The Powers That Soon to Be.

I understand the appeal of utopian literature, given the chance who wouldn’t dive into the most ideal, convenient, seemingly perfect world.  But how much fun can it be reading about an unrealistic almost unattainable version of the world you currently live in? My guess is not that fun if the contrasting view has eclipsed its predecessor in recent decades. That being dystopian literature; a futuristic alternate universe featuring an oppressive societal control, usually taking the form of some sort of government power. People live in fear and soak in their own anxieties due to the oppressive over barring treatment they receive from this new utilitarian society. These governmental figures are retooling the shortcomings they had when originally establishing control, removing the opportunity from people to challenge that power. In some cases, demolishing the ideas of freedom and democracy outright.

But what I find so interesting is that these same people are fed the idea that the world they live in is actually a utopia, and this is often done through propaganda. I admire the undertone it plays each respective scenario. Despite the poverty, inequalities, or the post-apocalyptic urban settings, the people are forced to understand that “what the powers that be” say is best for them, is what’s best for them.

These stories leave you to ponder are we already headed down a dystopian path in the way technology is advertised in today’s world. As it’s broadcasted and labeled as the progress of humanity. That we need to incorporate technology everywhere we can, equating it connivence or “a better life” as we are transitioning into a world where we are so dependent on it. But can’t we apply that same propaganda idea to our own government? Every year we learn more and more about how we are being watched by them through conversations over the phone, apps, location tracking, our data, and basically anything online. The new thing is algorithms, our devices filtering us information it thinks we like based on our data. Now what’s stopping the government from feeding us their agendas through media that’s sugar coated to appeal to our own biases essentially brainwashing us? The answer is that we wouldn’t even know until they told us, and why would they do that.

When you understand how under control we are now, it’s interesting to read what these writers envision when creating an alternate reality that reflects our future. That is where the appeal lies. These dystopian stories could be viewed as the trending result of current social norms and political systems. Serving as a warning of where society is headed. And I think the remarkable technological strides we’ve made in recent decades, has allowed these worlds to feel more real than you would like.