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THE FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS,

OR RATHER, OUR WORDS
"Can We Make The World A Better Place?"

Through the diverse perspectives held

can be answered through exploring a

towards 'dystopian' and 'futuristic' texts,

wide range of prescribed and chosen

are we able to educate ourselves and

texts concerning dystopian settings,

change our current situations and

ideas and themes. As a group we have

perceptions in order to develop a better

come to the conclusion that we in fact

and brighter future? As a group, we have

can make the world a better place. In the

explored the themes and ideas prevalent

novel Fahrenheit 451, written by Ray

in a wide variety of 'texts' and discovered

Bradbury, the dystopian society is

the ways in which we can apply these to

portrayed as one which relies on

our society today. By taking into account

conformity and the eradication of history.

the consequences and scenarios

The main protagonist, Montag is a

reflected within dystopian texts and their

fireman whose job is to destroy history

futuristic societies, we can establish goals

through burning books. However, through

to create a "better world".

certain circumstances, Montag is

exposed to the true controlling and

The question: Can we make the world a

dystopian nature of his society. Montag

better place? using dystopian and

goes against the controlled life planned

futuristic texts as the persuasive force,

out for him and strives to escape, leading

1

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to a mass manhunt and eventually the

obliteration of the city. In Fahrenheit 451
the importance of history and
preservation is expressed, which further
encourages readers to create a better
world by taking our history into account.
Our past can influence our decisions. In
addition, the artwork My Dress Hangs
There by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo
challenges us to make the world a better

guiding viewers in thinking about how we

place in terms of personal and cultural

can create a better world.

action. Through her highly influential and

expressive artwork, Kahlo portrays her

Furthermore, dystopian texts can be

distaste of American capitalism and her

utilised as essential sources for exposing

longing for her native country. This

potential consequences of current issues,

artwork was created whilst Frida Kahlo

such as technology and sustainability. In

was in America for three years. She was

most dystopias, development of

there due to

"Dystopia is a
her
society
husbands
characterised by growing
human misery, popularity
and
as squalor,
fascination
oppression,
with the
disease, and
country.
overcrowding." Through the
- DICTIONARY.COM

artwork and

the use of visual technique, such as

eective use of space and vivid imagery
and colours, the importance of preserving
culture and heritage and expressing
personal preference is established, thus

technology is determined as the dominant

issue within every society due to possible
risks, regarding privacy and security.
Amongst other cases, technology can
negatively influence the awareness of
cultural and ethical issues, as well as,
encourage disconcerting behaviours.
Fahrenheit 451 exemplifies this, as the
novel emphasises the nature of the
societys lifestyle, due to the absence of
knowledge and history: the real
reason, hidden underneath, might be
they didn't want people sitting like
that, doing nothing, rocking, talking;
that was the wrong KIND of social life.
This misconception emphasises the

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significance of learning from past

can be portrayed to be "suocating" the

experiences, as it implicates that the

citizens of the society by the implausible

misunderstanding and paranoia of minor

control over them. In particular, the

aspects can negatively influence the

government wants to eliminate the

lifestyle of the society. In a similar sense,

peoples power to feel emotions and

technology can instigate greed and urban

eliminate all the causes of distress for

decay, as a result of the evolution of the

people in the society. Rather, they want to

society. The dystopian novel, When the

brainwash the people so that they are

Sleeper Wakes by H.G Wells, in particular,

"smart and happy," : If you don't want a

displays their society as perfection with

man unhappy politically, don't give him

technology at their favour. However, it

two sides to a question to worry him;

exemplifies the implementation of a

give him one. Better yet, give him

discriminatory system of hierarchy and

disregard of equality to sustain the
utopian paradigm: There are no
workhouses, no refuges and charities,

none. Let him forget there is such a

thing as war." Through this
misunderstanding that exists in the book,
people can come to realise and

nothing but that Department.

understand the consequences of

Ignorance towards universal issues is

Totalitarianism: How a society and

exemplified, as it is established that the

individuals can deteriorate because of a

government has dismissed the wellbeing

Totalitarian government. Furthermore, the

of individuals for a perfected utopia. It

novel The Brave New World also explores

further emphasises the greed, fuelled by

the society where the government is in

technology, since it demonstrates the

control of the whole society and feelings

reality of the laws instituted by the

are eliminated: The world's stable now.

authorities. Thus, in respect to the

exposure provided by dystopian novels
regarding possible repercussions of
current issues, it is certain that we can
create a bright future through these
sources and thus, establish a better
world.

The dystopian novel, Fahrenheit 451 is

set in a world where the political system

People are happy; they get what they

want, and they never want what they
can't get... And if anything should go
wrong, there's soma. The importance
of feelings and relationships between
humans are not important anymore and
infants are genetically engineered and
born to do "certain things". The people in
the society of this novel escape their

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"dicult" reality through the use of drugs,

as love and relationships are no longer
important. Through the elimination of
emotions in society, the utopia is
presented to be a place where ignorance
overtakes the whole society. Therefore,
people are able to see the consequences
that may potentially arise through the
Totalitarian ways of governing and
through the use of genetic engineering,
which can guide people to learn what
ways they have to use and what ways
they need to avoid in order to create a
better world.

To conclude, by harnessing the themes

and ideas prevalent within dystopian
texts, we are able to determine future
decisions and goals for the benefit of the
society and develop strategies for current
issues.