Utopias and Dystopias

Utopias and Dystopias

(http://tvloon.ca/2013/04/04/who-will-save-humanity-space-conspires-to-thrill-with-six-part-series-utopia-premiering-april-25/)

(http://villains.wikia.com/wiki/Pyramid)

There is a fine line between the definition of a utopia and a dystopia, this is due to the fact that utopia's are ideals and cannot actually exist. Every ones idea of a utopia is very different, a place which to one person is considered to be a haven could be a hell for another. However, in general utopia's are places which are ordered and harmonious, in that everyone within the society gets along and there is no discrimination or issues which could have an impact on the sustainability of the infrastructure. An example of utopia is Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, although this could be considered predominantly dystopian I feel that in one respect the game is a utopia, but only one aspect of it. The game follows 2 characters, Monkey and Trip, whom at the start of the game are held captive on a slave ship, the first mission being to escape the ship and follow Trip in order to begin their journey. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic world which was due to the result of a global war, 150 years into the future, with only a few humans and some war machines remaining from the disaster (Wiki). Although the world which the characters travel through is all that remains from what was once a beautiful world, giving the impression of a dystopia, underneath there is a type of utopia. Throughout the game Monkey experiences strange visions which have been provided to him through a headband. The visions which he sees are the memories of one man whom lived before the war. SPOILERS: At the end of the game the player is invited to see where all of the slave ships have been taking people, both of the characters arrive at a large pyramid. All that is left of humanity dwells within the pyramid, each person has a headband on and they’re all viewing this man’s memories. Much like ‘The Matrix’ they have been given an alternate reality, in that they can live out their lives in a perfect world and ignore all the grim reality which the war has left them with. For them this is a utopia however it is still a lie as they aren't in the real world.

(http://etherealpages.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/dystopia-fictional-society-built-in.html)

(http://www.impulsedriven.com/products/ESD-IMP-W483)

Whereas dystopia's are the opposite, everything appears to be perfect on the surface but underneath is it far from it or originally everything was utopian but then fell apart, therefore creating a dystopia. An example of a dystopia within a game is Mirrors Edge which is set in a city in the near future. In a society where crime rates have been high, they decide that this is something which has to change so they tighten up their surveillance and cover up any reminisces of crime. People are now ignorant to the new ‘perfect’ world which they live in, however Faith decides to take action. She becomes a runner in the hopes of gaining freedom from authority. On the surface the city appears to be very perfect, it is completely white and pure, however people no longer have their freedom. All communication is monitored and the media is being controlled, the people don’t have a say and anyone who does speak out is arrested. This is a perfect example of a utopian ideal, all they wanted was to rid the world of crime and death but by doing so they have encountered other problems and taken away the freedom of the people.