What is Dystopia?

It is impossible to define DYSTOPIA without understanding its relationship to UTOPIA.

Utopia

An ideal place where citizens live perfect, happy lives. Utopian societies are associated with paradise, or heaven.

Dystopia

A bad place full of suffering, fear, and injustice. Dystopian societies are often totalitarian or post-apocalyptic.

These seemingly opposite visions cannot be separated from one another. In order to create a perfect utopian society, many aspects of human life must be controlled to achieve ideal solutions to society's problems.

As a result, the underlying reality of utopia is an oppressive control of citizens. Thus, dystopias can be illusions of perfect societies, characterized by homogeneity, uniformity, and violent suppression of dissent.

"You can have a society aquiver with creativity--arts, sciences, technological breakthroughs, everything--or you can have a safe and stable society. You can't choose both."

- Chad Walsh

Thomas More's Utopia

More (1477-1535) was the first to write about a utopia. In his famous work, an explorer describes the island of Utopia as an ideal society with communal property and excellent productivity. It lacks greed, war, violence, crime, and class distinction. Utopia stands as a symbol of rational thought, humanism, and a breaking away from English feudalist structures. But the puritanical citizenry of Utopia are also watched carefully to ensure constant hard work and the suppression of vice. The book can be viewed as a criticism of European society, and through it More seems to be suggesting that perfection is in fact an impossible ideal for an inherently imperfect human race.

A utopia is a planned society, but according to Jill Lepore of The New Yorker, "planned societies are often disastrous." Though More was the first to use the term "utopia," many before him envisioned what an ideal society might look like.

(A sampling of) Early Utopian Writings

Garden of Eden

Perhaps the original depiction of "paradise" and man's descent into dystopia.

Land of Cockaygne

The Kilgare Poems of Ireland (1330), describe a land of free love, no work, gluttony, and equality.

Robinson Crusoe

Daniel Dafoe's 1719 work illustrates the appeal of nature, hard work, and solitude.

Blake and Coleridge

Both poets imagined pristine countryside escapes from the grime and drudgery of industrialization.

New Atlantis

Francis Bacon's 1627 work imagines a future of knowledge and discovery, with science at the heart of humanity's salvation.

The Isle of Pines

The hero of Henry Neville's 1668 work is stranded on a beautiful island that feels like paradise.

News from Nowhere

William Morris was a romantic with socialist principles. He believed people should have leisure time for art, music, and thought.

A Modern Utopia

H.G. Wells wrote many utopian and dystopian books, introducing science and technology into the genre.

It is human nature to dream of a better life, and utopia was a sincere attempt to create a more fair society in which all citizens could enjoy prosperity, not just the wealthy. It has communist elements, akin to those put forth in The Communist Manifesto of 1848. Marx's famous work posited that there could be a more equitable alternative to capitalism, which he saw as a system which would only fuel the widening gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots."

(a few) historical- and more recent- attempts at utopia

In 1649, Gerrard Winstanley and his Diggers advertised a communist philosophy as they worked to cultivate land for their ideal colony.

George Fox and his Quaker followers believed in a pure form of Christianity founded on principles of charity and self-sufficiency.

Robert Owen (19th century) wanted to improve conditions for workers and the poor. He established cooperative villages and farms.

George Pullman launched a model village in 1880, built on "scientific principles": no alcohol, no public gatherings, no low prices, no blacks.

Tolstoy preached passive resistance and non-violence, and communes based on his beliefs focused on a return to agriculture, communal dining and expensives.

Hippies opposed war and consumerism while supporting nature, artisans, marriage restrictions, and the end of private property.

Various communes and cults have attempted to create more perfect lives for their followers; most probably belong in the category of dystopia.

Capitalists, billionaires, and tech companies talk of constructing ideal societies and progressive workplaces that foster innovation and enlightenment.

"So Utopia isn't dead. But what have we learned from these centuries of ideas, hopes and plans? It seems practically nothing. The communist ideal remains attractive but elusive. The 1% continue to indulge in warfare, government and money-lending. And the rest of us get along as best we can--with the occasional trip to the Land of Cockaygne on Friday nights."

- Tom Hodgkinson

dystopia = utopia turned upside down

In Greek, dystopia means "bad-place" and utopia translates to "no-place." The uncomfortable close proximity of their traits begs the questions, Is utopia an impossible dream? Can it ever exist, or does every utopia ultimately become a dystopia? What price are we willing to pay for ultimate safety and security?

