Dystopian Genre Research

Dystopia in Films

    Dystopia has been a cornerstone of modern storytelling, heavily incorporating political and personal, emotional themes. Recent years has brought the sub genre, diverse in ability to range from thrillers to dramas to cyberpunk, to the masses in bulk as proxy wars of imagination between political perspectives mainly such as The Maze Runner, by Wes Ball. However, dystopias are not limited to being used as a clash of political perspectives, but could also be used simply as a setting for the story like Wall-E, by Andrew Stanton. Dystopia is extremely diverse and versatile in use. 

    The rise of dystopian films is largely due to the comfort found in the idea of escaping reality of probable stressful environments to one vastly different. This comfort is not limited to older ages but is also available as a setting for younger ages as well, displaying dystopia's versatility. For example, the aforementioned Wall-E is a dystopian romantic comedy, reflecting the love of the two characters while also portraying the underlying themes of utopian ideals and insatiability - the human condition. 

    Although it is available to all ages, the general themes portrayed in dystopian films include mass poverty, class divisions, environmental destruction, anarchy, and individuality. They focus on social injustices, revolving mainly around characters on the receiving end of mass destruction and injustice, or that question philosophical standpoints like in Blade Runner, which follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) as he hunts down genetically replicated humans known as "replicants" to "retire" them. The final replicant, played by Rutger Hauer, delivers a famous speech questioning existentialism and the meaning of life. 

    Dystopian productions include techniques that highlight each film's respective thematic material and message toward the audience. These techniques can range from landscape establishing shots to display mass destruction or poverty to close ups and high angles to portray condescending power of superiority in utopian illusions. Dictatorial and social hierarchies are popular within dystopian films and highlighted by these techniques, for example in The Hunger Games. Multiple instances throughout the trilogy, grandstanding portrayal of rich upper classes and high angles to display superiority are used for these thematic purposes. Additionally, lighting easily conveys manipulated tones to create feelings of a depressed society, namely in The Giver which transitions from a monochromatic era to a technicolor bloom in the later half of the movie representing the birth of a "different" life and philosophy.

    Snowpiercer, directed by Bong Joon-ho, delves into rebellion between the inequality of the rich upper class and poor, poverty-stricken lower class as a result of environmental degradation, finally culminating in the complexities of human nature. Snowpiercer focuses on the poorest residents of a train holding the last of humanity because of the Earth's second ice age, as they plan to improve their conditions by overtaking the front cars and the engine room, hailed as a religious and power symbol. Class inequality is evident throughout the film as displayed by the poverty-like conditions of the poorest residents as they live off of nutritional bars made of cockroaches while the upper cars and classes eat meat and enjoy the luxuries of aquariums, alcohol, and showers. Rebellion for social change and justice against the oppressive, unsharing powers of the upper cars is the grounding for the movie, reflecting on real world issues through the degradation of environments, social injustices endured by marginalized communities, and the ruling elite's exploitations. 

    Gattaca, directed by Andrew Niccol, immerses themes of discrimination, identity, and human spirit and flaws. The movie revolves around Vincent Freeman (Ethan Hawke) and his dreams of traveling to outer space but is restricted against doing so because of his genetic inferiority, as described by the societal standards of the realm. He perseveres against enforcement, the manifestation of dictatorial characteristics, to achieve his dreams, involving themes of identity, courage, and perseverance to achieve goals. This is further enforced by the interactions with other characters that incorporate love and identity into the story as well.