Speculative Fiction & Dystopian features

Question 1

Spec Fic

Answer 1

1. Mix of fantasy sci-fi, dystopian, and historical fiction genres
2. Asks “what if?” - parallels, ideas attitudes, values, and problems in our own society but exaggerated (on a larger scale) - extended analogy
3. Always speculating and predicting
4. Deal with controversial things within the world that reflect the issues we have IRL:
   - Class struggles, war, power technology, magic, gender nature, civilization, humanity, religion, prophecy, good vs. evil
5. Set somewhere in the near future - near enough to recognize aspects of their own world in ours
6. A micro analogy: tells a micro narrative inside the macro narrative, which ends up being a microcosm for our own world
   - Mini story within a larger story, which represents our society/ world in some way
   i.e. Katniss’’ specific, small story within the larger world of Panem and all the district - we can draw parallels from our own world

Question 2

Dystopia

Answer 2

1. Seem perfect at start but over time reveal flaws
2. Certain trends in contemporary society are taken to extreme - exposing their underlying flaws (warns audience - mirror irl society)
3. Some crucial human element is lost (love, empathy, emotions, appearance etc.). Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
4. No tolerance for imperfections: high class has no regard for lower class and control them - Death to any that don’t belong
   5. Some form of control over them: drugs, threats, violence etc.
5. The “opressed” usually fear the outside world and don;t realize they are being oppressed in the beginning of the literary work.
6. Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
7. Prevalent fear or distress from:
   - Tyrannical governments
   - Environmental disaster or
   - Other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society (usually man-made problems/diseases)

Question 3

Utopia (2020)

Answer 3

• Pandemic
• Seemingly utopia at the start, but soon revealed that not everything is as perfect as it seems - creating viruses, bio warfare, manmade disease
• Death to any that are out of line
• 2022
• “What if?” how much evil do we need to do to do good
• Drug used as a mechanism of control

Question 4

District 9 (takes place in 2009 summer)

Answer 4

• Set in the near future
• Government-focused on money, control
• Aliens - supernatural
• Micronarrative inside macro

Question 5

Children of Men (book written in 1992 predicting 2027)

Answer 5

• Near future
• No children (for 18 years) - exaggerated problem
• Setting (time, place etc.) is different/alternate
• Surveillance

Question 6

Fallout 4

Answer 6

• Direct parallel to the Red Scare (Communism) - references
• Post-war (literal fallout)
• Greed
• Paranormal
• Militarism

Question 7

4 Types of Dystopian Controls

Answer 7

• Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media.
• Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials.
• Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific means.
• Philosophical control: Society is controlled by ideology often enforced through a **dictatorship or theocratic government. **

Question 8

The Dystopian Protagonist

Answer 8

• Feels trapped and is struggling to escape.
• Questions the existing social and political systems.
• Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives.
• Helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective