Dystopia: A place or standard controlled by a ruling force, that imposes great harm on society physically, mentally, or emotionally.
This definition of dystopia feels accurate in a sense that it covers all bases of what a dystopia could be. We’ve engaged in various factors of a dystopia from government control to social norms. In every case there is a ruling force that allows for these negative elements to continue affecting society. Whether this be physically, emotionally, or mentally, society is affected in a way that forces control to be given up.
If we look to some sources, we’ve engaged in this semester we can get a better understanding. The novel 1984 and the movie The Purge are both dystopian pieces that explore the issue of government control. In both, the ruling force, the government, harms society physically, mentally, and emotionally. We also looked at some aspects of current society, for example the covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic was controlled by a ruling force, in this case a dangerous virus. In response to this, society was harmed physically, mentally, and emotionally. Many people lost their lives, others had family members that were greatly affected, and majority had to face the transition from their old life.
