21st CENTURY FINALS TEST 1

SPECULATIVE FICTION
- a broad genre that encompasses stories that take place in imaginary worlds as a result of one or more
“what if….??” questions.

• SPECULATE - to ask the question ”what if??” and open your mind to an infinite number of possible answers to that
question.

GENRE OF SPECULATIVE FICTION

1. SCIENCE FICTION – deals mainly with the impact of actual or imagined science upon society or individuals.
The premise may either be based on or flatly contradict scientific facts and principles.
2. FANTASY – uses magic and supernatural elements in plot, theme, and setting. Magic is central to the fantasy genre.
–These stories often involve journeys and quests.
3. UTOPIAN FICTION – presents a world that is ideally perfect in all aspects of society.
4. DYSTOPIAN FICTION – presents a futuristic, imagined world in which there is only an illusion of a perfect society
but is in fact one which is oppressed through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral,
or totalitarian control.
5. APOCALYPTIC FICTION - deals with the end of civilization either through nuclear war, plague, or someother
general disaster.
6. POST-APOCALYPTIC FICTION – set in a world or civilization after such a disaster. The time frame may be
immediately after the catastrophe, focusing on the struggles of survivors, or
sometime later when the existence of civilization before the catastrophe
has been forgotten.
7. ALTERNATE HISTORY – set in worlds in which one or more historical events unfold differently from how it did in
reality ; based on the idea that for every event that occurs or a decision made in our reality
8. PARALLEL UNIVERSITY – another place where the event or decision turned out differently

DYSTOPIAN FICTION
- asks the question “what if” to show us the worst possible future consequence of an issue that we have now.

• DYSTOPIA - refers to a state or condition in which life is extremely bad.

• DYSTOPIAS - are usually an exaggerated imagining of the future, with the intention of criticizing a current social
norm, trend, or political system.

CHARACTERISTICS OF A DYSTOPIAN SOCIETY

1. The citizens of society re controlled using propaganda
2. Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted
3. A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society
4. Citizens are perceived to be under surveillance
5. Citizens have a fear of the outside world
6. Citizens live in a dehumanized state
7. The natural world is banished and distrusted
8. Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individually and dissent are bad
9. The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world