Anyone know any good books/studies/essays on the subject of dystopias portrayed in film or literature, preferably in the late 20th century? (Alternatively cacotopias or anti-utopias)
I'm thinking about using it as a topic for a writing contest. My primary interest is in the way they are used to provide social commentary.
Posted by Dr Strangelove (Member # 8331) on :
Do you mean dystopic novels, etc, or a book which analyzes dystopia in fiction? If you're looking for actual dystopian literature of the 20th century, I don't think you can do much better than Vonnegut, particularly Harrison Bergeron (short story), Welcome to the Monkey House (short story), and Player Piano (novel). But if you're looking for an analysis of the genre, I'm not sure I can help you, though I did write a paper on it a few years ago. Unfortunately it's at my home and I am not, so my resources are unreachable.
Edit: Though you might try doing some research on Vonnegut and see if he's written anything that might be of use. I seem to recall seeing something or other by him at one point that analyzed his genre, but I could be wrong.
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
Thank you good doctor. . Vonnegut's non-fiction wouldn't be a bad place to look. And for some reason I still haven't read the short stories you listed.
Sorry I wasn't clear; I'm looking for books which analyse dystopia in fiction.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
I love Vonnegut.
Posted by King of Men (Member # 6684) on :
There must surely be a vast critical literature on 1984.
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
You mean they're putting the I Love the 80's series into print?
Posted by Survivor (Member # 233) on :
You'd need to pick a few particular dystopias. The subject of how dystopias in general are used to criticize existing social trends is too broad to be very meaningful, because you can't get specific. You should be able to find some stuff about Orwell and 1984. Then try a dystopia that's completely different, like the future in Blade Runner, see what you can dig up on PKD. Or you might try something else...should try something else.
If you can pick two or three well known and fundamentally different dystopias to compare, you'll have a good number of sources.
Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :
This looks like what your looking for.
The Dystopian Impulse in Modern Literature: Fiction as Social Criticism, M. Keith Booker
DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE: A Theory and Research Guide, M. Keith Booker
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by Euripides: My primary interest is in the way they are used to provide social commentary.
How could they not be? (Honest question -- I think I may be missing something here.) By definition, they are commentaries on society.
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Edited to add: "whether" =/ "the way" *sheepish grin
Posted by Euripides (Member # 9315) on :
Thanks Rabbit. I'll check those out.
CT: I thought about that when I was typing it. Perhaps it would be possible to do a stylistic study on dystopic films, or something of that nature? Either way it leads to social commentary, I know.
Right now I'm thinking; 1984, Brave New World, Vonnegut (dystopic, but usually humorous too), PKD, Blade Runner, Dark City, The Matrix, with the door open for passing references to other texts (Brazil, Twelve Monkeys, even jumping into other media like plays or even computer games). I'll amend the list as soon as I start reading up, I'm sure.
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. Vonnegut's non-fiction wouldn't be a bad place to look. And for some reason I still haven't read the short stories you listed.