DYSTOPIAN FICTION **Now entering the darkness**

What is dystopian fiction?  Dystopia (Greek: dys ‘bad’ + tópas ‘place’): A fictional work that presents an alternative history or vision of the future wherein an attempt to create a perfect society results in a nightmarish, prophetic vision.

Society is broken…  Dystopias serve as a moral or political warning (called a cautionary narrative), often of the threat of oppressive governmental regimes. Dystopian literature features dangerous, alienating future societies… [ intended to criticize current trends in culture]!

Speculative fiction  Dystopian fiction is a subgenre of speculative fiction—that which asks WHAT IF about the future.  These WHAT IFs are shaped by current trends and fears. (Ex. In the 1950’s, emergence of TV on large scale  Fahrenheit 451)

Look for the following:  Satire/parody/social commentary  Paradox of horrifying perfection  Contrast between overt and implied messages  The diction of propaganda  Which sacrifices for which gains?  Who are the winners? Who are the losers? (power)  What will it take to heal or destroy the society? (consequences)

Canonical dystopian novels

Legacy…

What do we fear?  …and how does it shape what will be, both in our imaginations and in reality? Mama kitty says, “Don’t let my baby inherit a dystopia!” (That’s the point.)