Idiocracy and Dystopian Fiction Essay Example
Idiocracy and Dystopian Fiction Essay Example

Idiocracy and Dystopian Fiction Essay Example

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  • Pages: 3 (699 words)
  • Published: November 29, 2021
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Dystopia is a literal element that typically portrays a grim perspective on the future, highlighting the potential for things to go very wrong. It represents a seemingly perfect utopian society where everything appears flawless. This is often depicted through dehumanization and societal chaos, usually set in the future. Dystopian books serve as cautionary tales, incorporating elements of contemporary society and serving as warnings against future trends. These stories aim to caution readers about various aspects of human life that are often sacrificed in dystopian literature and films, such as happiness and overall humanity within society. In 2006, the film "Idiocracy" starring Luke Wilson was produced, blending dystopian and scientific fiction genres. The movie presents a scenario where a US army librarian named Bauers and a prostitute named Rita awaken from hibernation in the year 2505, discovering they are the most intell

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igent individuals in this future world. The two had previously been chosen for a secret experiment focusing on appearance, intelligence, and behavior.

The film incorporated various literary aspects such as comedy, pessimism, and satire to depict the modern society. It also depicted irony as it imagined the consequences of a scenario where smarter individuals had more children than those who were less intelligent, projecting this into the future until 2505. The portrayal of this society was one of crudeness, degeneration, and decadence, with an average intelligence quotient estimated at 60. Pessimism arose from the film's depiction of a future society that had gone terribly wrong, with people becoming shockingly less intelligent due to technological advancements. These technological advancements included the automation of essential human roles and the implementation of barcode tattoos on individuals for tracking purposes

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which are distinct from our current society. The film suggests that pessimism is further evident in the fact that people become lazier as a result.

Carl's Jr. Machine, known for its ability to quickly dispense fries and tacos, exemplifies the potential laziness of people when it comes to cooking. However, this movie has faced severe criticism and rejection from many individuals for various reasons outlined below. In the past, most science fiction works portrayed a future society that was more advanced and intelligent. Idiocracy, on the other hand, takes a pessimistic view of the future by depicting a generation with significantly lower intelligence. According to the film, nearly 99% of the American population would be sterilized to prevent the birth of a chaotic and unintelligent future generation.

The comparison and contrast between the film Idiocracy and the short stories Harrison Bergeron and The Lottery highlight common and different elements in both mediums. One key difference is that Harrison Bergeron presents a society where, in accordance with the Constitution, everyone is equal. This utopian society forbids any form of superiority, whether it be intelligence, attractiveness, strength, or speed. The 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments enforce laws of equality. The Handicapper General ensures compliance with these laws, as demonstrated when Harrison observes ballerinas wearing handicaps on the screen.Both the Lottery and Idiocracy address the issue of mental handicaps. In the short story, it is suggested that intelligent individuals should wear a mental handicap radio in their ears. This radio disrupts their concentration and attention to match that of mentally handicapped individuals. The purpose of these radios is to prevent deep thinking, similar to what naturally occurs in mentally handicapped

individuals. In terms of differences between the two stories, the Lottery has a more epic and historical nature compared to Idiocracy. The lottery process involves an old box, which there are efforts to renew and replace with a new one. The box used materials and features from its predecessor.

Among the three literature tools, there are certain shared aspects and elements. An illustrative instance of this is the employment of satire and irony to highlight the irrationality of blindly conforming to rules. This phenomenon is observed in all three cases. In "The Lottery," the families selected for the activity rigidly adhere to the rules. Similarly, in "Harrison Bergeron," the intellectually gifted acquiesce to the concept of wearing handicap radios. In "Idiocracy," satire is employed to contrast the impracticality of such conformity with present-day society. All three works mock their respective societies, albeit taking place in different time periods.

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