Genre – DYSTOPIA Dystopia – opposite of utopia (perfect), so it’s an imperfect world

Generic conventions Dystopian worlds: Fictional place or state where everything is unpleasant or bad. Dystopia explores Postmodern themes through the challenging narrative themes. Narratives take place in the aftermath of a disaster. E.g. war, plague, alien invasion, disasters etc. Most post-apocalyptic ‘disasters’ have a man-made cause. Relate to real-time fears in society. E.g. Cold war, medical advances, environmental change etc. Agrarian societies often develop: return to pre-industrialised soc. The possibility of human demise: survivors struggle for existence! These films create the sense of finality and in some instances a new beginning/ survival / re-birth. Character types Heroic male protagonist ‘Post-Modern Cowboy’ – loner, pushed into action, constant threat and violence for him (survives against the odds) Groups/tribes who seek to profit from violent anarchy. Human surviver group - small group from the pre-apocalyptic modern world, struggling to survive in the savage new world. The Helper – Often from the alien/infected race who assists the hero in his quest for resolution.

Sub Genres Science fiction – a sense of ‘science gone wrong’ where future is controlled by a ‘big brother’ scenario relating to fears in society. Post-Apocalyptic – end of the world scenario with limited survivors. Horror – Presenting a chaotic world of mutants or Zombies created from human genetic research.

Timeline – Historical Context o Pre War (1920s) – Fear of mass production, totalitarianism, modernist critique, Big Brother style scenarios. E.g. Metropolis (1927) o Post War – Cold War fears, Nuclear Armageddon, Fear of invasion, Post apocalyptic ideas. E.g. Planet of the Apes (1968) o 70/80s – Fears of technological advancements, genetic modification, computer and robotic power, authoritarian states E.g. Blade Runner (1982), The Terminator (1984) o 90s and now – Fears of cloning, genetics, dystopic themes, environmental disaster, using postmodern ideas of Hybrid genres and pastiche. E.g. 28 Days Later (2002), District 9 (2009)

28 Days Later Danny Boyle (2002) Post Apocalyptic theme – infection ‘rage’ virus. Plays with real life fears of human race being killed out. Male Protagonist/Post-modern cowboy, reluctant, Unexpected hero. Alienated Confused helper, reluctant Disruption at the beginning, no hints of resolution in trailer Follows the narrative structure by Todorov. Four weeks after a mysterious, incurable virus spreads throughout the UK, a handful of survivors try to find sanctuary. - IMDB

The Road John Hillcoat (2009) Post- apocalyptic theme – America burned and freezing conditions. Plays with real life fears of another ‘ice age’. Male protagonist/post modern cowboy – Forced into danger Helper – His family, reluctant helpers A post-apocalyptic tale of a man and his son trying to survive by any means possible. - IMDB

Planet of the Apes Franklin J. Schaffner (1968) Post Modern narrative – World run by apes and humans are seen as the ‘animals’. Plays with real life fears/concerns about what could be on other planets Disruption when one of the humans becomes captive by the apes for experimentation. Follows Todorov’s narrative structure. An astronaut crew crash lands on a planet in the distant future where intelligent talking apes are the dominant species, and humans are the oppressed and enslaved. - IMDB

Terminator James Cameron (1984) Post Apocalyptic theme – robot from the future with a mission to kill. Plays with real-life fears of the future and fears of technological advancements Female protagonist – post modern as stereotypically the protagonist is male/post modern cowboy – forced into danger unknowingly. Helper from future (post-modern), knows what’s going on – not the stereotypical helper who normally doesn’t know what’s going as well as protagonist. Antagonist – Robot from the future disguised as human. Disruption at the beginning of trailer, no real hints of resolution A robotic assassin from a post-apocalyptic future travels back in time to eliminate a waitress, whose son will grow up and lead humanity in a war against machines. - IMDB