I spent about an hour on Sunday afternoon, driving around my neighborhood in Eagle Rock. I stopped at a red light, just a mere half a block away from my apartment. I was in the middle lane and there were a few cars in the right lane. When the light turned green, the first car wasn’t moving, so the driver behind honked their horn, probably thinking they didn’t see that the light had turned green. The driver signaled for them to go on ahead. So the first car stayed stuck there at the light and turned on their emergency lights while everyone behind them passed by.
We have all had instances where we’ve passed someone who has car trouble and/or is stuck on the side of the road. What I think is dystopian about the actions of the drivers, and the point that I am trying to make is that here is just one example of our society. We can be more or less selfish; and care about our own actions and our individual selves—not necessarily a Good Samaritan type of world. I know that we’ve been talking about socialism and the egalitarian types of societies in dystopia, but this is the opposite of that. No one is really equal. Some people can afford to have their cars running in tip top shape. Some can’t afford to keep their cars reliable.
In a true dystopian society, I think that’s citizens might be; in fact, they may be even worse tenfold because under a totalitarian government, you would do everything you can to stay on the good side of the law, and disregard everyone else. There’s no equal ground. You’re out to save yourself from getting chained and to achieve your own individual success.
This is related to our reading in 1984, particularly the portions that describe the citizens of Oceania. They watch the beheadings and are completely desensitized by it. It's more like sport or entertainment. That's how we react to traffic accidents on the side of the freeway. It's just another thing that makes us spectators.
everythingeverywhereallatonce:(x)
3 years ago
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We have been talking about dystopia in my art history class as well, focusing on this piece of art:
Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4d/Georges_Seurat_-_Un_dimanche_apr%C3%A8s-midi_%C3%A0_l%27%C3%8Ele_de_la_Grande_Jatte.jpg
One can argue that this is a photo of utopia and dystopia. It is utopian in the sense that lower class, middle class and upper class are all enjoying a Sunday afternoon mixed together by this river or lake. The use of bright colors convey a sense of tranquility and harmony.
But it can also be argued that it is a painting of dystopia. Everyone is facing in one direction, not at one another. The strict, rigid posture of the subjects echo throughout the painting. It symbolizes the lack of relaxation between the classes, that they are divided. There is no interaction with one another. It is dystopia in a sense that the bridge between the classes is great, despite the fact that they live in the same city and go to the same parks together.
This can also be reflected in current American society. The middle class is shrinking with every year. Families who lived comfortably just a few years ago are starting to worry about money. Families who were already strained financially are suffering even more. And yet it seems that there are more millionaires in America than there ever were. Middle class society is starting to divide...some are getting richer, some are getting poorer thus creating a large rift between the classes in America.
Not utopia at all.
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