Justin Scholes And John Ostenson's The Running Man

The cautionary tale that is the dystopian narrative has appeared in some of the world 's most prominent works of fiction, be they literary or cinematic. It is through this type of narrative that the writer attempts to make a criticism about societal issues by exaggerating said issues to the point where any and all semblance of individuality within the imagined civilization is stripped away. Over the course of this essay, I intend to analyze the major societal issues that Harlan Ellison chooses to critique in his short story " 'Repent, Harlequin! ' Said the Ticktockman" while simultaneously attempting to prove that the perils humanity may someday face stem from the constant clash between individuality and the propensity to maintain a sense of order through totalitarian power.

Humans have basic needs which include food, water, and shelter. They also have base emotions and instincts, which are the very things that create humanity. However, these needs and emotions are easily manipulated, a theme prevalent in George Orwell’s 1984 and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. While these two stories have dissimilar plots, they have one common theme; the destruction of the individual through manipulation. The use of fear and hunger, in both 1984 and Lord of the Flies helps each government to eliminate the individual; in turn creating a mob mentality and a future in which no individuality can survive. In George Orwell’s 1984 and William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the manipulation of human needs and emotions by the

The world’s humanity was folding away without being noticed by a single soul. The society was focused on technology so that when the characteristics that made man human were gone, they would not be missed by the majority. Government officials were strict on the molding of the new era, but they even more harshly enforced that the wisdom of the past not be acknowledged. A harsh, cruel world that had decided that free will was too dangerous. This is the world of Fahrenheit 451.

Ridley Scott and George Orwell both continually depict control in their texts through the utilisation of various techniques, in order to portray the effect this has on the characters of Blade Runner and 1984 respectively. This is done by both Scott and Orwell expertly and provides the audience with further insight and depth of the characters. Orwell and Scott respectively utilise the surrounding setting of their protagonists to depict the control that they are under, each author does this by likening their protagonist to the setting and displays evidently that the setting has impacted the characters. Motifs and symbols are utilised heavily by Scott and Orwell to further emphasis the control that is currently

In a westernised world humanity has lost control of traditional value to the deadly sin of greed in its representation of financial benefits. Interaction in a range of different social contexts mould our viewpoints on anything that is occurring around us, including ourselves, others and the broader world in general. Corporate power and morality are two ideas that are shared between the film Blade Runner directed by Ridley Scott and the novel Feed by M.T Anderson. The texts emphasis on a futuristic dystopian world where humanity is no longer parallel to technology and the vices of corporate power and morality are used against humanity to exert dominance. Both composers emphasis on the existential crisis of corporate power and morality

In a dystopian society, everything may seem fine and normal, but underneath all that is an unstable society that may crumble with the right spark. Lord of the Flies by William Golding and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury are two characters who have to face the dystopian world and the nature of humankind. Although, a quest is actually depicted in both, as the characters undertake similar journeys of self-knowledge. In Golding’s Lord of the Flies, the dystopian traits where the boys are deserted on a sterile island show that they are slowly turning into savages and plotting against one another due to the destructive society that they are in. Meanwhile,

Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 and Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s “Harrison Bergeron” are both stories of a dystopian society where laws are in place that restrict everything a citizen can do and their basic human rights. Characters in Fahrenheit 451 are restricted by the threat of being removed from society, where the characters in “Harrison Bergeron” actually have physical restrictions placed on their bodies. Bradbury and Vonnegut show that the dangers of these kind of restrictions lead to conformity, and ultimately a loss of human individuality. Conformity in these two societies means that the citizens are part of the community, but are being brainwashed by a government that controls their lives.

humanity due to factors such as war, famine and poverty criticize current global issues while also

“Three very interesting stories indeed,” I said to the rest of the class, another student commented “So all of the stories show a technology caused dystopia in different ways. “TWCSR” shows how humanity can be driven crazy and power hungry enough by technology to kill each other and only leave a frail house that gets destroyed anyway, “The Veldt” shows how technology can control everyday life enough to make humans less human to the point of psychotic murderous thoughts in children for the smallest of reasons, technology providing the successful murder, and last but not least “The Pedestrian” which states that people are brainwashed by technology most likely placed by the government, to keep the masses controlled in an unhealthy way.” “I’d say that about covers all of it” The teacher commented happily. The stories “TWCSR” “The Veldt” and “The Pedestrian” all show through skillful foreshadowing and symbolism.

Many people theorize that this bleak, dark story may not be what it appears on the surface. Many people believe that the story represents something much more. In 2006, McCarthy sat down for a rare interview with Oprah Winfrey. In that interview, McCarthy described the novel as a love story to his son. While this is straight from the author’s mouth, this has not stopped many readers from theorizing what McCarthy was trying to convey in his dystopian novel.The following is one of those theories for your consideration.

Frankenstein and Blade Runner both explore ideas that are universally alike, however are impacted by their form, context and values. The texts explore similar ideas about man’s place in nature and progression of society, but do so within the conventions and context of their creation. Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein’ and Ridley Scott’s ‘Blade Runner’ both draw ideas from their rapidly changing periods to contextually explore and analyse mankind’s thirst for forbidden knowledge which destroys one’s morality. With the progress of man, many aspire to achieve power, and morality is devalued.

Bound by different contexts, authors often use a popular medium in order to depict the discontent of the ideas of society. This is evident in the module Texts in Time; as Blade Runner, having been written more than one hundred years after Frankenstein is still able to reflect the ideas proposed in the latter. Blade Runner by Ridley Scott deals with the effects of globalisation and consumerism during 1980’s. Alternatively, the epistolary novel Frankenstein by Mary Shelley deals with the kinship to the natural world set in the Romantic Era and enlightenment period. However Blade Runner, although subjected by a different context, also portrays a similar idea to Frankenstein; the fear of science and technology coupled with the value of the definition of a human. Through this commonality, we are able to utilise the values of Blade Runner in order to truly understand Shelley’s purpose.

Several conflicting frames of mind have played defining roles in shaping humanity throughout the twentieth century. Philosophical optimism of a bright future held by humanity in general was taken advantage of by the promise of a better life through sacrifice of individuality to the state. In the books Brave New World, 1984, and Fahrenheit 451 clear opposition to these subtle entrapments was voiced in similarly convincing ways. They first all established, to varying degrees of balance, the atmosphere and seductiveness of the “utopia” and the fear of the consequences of acting in the non-prescribed way through character development. A single character is alienated because of their inability to conform – often in protest to the forced

Truly talented writers critique societies foolish actions whilst warning them of their impending future. However, few manage to genuinely depict the origin of these foolish acts. George Orwell’s 1984 and Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner critique both political and social oppression to demonstrate that blind loyalty and the surrendering of free will is the demise of modern society.

Dystopian novels have become more common over the last century; each ranging from one extreme society to the next. A dystopia, “A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control,”[1] through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, criticizes about current trends, societal norms, or political systems. The society in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley is divided in a caste system, in which humans are not individuals, do not have the opportunity to be individuals, and never experience true happiness. These characteristics of the reading point towards a well-structured