Based on this course, I’ve learned that when describing what dystopia takes a deeper look. It’s not just about fear or a post-apocalyptic environment. You have to take a look at the root of the results, who’s the reason they’re in whatever predicament is present. My revised definition of a dystopia is a society that is facing great suffering and limited freedom at the hands of another group. Taking a look at multiple novels and films has made me relieve that these fictional stories have a deeper meaning. A lot of authors and directors use these stories to bring attention to the things we’re doing and the direction it can lead us in. The Five Faces of Oppressions has become my go to when it come to talking about a dystopia. Powerlessness, marginalization, cultural imperialism, violence, and exploitation are seen in both contemporary society and these fictional stories. People are faced with these parameters at the hands of the government, a group in power, or something “highly intelligent”. These factors create an unfair divide between groups of people based on some sort of difference. This can be race, social class, financial status, religion, etc. So, it’s more than just what the people are experiencing, but also why and how they are facing the challenges. Another point that I think is always great to mention is the weight of societal standards. Freud talks about the civilization and its issues that put us in a position of uncertainty. He reminds us that we are not far off from these dystopian tales we here. People create dystopian environments for others with no remorse. In a sense, this is true because people are stripped of their resources and/or placed in these environments that are not safe. The main point of all of this is that at the hands of someone, there’s a group experiencing some sort of disadvantage that can be mental, physically, or socially damaging.
