Dystopian Literature
Dystopia is from the late 18th century, from dys- ‘bad’ + utopia. Oxford English Dictionary definition: "An imaginary place or condition in which everything is as bad as possible." Utopia was introduced by Sir Thomas More in his novel, Utopia (1561), a Latin word meaning "no place" or "somewhere too good to be true." The New Yorker compares the two: "A utopia is a paradise, a dystopia a paradise lost" and "Dystopias follow utopias the way thunder follows lightning." Dystopian fiction is a sub-genre of Science Fiction, in which social structures decompose.
Harrison Bergeron
ANTHEM
2 B R 0 2 B by Kurt Vonnegut
In the Year 2889
A Modern Utopia
Dystopia: A Mini Documentary
A Nice Introduction to the Genre
Dystopias and Utopias
These videos are optional viewing if you wish to expand your knowledge of the dystopian genre. They provide food for thought as you explore various ways to approach your story selction.
"In the Year 2525" Timely Folk Tune by Zager and Evans