Download or read book Modern Dystopian Fiction and Political Thought written by Adam Stock and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-10-26 with total page 391 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Over the past few years, ‘dystopia’ has become a word with increasing cultural currency. This volume argues that we live in dystopian times, and more specifically that a genre of fiction called "dystopia" has, above others, achieved symbolic cultural value in representing fears and anxieties about the future. As such, dystopian fictions do not merely mirror what is happening in the world: in becoming such a ready referent for discussions about such varied topics as governance, popular culture, security, structural discrimination, environmental disasters and beyond, the narrative conventions and generic tropes of dystopian fiction affect the ways in which we grapple with contemporary political problems, economic anxieties and social fears. The volume addresses the development of the narrative methods and generic conventions of dystopian fiction as a mode of socio-political critique across the first half of the twentieth century. It examines how a series of texts from an age of political extremes contributed to political discourse and rhetoric both in its contemporary setting and in the terms in which we increasingly cast our cultural anxieties. Focusing on interactions between temporality, spatiality and narrative, the analysis unpicks how the dystopian interacts with social and political events, debates and ideas, Stock evaluates modern dystopian fiction as a historically responsive mode of political literature. He argues that amid the terrors and upheavals of the first half of the twentieth century, dystopian fiction provided a unique space for writers to engage with historical and contemporary political thought in a mode that had popular cultural appeal. Combining literary analysis informed by critical theory and the history of political thought with archival-based historical research, this volume works to shed new light on the intersection of popular culture and world politics. It will be of interest to students and scholars in literary studies, cultural and intellectual history, politics and international relations.
Download or read book Survive and Resist written by Shauna L. Shames and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2019-08-06 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Authoritarianism is on the march—and so is dystopian fiction. In the brave new twenty-first century, young-adult series like The Hunger Games and Divergent have become blockbusters; after Donald Trump’s election, two dystopian classics, 1984 and The Handmaid’s Tale, skyrocketed to the New York Times best-seller list. This should come as no surprise: dystopian fiction has a lot to say about the perils of terrible government in real life. In Survive and Resist, Amy L. Atchison and Shauna L. Shames explore the ways in which dystopian narratives help explain how real-world politics work. They draw on classic and contemporary fiction, films, and TV shows—as well as their real-life counterparts—to offer funny and accessible explanations of key political concepts. Atchison and Shames demonstrate that dystopias both real and imagined help bring theories of governance, citizenship, and the state down to earth. They emphasize nonviolent resistance and change, exploring ways to challenge and overcome a dystopian-style government. Fictional examples, they argue, help give us the tools we need for individual survival and collective resistance. A clever look at the world through the lenses of pop culture, classic literature, and real-life events, Survive and Resist provides a timely and innovative approach to the fundamentals of politics for an era of creeping tyranny.
Download or read book Dystopian Literature written by M. Keith Booker and published by Greenwood. This book was released on 1994-05-25 with total page 428 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dystopian literature is a potent vehicle for criticizing existing social conditions and political systems. While utopian literature portrays ideal worlds, dystopian literature depicts the flaws and failures of imaginative societies. Often these societies are related to utopias, and the dystopian writers have chosen to reveal shortcomings of those social systems previously considered ideal. This reference overviews dystopian theory and summarizes and analyzes numerous dystopian works. By reviewing the critical thought of particular dystopian theorists, the beginning of the volume provides a theoretical context for the remainder of the book. Because dystopian literature is so closely related to utopian writing, the reference profiles and discusses eight important utopian works. The rest of the book includes entries for numerous dystopian novels, plays, and films. Each entry summarizes the work and discusses dystopian themes. The entries include short bibliographies, with full bibliographic information provided at the end of the volume. This comprehensive guide covers the full period from Thomas More's Utopia to the present day.
