, Jack London, conveys through his book the social injustice of their society on the working class because of the money hungry upper class that takes place in the past. Then there’s Robocop that takes place in the present of the past, if that makes sence, and it shows how corrupt the government is, as well as… Fahrenheit 451: A society is made up of people living together in a circle. However, that sense of community is non-existent in Montag’s world....
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...In this paper there will be effects of dystopian fiction on the future. A dystopia-is an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. In this paper the resource that will be used is an article called "Someone Might Be Watching - An Introduction to Dystopian Fiction" by Shelby Ostergaard. Also some examples will be from a novel called " The Time Machine " by H.G. Wells. Some of the possible effects of dystopian fiction on the future could be negative effects but some might be positive also. One of the possible effects dystopian fiction could have on the future is that the writing can warn us on how not to have our governments set up. For example in the novel "The Time Machine" the eloi used to own the morlocks or enslave them. But the morlocks evolved into a lot stronger creature compared to the eloi who were there masters. The morlocks eventually overran the eloi government and now the eloi live in fear of the morlocks. This example from the book shows that if the government is not treating the people well the people not in the...
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...In the author’s own words, the novel is described as, “The life where nothing was ever unexpected. Or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without color, pain or past.” However, it is the role of psychological, emotional, and humanistic predispositions that rule the narrative. Derived from a blend of fantasy and science fiction, utopian and dystopian worlds are often set in the future in which technology plays a huge role. There is strict control of information, personal freedom, and independent thought; all of it maintained under the guise of safety in conformity. The world inhabited by eleven-year old Jonas has eliminated all pain, prejudice, and fear. Everyone is viewed through a filter of sameness; they are cooperative, polite, and orderly. It is important to note the paradox...
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...from the subtheme dystopia, the strict definition of dystopia is : where everything is as bad as it can be. Dystopia can be hugely linked to Human Condition. The clouds symbolize the utopian world outside of prison and the knitwear symbolizes being in prison. The extra long sleeve that cover the hands show that there is no way of getting out of this restricted world. It can also link with the inevitability of death or suicidal because a dystopian environment such as the prison can be too restricted that people would think dying is a form of freedom. The understanding of 'nothing' varies widely between cultures, especially between Western and Eastern cultures and philosophical traditions. In some Eastern philosophies, the concept of "nothingness" is characterized by an egoless state of being in which one fully realizes one's own small part in the world. In my opinion, the state “nothing” is very beautiful and full of melancholy at the same time. There is no other characters other than 無 that can express the mood of dystopia better. In a dystopian...
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