(Claeys)

"Where utopia strives for perfection, then, it invites dystopia... Indeed, they might be twins, the progeny of the same parents."

- George Claeys

price of a perfect world

The problem with utopia is that it is created at the higher levels of society, and the lower levels are forced to mesh or be removed. What would it take to mold humanity into an ideal shape? How would you make people cooperate? Make sure it lasted? Make sure it continued to seem perfect? Everyone's utopia is different, and most utopias are inflexible. There must always be poor souls toiling at the bottom or being sacrificed for those at the top.

Genre Distinctions

Scholars have yet to agree on a perfect definition of dystopia, as its concepts may overlap with those of related genres. A lot of literature can be argued to fit in more than one category, depending on how which aspects are being focused on.

Dystopia

utopian genre precedes science fiction by hundreds of years
focus on social and political organization
can portray technology as an instrument of oppression and destruction

Science Fiction

term first used in 1851
focus on imagining technical innovations
science is central to the narrative
may include fantastical elements (aliens, zombies, etc.)

post-apocalyptic

society is completely different due to a cataclysmic event
harsh environments with limited resources
focus on individual survival
can have elements of dystopian control/social structure

Types of Dystopia

Steven Rosefielde defined dystopia as "a hellish state brought about by attempts to construct unrealizable ideal systems." In literature of all three categories, human action and error precipitate the descent to "hell."

Political dystopia

Totalitarian regimes rule through extreme coercion and repression. Many of these visions of despotism (the exercise of absolute power through cruelty and oppression) are influenced by the actions of Hitler and Stalin during World War II. Fascism and dictatorship are also associated with political dystopias. Extreme power is exercised over citizens. Common characteristics include surveillance, propaganda, terror and fear, censorship, and restriction of individual thought and freedom.

Environmental Dystopia

Degradation of the natural world may have been caused by nuclear warfare, natural disasters (i.e. flood, massive storms, fire, earthquakes), or climate change due to human impact on the environment. In these post-apocalyptic visions, humans struggle to survive in harsh and barely habitable ruins, often fighting for basic necessities. Individuals and communities regress to primitive, perhaps more barbaric, ways of life. These stories often reflect current environmental concerns.

Technological Dystopia

Advances in science and technology are dominant forces in society. Unethical uses of genetic engineering and cloning, or widespread use of surveillance technology, may be used for control and manipulation. These visions explore increased capabilities in artificial intelligence and the dangers of allowing technology to take control of our minds. They illustrate a growing focus on the human/machine identity spectrum and concern over the freedoms we may be sacrificing to technology.

Where Do We Get Our Morals and Values?

~Dystopia Through the Lens of Louis Althusser's Social Philosophy~

Repressive State Apparatus (RSA)

These are the institutions in society that function through rules and punishment. They include the army, police, and courts. In dystopia, these institutions operate with an "iron fist," often using fear, violence, and surveillance to control citizens.

Ideological State Apparatus (ISA)

These are the institutions in society that communicate ideas. They include schools, churches, and family. In dystopia, these institutions tend to propagate ideas of nationalism and conformity, and media plays a role in manipulating/brainwashing citizens to comply.

"There is nothing like a dream to create the future. Utopia today, flesh and blood tomorrow."

- Victor Hugo

Sources:

Campbell, J. W. (2019). The order and the other: young adult dystopian literature and science fiction. Jackson: University Press of Mississippi.

Claeys, G. (2018). Dystopia: a natural history: a study of modern despotism, its antecedents, and its literary diffractions. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Gendler, A. (2016). TedEd Lessons Worth Sharing: How to Recognize a Dystopia. Retrieved from https://ed.ted.com/lessons/how-to-recognize-a-dystopia-alex-gendler

Hodgkinson, T. (2016, October 6). How Utopia Shaped the World. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160920-how-utopia-shaped-the-world

Lepore, J. (2017, June 5). A Golden Age for Dystopian Fiction. The New Yorker. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/06/05/a-golden-age-for-dystopian-fiction

MasterClass. (2019, October 9). What is Dystopian Fiction? Retrieved from https://www.masterclass.com/articles/what-is-dystopian-fiction-learn-about-the-5-characteristics-of-dystopian-fiction-with-examples#characteristics-of-dystopian-fiction-government-control

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