Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay

People often muse about living in a fairy-tale like environment where all is perfect and wonderful and rewarding. Everyone is equal and there are no cares or worries. There is a word for that- UTOPIA. These same folks unfortunately are easily duped in the early stages of disillusion into to thinking and believing that all of these wonderful things are offered not in a UTOPIA but in a DYSTOPIA.

DYSTOPIA is defined as: an imagined state or society in which there is great suffering or injustice, typically one that is totalitarian or post-apocalyptic. What’s that you say? You’ve heard it all before? It would never happen that way? Life would be better with just a few more rules? All would be well and that is ALL just propaganda? My friends – you have already taken the first step into the darkside. Maybe you just don’t want to deal with reality anymore so you have conveniently retreated to your safe brain space where everything is just fine and progressing as it should.

“As it should” – such an interesting phrase. We are all subject to “as it should” thinking in one form or another. Kind of bounces out any notion of “as it shouldn’t,” right? Yes, “as it should” begins to sound like propaganda after a while to those who are astute. Know this – Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society. Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted/ censored. A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.  It does seem a large percentage of the population supports this type of thing these days thinking that it will all lead to a better world. So let’s review the unraveling of the Fairy-Tale the just plain old bullshit future Utopia and see what Dystopia offers:

Characteristics of a Dystopian Society

• Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.

• Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted/ censored.

• A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.

• Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.

• Citizens have a fear of the outside world.

• Citizens live in a dehumanized state.

• The natural world is banished and distrusted.

• Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.   

• The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world. 

Types of Dystopian Controls

Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls: 

• Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media. Examples include Minority Report and Running Man.  
• Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials. Examples in film include Brazil.  
• Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples include The Matrix, The Terminator, and I, Robot. 
• Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government. 

The Dystopian Protagonist

• Often 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 recognizes the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.*

That said, what is amusing about the current status of the USA is that the political divide has been mind-melded into thinking that each side is trying to that to the other side and neither has the inclination to take a sharper look. So, that state of mind makes it easier for “the big bad wolf” who literally doesn’t give a damn about either side, to take over.

The old books we used to read about Dystopian societies like 1984, Animal Farm, Fahrenheit 451, Brave New World, A Clockwork Orange to name a few used to unnerve us to the core so badly that it threw us into states of ego denial – “fairytales” we told ourselves. “Never happen” we told ourselves.

It’s happening.

Are we to just shrug it off and label it “simply the natural progression of society”? Are we to just sit on our hands and pride ourselves as “witnesses of the future”? Are we to just shake our heads in disapproval and compliance and say “We’re f*cked!”?

Fairytales are often violent in nature throughout their storylines but there is generally something to be learned from them by way of morals. So now the question becomes what are we learning here and now? Where is the hero who slays the big bad wolf or annihilates that nasty dragon who is destroying the country side?

You tell me because you are writing this tale. Sounds to me like you could use a good proof-reader.

Hurry up before you are cancelled.

Educational Resource: *Miami Dade College - https://libraryguides.mdc.edu/c.php?g=957851&p=6914808