Download or read book Dystopia written by Gregory Claeys and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2016-11-17 with total page 569 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dystopia: A Natural History is the first monograph devoted to the concept of dystopia. Taking the term to encompass both a literary tradition of satirical works, mostly on totalitarianism, as well as real despotisms and societies in a state of disastrous collapse, this volume redefines the central concepts and the chronology of the genre and offers a paradigm-shifting understanding of the subject. Part One assesses the theory and prehistory of 'dystopia'. By contrast to utopia, conceived as promoting an ideal of friendship defined as 'enhanced sociability', dystopia is defined by estrangement, fear, and the proliferation of 'enemy' categories. A 'natural history' of dystopia thus concentrates upon the centrality of the passion or emotion of fear and hatred in modern despotisms. The work of Le Bon, Freud, and others is used to show how dystopian groups use such emotions. Utopia and dystopia are portrayed not as opposites, but as extremes on a spectrum of sociability, defined by a heightened form of group identity. The prehistory of the process whereby 'enemies' are demonised is explored from early conceptions of monstrosity through Christian conceptions of the devil and witchcraft, and the persecution of heresy. Part Two surveys the major dystopian moments in twentieth century despotisms, focussing in particular upon Nazi Germany, Stalinism, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and Cambodia under Pol Pot. The concentration here is upon the political religion hypothesis as a key explanation for the chief excesses of communism in particular. Part Three examines literary dystopias. It commences well before the usual starting-point in the secondary literature, in anti-Jacobin writings of the 1790s. Two chapters address the main twentieth-century texts usually studied as representative of the genre, Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. The remainder of the section examines the evolution of the genre in the second half of the twentieth century down to the present.
Download or read book The Dystopian Impulse in Modern Literature written by M. Keith Booker and published by Praeger. This book was released on 1994-05-17 with total page 216 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A detailed discussion of literary dystopias as social criticism in Zamyatin's We, Huxley's Brave New World, Orwell's 1984, and in contemporary works.
Download or read book The End of the World is Flat written by Simon Edge and published by Eye Books (US&CA). This book was released on 2021-07-17 with total page 278 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A satirical comedy featuring Christopher Columbus, a tech billionaire, and a global delusion. Mel Winterbourne is the founder of a small, single-issue charity in the obscure field of mapmaking. Its success in achieving modest aims attracts the attention of handsome tech billionaire Joey Talavera, who evicts Mel and hijacks her charity for his own ends: to convince the world that the earth is flat. Although his chances of doing so seem slim, Flat Earthery is an idea whose time has come. With the historical reputation of Christopher Columbus in free-fall, old-style 'globularism' becomes heretical for a new generation of angry, anti-Establishment free-thinkers. Teachers, politicians, and celebrities face ruin if they refuse to sign up to the new orthodoxy. For Mel, something must be done. Teaming up with a pariah tabloid journalist and a faded writer of gross-out movie comedies, she sets out to challenge Talavera and his deranged beliefs. Will history and the billionaire's own family origins be their unexpected ally? Using his trademark mix of history and satire to poke fun at modern foibles, Simon Edge is at his razor-sharp best in a caper that may be much more relevant than you think.
Download or read book The Age of Dystopia written by Louisa MacKay Demerjian and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2016-02-29 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book examines the recent popularity of the dystopian genre in literature and film, as well as connecting contemporary manifestations of dystopia to cultural trends and the implications of technological and social changes on the individual and society as a whole. Dystopia, as a genre, reflects our greatest fears of what the future might bring, based on analysis of the present. This book connects traditional dystopian works with their contexts and compares these with contemporary versions. It centers around two main questions: Why is dystopia so popular now? And, why is dystopia so popular with young adult audiences? Since dystopia reflects the fears of society as a whole, this book will have broad appeal for any reader, and will be particularly useful to teachers in a variety of settings, such as in a high school or college-level classroom to teach dystopian literature, or in a comparative literature classroom to show how the genre has appeared in multiple locales at different times. Indeed, the book’s interdisciplinary nature allows it to be of use in classes focussing on politics, bioethics, privacy issues, women’s studies, and any number of additional topics.
