A critique of the Dystopian novel

Type :

Term papers

Pages :

17 pages

Format :

.doc

Published date :

05/11/2009

Category :

Philosophy & literature

Sub category :

Literature

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Summary :

Abstract

The dystopian novel is a strange subspecies in literature. While it shares many aspects with the traditional science fiction novel, it is rarely categorized with science fiction. Whereas it might satirize the Utopian socialist fantasy of the perfect society, the satire is usually exchanged for righteous anger. The protest novel lurks at the heart of the dystopian novel. Since the dystopian novel is out to make an important statement about the world, critics are able to latch onto it like barnacles and deliver the same sermons. Harold Bloom compared 1984 to Orwell's example of the good bad novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, but still succumbed to the siren song of the dystopian novel that belts out "Listen! We're talking about BIG IMPORTANT ISSUES!" With sadly characteristic arrogance and ignorance, Harold Bloom declares that "Cyberpunk science fiction has nothing to match Huxley's outrageous inventions."(Bloom AWH: BNW 1) Bloom is claiming that genetic engineering, societal encouragement of drug usage and anti-familial birthing chambers are somehow "outrageous" while the staples of cyberpunk - virtual reality, artificial intelligence that creates programs to imitate voodoo gods, and fragmented communities with their own internal logic- pale compared to such cliches. From this statement alone, one doubts that Harold Bloom has ever heard of Bruce Sterling, William Gibson or Neal Stephenson, much less has read these pioneers of the cyberpunk genre.Harold Bloom is not alone.