"Dustopia", the original spelling of "dystopia", first appeared in Lewis Henry Younge's Utopia: or Apollo's Golden Days in 1747. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, often make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system. Some authors use the term to refer to existing societies, many of which are, or have been, totalitarian states or societies in an advanced state of collapse. Dystopian societies appear in many sub-genres of fiction and are often used to draw attention to society, environment, politics, economics, religion, psychology, ethics, science, or technology. Famous examples include George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932), and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 (1953). Dystopian societies appear in many fictional works and artistic representations, particularly in stories set in the future. Despite certain overlaps, dystopian fiction is distinct from post-apocalyptic fiction, and an undesirable society is not necessarily dystopian. Themes typical of a dystopian society include: complete control over the people in a society through the usage of propaganda, heavy censoring of information or denial of free thought, worshiping an unattainable goal, the complete loss of individuality, and heavy enforcement of conformity. ĭystopias are often characterized by fear or distress, tyrannical governments, environmental disaster, or other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society. The relationship between utopia and dystopia is in actuality, not one simple opposition, as many utopian elements and components are found in dystopias as well, and vice versa. It is often treated as an antonym of utopia, a term that was coined by Sir Thomas More and figures as the title of his best known work, published in 1516, which created a blueprint for an ideal society with minimal crime, violence, and poverty. Ī dystopia (from Ancient Greek δυσ ( dus) 'bad', and τόπος ( tópos) 'place'), also called a cacotopia or anti-utopia, is a speculated community or society that is undesirable or frightening. Life in Kowloon Walled City has often inspired the dystopian identity in modern media works. JSTOR ( February 2023) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message).Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Send us feedback about these examples.This article needs additional citations for verification. These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'utopia.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. The Editors, ELLE, 24 July 2023 As her brush swoops right and swishes left, she’s first transported to a lush spring meadow, then to the canopies of a rainforest - every stroke bringing her to another verdant utopia. 2023 Black serves as a juxtaposition to this fertile utopia. Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2023 Visitors came from as far away as Europe to see utopia at work. Adam Kirsch, Harper's Magazine, 14 Aug. 2023 For the millennial generation, adulthood has been defined by apocalyptic fears, political frenzy, and glimpses of utopia, whether in Chicago’s Grant Park on election night 2008 or in New York’s Zuccotti Park during Occupy Wall Street in 2011. 2023 Ethereal vibes permeated the atmosphere, creating a sense of utopia. Kelsey Ables, Washington Post, 26 July 2023 The Franschhoek Valley, a utopia of vineyards dating back to the 17th century, is the setting for the next four days. 2023 When that failed because of local pushback, his group made another unsuccessful attempt to set up a society in Vanuatu, all with the goal of creating a libertarian utopia. Recent Examples on the Web Burners create a kind of utopia building villages, a medical center and airport along with performance stages.
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