Download or read book Political Fiction written by Fouad Sabry and published by One Billion Knowledgeable. This book was released on 2024-08-05 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discover "Political Fiction," an essential part of the "Political Science" series that explores how literature intersects with political power. This book examines how political fiction reflects and challenges societal norms in an age dominated by corporate influence. Chapter Highlights: 1. Political Fiction: Understand its role in reflecting and challenging politics and society. 2. Joseph Conrad: Explore Conrad’s impact on modern political narratives. 3. Utopia: Trace the origins and influence of utopian thought. 4. Utopian and Dystopian Fiction: Contrast these genres as reflections and warnings of future possibilities. 5. English Novel: Examine its role in advancing political themes. 6. British Literature: Discover how British literature intertwines politics with storytelling. 7. The Iron Heel: Analyze Jack London's portrayal of corporate oligarchy. 8. The Big Read: Assess how influential books shape public consciousness. 9. Bolesław Prus: Explore Prus's contributions and his novel "Pharaoh." 10. Looking Backward: Review Edward Bellamy’s utopian vision and its impact. 11. Nostromo: Delve into Conrad's "Nostromo" and its commentary on power and corruption. 12. Pharaoh (Prus Novel): Revisit Prus’s "Pharaoh" and its political insights. 13. A Legend of Old Egypt: Reflect on historical fiction’s commentary on contemporary issues. 14. Political Ideas in Science Fiction: Examine how science fiction addresses political and societal themes. 15. Philosophy and Literature: Discuss how philosophy and literature shape political narratives. 16. Social Novel: Analyze its critique of social injustices and political systems. 17. Proletarian Literature: Explore its advocacy for the working class. 18. Andrew Milner: Introduce Milner’s perspectives on literature, culture, and politics. 19. Dystopia: Investigate dystopia’s warnings about future societies. 20. List of Penguin Classics: Review essential Penguin Classics that have influenced political fiction. 21. List of Utopian Literature: Guide to key works in utopian literature. "Political Fiction" is a vital resource for anyone interested in how fiction can illuminate and challenge political realities, enriching your understanding and perspective.
Download or read book Swastika Night written by Katharine Burdekin and published by Feminist Press at CUNY. This book was released on 1985 with total page 212 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In a "feudal Europe seven centuries into post-Hitlerian society, Burdekin's novel explores the connection between gender and political power and anticipates modern feminist science fiction."--Cover.
Download or read book Just Girls written by Margaret J. Finders and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Essential reading for anyone interested in literacy learning and the social lives of adolescent girls.
Download or read book New Perspectives on Dystopian Fiction in Literature and Other Media written by Saija Isomaa and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2020-08-27 with total page 284 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This collection of essays examines various forms of dystopian fiction in literature, television, and digital games. It frames the timely trend of dystopian fiction as a thematic field that accommodates several genres from societal dystopia to apocalyptic narratives and climate fiction, many of them examining the hazards of science and technology to human societies and the ecosystem. These are genres of the Anthropocene par excellence, capturing the dilemmas of the human condition in the current, increasingly precarious epoch. The essays offer new interpretations of classical and contemporary works, including the canonised prose of Orwell, Atwood and Cormac McCarthy, modern pop culture classics like Battlestar Galactica, Fallout and Hunger Games, and the work of Johanna Sinisalo, a pioneer of Finnish speculative fiction. From Thomas Pynchon to Watership Down, the volume’s multifaceted approach offers fresh perspectives to those already familiar with existing research, but it is no less accessible for newcomers to the ever-expanding field of dystopian studies.
Download or read book Storm Thief written by Chris Wooding and published by Scholastic UK. This book was released on 2014-05-01 with total page 283 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Michael Grant, this darkly thrilling novel is a powerful blend of fantasy and science-fiction. Rail and Moa are two teenage thieves. Vago is a golem of metal and flesh. All three are denizens of Orokos, a city scoured by chaotic storms that rearrange streets and turn children into glass. No one can enter the city, or leave. Until one day Rail finds a mysterious artifact that may hold the key to the secrets of the city - and the chance of escape. And so begins an impossible quest. Get ready for a breathtaking adventure.
Download or read book Absent Rebels Criticism and Network Power in 21st Century Dystopian Fiction written by Annika Gonnermann and published by Narr Francke Attempto Verlag. This book was released on 2021-04-19 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Absent Rebels: Criticism and Network Power in 21st Century Dystopian Fiction focuses on the relationship between literary dystopia, network power and neoliberalism, explaining why rebellion against a dystopian system is absent in so many contemporary dystopian novels. Also, this book helps readers understand modern power mechanisms and shows ways how to overcome them in our own daily lives.
