The Importance of Dystopian Literature

          This post is a little class about dystopian literature. I know very well what it is, and I hope all the readers of my blog can understand more about this evil. In order to value more democracy, human rights, an independent judiciary(justice), and solidarity, we have to know what must be avoided. Unpunished human rights violation, a dysfunctional democracy, the people afraid and a corrupt government is the first step to become a dystopia.   This post is a summary of three articles, The first with the title above, was published in May of 2015 at http://emertainmentmonthly.com/index.php/the-importance-of-dystopian-literature. The second was published at https://deegarretson.wordpress.com/2012/01/16/why-ya-dystopian-fiction-is-important/. The third was published in 2014 at http://scholarworks.wmich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3460&context=honors_theses

            The recent surge of dystopian literature that has gained massive attention and reeled in huge profits at the box office has also brought many crucial issues and ideas to the forefront of the media. For one point, dystopian literature like The Hunger Games and Divergent have given young women their own place to be action stars and to save the world, where very few question their gender, and instead focus on their determination and strength. Dystopian literature has helped to also highlight many social ills that society can use as red flags to determine if the power system has gone too far. Things such as declaring love a disease, where people are "cured" to prevent them from acting on passion, as in Delirium trilogy, or the brutality of sending children into an arena to fight to the death as in The Hunger Games, are very clearly wrong, and the government overstepping their boundaries. Readers immediately recognize that doing such things are clear infringements on human rights. While the issues commonly found in dystopia shed light on the horrors of the denial of basic human rights, the fascination that comes from consuming these forms of media raises a drastic problem. The Hunger Games franchise has made millions of dollars, and it has also spawned a very problematic culture, where consumers can find dolls of heroes like Katniss and Peeta, and make up by the label of "Capital Couture," based off the very institution within Panen that sends children to die in the first place. Readers and viewers are often looking at these dystopian societies and thinking, "This could never happen in real life", but the unfortunate truth is that it already is. On a smaller scale, particularly to minority groups, these infringements on civil rights are already happening every day, and unfortunately, one does not have to look much further to see that. Among the dystopia genre, a very large portion of the young leading rebellions and fighting oppression are ladies. They fight with bravery and determination, and readers sympathize with them and understand that they are being deprived of their basic human rights. But it raises the question: is dystopia what we get when the struggles and oppression faced by minority groups happen to people of all genders, races, backgound, and orientations? The dystopia genre has provided an incredible platform for young girls to finally picture themselves as the heroes, to take down oppressive governments, to stand up for what they believe, and make a difference, which was a much needed change. As reader take in the words on the page and viewers on the screen and both are horrified by the atrocities being committed, it should also be a cue to look at their own world and recognize when the same atrocities are happening on a smaller scale. The enjoyment and thrill that readers get from reading about these adventures does come at an expense, and the expense that some of these events are happening already, right under their noses. While these books serve as a warning and a view of what the world could become, they should also be opening eyes, and opening them wide enough to see what is happening right now. 

              Some of the most memorable books I read as a teen were dystopian stories, what were categorized most often as science fiction back when I was reading them. I have been fascinated to see the rise in popularity of dystopian fiction in recent years. My conflicted feelings about dystopians, and the change in how I read them made me wonder what exactly it is about them that pulls people in. Clearly, the intensity of the emotion is one reason, and with so many good stories, the feeling of wondering how you, the reader, would feel and act if you were in those situations. Dystopians are important beyond the story though, because outside of getting drawn into fascinating and unique situations, these types of books show that the world as we know it is not the only possibility. These stories raise the questions of "what if?" what if a science experiment had gone wrong? What if a disease that could not be controlled? What if a crazy person had come to power and others had not tried to fight him? What if we let only a few dictate the rules of society? While no one is purposefully reading dystopians for the lessons they can teach, they can make readers aware that paying attention to how society functions is important. They can show us that we can not assume the future will follow a perfect path, and we maybe be able to influence a part of it in what we choose to do with our lives, in how involved we get in the political process, in how we raise our children, or in what we study and pursue as a career. All in all, they expand the bubble each of us live in to see the greater world beyond us. And that is a good thing. I want my own children to read these books. If you are looking for some classic dystopian books to read to see what came before the current dystopia trend, here is a list of a few possibilities: 1) Brave New World by Aldous Haxley. 2) Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. 3) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. 4) On the Beach by Nevil Shute. 5) Earth Abides by George Stewart. 

                 Dystopian literature is a trend, after Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, dystopian literature has become the forefront of teen reading, especially with the adapted film versions of the trilogy. Citizens in a dystopian world have to deal with "harshly repressive societies" that constrict any free thought or individuality. A dystopia is usually a future world that extends and distorts modern day issues into a dehumanized state in which controls have been forced upon society and its inhabitants through social and physical limitations that restrict many aspects of life. The influence of Collins' trilogy has created a desire within teens to start picking up more dystopian texts and find connections and solutions within their own lives, which is one of the genre's main purposes. Dystopian literature is didactic in nature in a sense that the "first-person narration, engaging dialoguue, or even diary entries imparting accessible messages" not only draws readers in but also encourages them to think critically about injustices in their communities  and in the world at large. In every successful dystopian novel, readers can count on encountering one or more of these major commonalities: 1) individuals in charge with absolute power. 2) a strong protagonist who has been shaped by his or her current situation. 3) a dismal conclusion that leaves the reader feeling slightly uneasy. Whether it is the government, a police force, or overbearing rules imposed on the society, the oppressive force, which also can be the society itself, is so strong that most people living in the given story have lost the ability to think for themselves. Another common trend within dystopian literature is the conformity that almost completely erases any trace of individual thoughts or behaviors. The lack of individual thinking stems from the dystopian society's "embrace their uniformity out of a fear that diversity breeds conflict". The oppressive powers within the dystopia posit the fact that if everyone is in consent and there is no contention with one another, then no problems will occur. Conformity in dystopia is used to show the effects that ensue when the government has pushed the boundary between unity and blindly obeying without question or concern. While conformity traps individuals's right to expression, there is also enslavement and silencing. Mind control, economic constraint, and emotional restrictions depict societies that dehumanize the citizens, creating a sense of need that keeps the inhabitants perpetually in debt. Dystopian genre has been on the rise, understanding the genre and what the trends imply for readers is important.