Dystopian Literature - Science topic

The cultural impact of science-fiction and dystopian literature is becoming more and more obvious these days. Words like "Robot", "Android", "Cyborg", "Automation",etc, all come from sci-fi novels, and Orwell, Huxley and Zamyatin seem to have foreseen a lot of the events that are happening around us. I was thinking it would be great if we could create a network of researchers interested in the link sci-fi/dystopia- social/political history., which could lead to a conference at my university (Aarhus university, Denmark) in 2020 or 2021.

It has been said that our contemporary experience is that of the "lived dystopia" of Modernity. This social imaginary directly confronts the narrative of the "imminent threshold", the point of no return set in the near future, beyond which environmental degradation and other social problems are portrayed as definitely intractable. This question bears directly on our understanding of political hope in the present World: Should we hope to avoid the imminent catastrophe, or should the domain of hope rather be focused on coping with a dystopia that is already here?

Some ideas of my developing a comprehensive examination of the best works of dystopian literature such as 1984 and Brave New World, and a discussion of how such works will prove to be a dangerous harbinger or presage of what is happening in our current society in 2018. Including an extensive discussion on the modern, relevant dystopian theme that illustrates how the over-reliance and use of technology (i.e. Big Brother is watching or people trapped behind various "black mirrors" or screens that inhibit human connection) is a main contributor to us becoming such a society. This research and examination of such literature and film examples should lead to the conclusion that such works ARE a warning to what we could become, and perhaps examining strategies to avoid or lessen such a situation. The current proliferation of "fake narratives" such as "2 + 2 = 5" can frame the discussion of how a society can confuse and subjugate the masses, whereby the common proletariat can easily buy a fascist-thinking to perpetuate the rise of a totalitarian oligarchy which will inevitability lead to the destruction of society as we know it, foretold by dystopian writers for time immemorial.

The danger of the current symbiotic relationships we have with technology and the emerging concept of "cyberpsychology" that examines the long-term effects of such a relationship on human communication and on society as a whole. Kinda fits with my thesis proposal, which may be narrowed to examine the hypothesis that this growing symbiosis with technology is destroying natural human communication and perhaps society itself, which can lead to the dystopian state presaged by the seminal works of "1984" and "Brave New Word" and their related films/shows in the modern cannon. With this narrow focus on two works and their influence, I can posit that we are falling further toward dystopia with the proliferation of the millenials and the newest GenZ'ers (the "iGeneration") dominating the population and most of the hallmarks of society.

To avoid even the most basic hypocrisy I myself struggle with, I need to examine the contrarian argument that for all of its good points (like connections here on FB), I wonder if the negatives outweigh those. I miss the days when you left the house in the morning and were completely UNREACHABLE till you got home in the evening. And the iGeneration has never known a world without technology and its 24/7 domination in our lives.

Good Morning,

I am in the process of starting an Environmental Film Club at George Mason University.

I'm putting together a list of resources, must see's and general conversation points for both introductions and follow-ups to the films.

If you knew that I had never been exposed to environmental film, what would you insist I view? What are your favorite few films? 

I am currently doing research on EU-CELAC science diplomacy. I focus on the region-to-region dynamics in this policy domain and I wondered if any of you are also doing research on this topic?

I offer a course on (mainly mainstream) cinematic portrayals of international relations and interactions--using films such as V for Vendetta, Battle of Algiers, Avatar, Dr. Strangelove, Night of the Living Dead, Last Emperor, Fight Club, The Mission, and many others. We discuss culture, politics, colonization, the state, IGOs and international law, war, and utopian/dystopian futures. I would also be interested to read any recommended syllabi, film reviews, critical essays, or other analyses of film and cinema. Many thanks!