Download or read book The Poetics and Ethics of Un Grievability in Contemporary Anglophone Fiction written by Susana Onega and published by Taylor & Francis. This book was released on 2022-12-27 with total page 252 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The working hypothesis of the book is that, since the 1990s, an increasing number of Anglophone fictions are responding to the new ethical and political demands arising out of the facts of war, exclusion, climate change, contagion, posthumanism and other central issues of our post-trauma age by adapting the conventions of traditional forms of expressing grievability, such as elegy, testimony or (pseudo-)autobiography. Situating themselves in the wake of Judith Butler’s work on (un-)grievablability, the essays collected in this volume seek to cast new light on these issues by delving into the socio-cultural constructions of grievability and other types of vulnerabilities, invisibilities and inaudibilities linked with the neglect and/or abuse of non-normative individuals and submerged groups that have been framed as disposable, exploitable and/or unmournable by such determinant factors as sex, gender, ethnic origin, health, etc., thereby refining and displacing the category of subalternity associated with the poetics of postmodernism.
Download or read book American War written by Omar El Akkad and published by Vintage. This book was released on 2017-04-04 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A second American Civil War, a devastating plague, and one family caught deep in the middle—this gripping debut novel asks what might happen if America were to turn its most devastating policies and deadly weapons upon itself. From the author of What Strange Paradise "Powerful ... as haunting a postapocalyptic universe as Cormac McCarthy [created] in The Road." —The New York Times Sarat Chestnut, born in Louisiana, is only six when the Second American Civil War breaks out in 2074. But even she knows that oil is outlawed, that Louisiana is half underwater, and that unmanned drones fill the sky. When her father is killed and her family is forced into Camp Patience for displaced persons, she begins to grow up shaped by her particular time and place. But not everyone at Camp Patience is who they claim to be. Eventually Sarat is befriended by a mysterious functionary, under whose influence she is turned into a deadly instrument of war. The decisions that she makes will have tremendous consequences not just for Sarat but for her family and her country, rippling through generations of strangers and kin alike.
Download or read book Vox written by Christina Dalcher and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2019-07-16 with total page 354 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER • ONE OF ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY'S AND SHEREADS' BOOKS TO READ AFTER THE HANDMAID'S TALE “[An] electrifying debut.”—O, The Oprah Magazine “The real-life parallels will make you shiver.”—Cosmopolitan Set in a United States in which half the population has been silenced, Vox is the harrowing, unforgettable story of what one woman will do to protect herself and her daughter. On the day the government decrees that women are no longer allowed more than one hundred words per day, Dr. Jean McClellan is in denial. This can't happen here. Not in America. Not to her. Soon women are not permitted to hold jobs. Girls are not taught to read or write. Females no longer have a voice. Before, the average person spoke sixteen thousand words each day, but now women have only one hundred to make themselves heard. For herself, her daughter, and every woman silenced, Jean will reclaim her voice. This is just the beginning...not the end. One of Good Morning America's “Best Books to Bring to the Beach This Summer” One of PopSugar, Refinery29, Entertainment Weekly, Bustle, Real Simple, i09, and Amazon's Best Books to Read in August 2018
Download or read book Makers written by Cory Doctorow and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2009-10-27 with total page 417 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Perry and Lester invent things: seashell robots that make toast, Boogie Woogie Elmo dolls that drive cars. They also invent entirely new economic systems. When Kodak and Duracell are broken up for parts by sharp venture capitalists, Perry and Lester help to invent the "New Work," a New Deal for the technological era. Barefoot bankers cross the nation, microinvesting in high-tech communal mini-startups. Together, they transform the nation and blogger Andrea Fleeks is there to document it. Then it slides into collapse. The New Work bust puts the dot-bomb to shame. Perry and Lester build a network of interactive rides in abandoned Walmarts across the land. As their rides gain in popularity, a rogue Disney executive engineers a savage attack on the rides by convincing the police that their 3D printers are being used to make AK-47s. Lawsuits multiply as venture capitalists take on a new investment strategy: backing litigation against companies like Disney. Lester and Perry's friendship falls to pieces when Lester gets the fatkins treatment, which turns him into a sybaritic gigolo. Then things get really interesting. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
