Dystopian Novels
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1. SHORT OVERVIEW
Definition of dystopian fiction
In its most basic sense, you could say that dystopia is the opposite of utopia, referring to fictional societies that are incredibly imperfect, lacking the harmonious and egalitarian qualities of life depicted in utopias
But it's not exactly opposite, in that dystopias often contain many of the same elements as utopiassuch as intense measures of social controlbut these elements are taken to horrific extremes, with emphasis upon their negative effects
The term has been around since the 19th century; it was coined by English philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill in 1868; but as a genre of fiction, it really took off in the 20th century and became very prevalent in the years after World War II
Dystopian literature is a subset of the larger category of anti-Utopian literature, which generally satirizes Utopian thinking; dystopian literature stands out from other anti-utopian writing in that it doesn't just say what's wrong with utopian models of society, but offers an alternate view of social potentialities
Dystopian fictions are fundamentally concerned with problems of the political and cultural context that produces them; For example, George Orwell's 1984, one of the most famous dystopian novels, was written in 1949, shortly after World War II and the rise of totalitarian states on the right and the left, such as Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union under Stalin; it's not surprising then that Orwell would depict Big Brother and the Thought Police, elements of a profoundly oppressive state bent on maintaining absolute control over individuals (including even their thoughts)
Like utopian writing, there is often a prescriptive elementDystopian fictions almost always offer some kind of warning (often implicit) of what will happen should present trends continue (example?)
2. CULTURAL AND POLITICAL BACKGROUND
What were some of the cultural and political conditions that have been popular sources of dystopian fiction in the 20th century?
State-sponsored violence and Totalitarianism on both the right and left: Nazi Germany, the Stalinist Soviet Union
Growing awareness of environmental damage (side-effects of industry)
Rapid advances in technology: the impact of the industrial revolution (see the flaming smokestacks in Blade Runner), television, computers and information technology (which can have the by-product of enhancing the efficiency and power of surveillance techniques)
After World War II, the new capability through nuclear weapons for utter annhiliation of humans and human culture as we know it
Again, it's important to remember that Dystopian fictions tend to reflect the fears and anxieties of the cultural context from which they emerge
3. FAMOUS AUTHORS
3.1. Aldous Huxley
3.1.1 Biography
Aldous Huxley was born in 1894 in England to two very aristocratic parents, Leonard and Julia Huxley...