Dystopic Literally Traditoin Essay Example

Dystopic Literally Traditoin Essay Example Dystopic Literally Traditoin Essay Dystopic Literally Traditoin Essay A dystopia is an often futuristic society that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state, often under the guise of being utopian. Dystopian literature has underlying cautionary tones. Dystopian settings are often distinguished by authoritarian or totalitarian forms of government, and feature different kinds of repressive social control systems. A lack or absence of individual freedoms and expressions are common within the genre, as is warfare and violence. BioShock is a first-person shooter video game developed by Irrational Games (at the time, named 2K Boston), and published by 2K Games.Bioshock fits the description of what one would typically expect from a dystopic body of work. In dystopian visions articulated at the beginning of the twenty-first century, one can observe a tendency to approach biotechnology as implicating the threat of post-humanity, and Bioshock uses the video game medium to explore these dystopic implications. One of the most prolific lines within the game is A Man Chooses, A Slave Obeys. This line is said by Andrew Ryan, the game’s antagonist. He was a business magnate from the 1940s and 1950s who sought to avoid scrutiny from governments and other oversight by constructing an underwater city.In doing so he would escape from moral boundaries and fundamental rights, and so the city of Rapture was born. However, when Ryan’s vision for a utopia in Rapture collapsed into dystopia, he hid himself away and used armies of mutilated drug-addicted humans to defend himself and fight those who chose to resist him. Similarly, a band by the name of Godspeed you! Black Emperor’ aimed to emulate a dystopic environment through their music. Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a Canadian post-rock band. Their track The Dead Flag Blues aims to encapsulate and provoke an emotional response from the listener.The song begins with an ominous introduction. Back by a chilling string melody, the speaker describes a derelict city in where a corrupt government brainwashes drugged civilians. The introduction is followed by the sounds of a train and high-volume suspended noise. This eventually develops into a Western-themed melody, and is capped off by an upbeat section which includes glockenspiel, violin, and slide guitar. The solemn beauty and decaying rhythm are designed to generate and emotional response from the listener. Akin to other pieces following the dystopian literary tradition Godspeed you!Black Emperor utilizes it’s medium to project a warning message, as is shown in the attached lyrics: The car is on fire, and theres no driver at the wheel, and the sewers are all muddied with a thousand lonely suicides, and a dark wind blows. Dystopic themes are being alluded to through the text. Godspeed you! Black Emperor refers to society is referred to as car; this car is being devoured by a symbolic fire representing greed. Without a driver behind the wheel, the fire cannot be extinguished- the flames shall surely consume the vehicle, and the car shall surely crash and kill all those around it.Similarity, a modern sewer is designed to pump filth away from an area. However, the startling lack of generosity caused by the thousand lonely suicides has blocked the sewers; it is implied that there is now no way to escape the film of modern life. The dark wind’ implies a complete disintegration of integrity; it is an omen for a bleak future. The government is corrupt, and were on so many drugs with the radio on and the curtains drawn. The government’s lack of integrity and interests are presented to the listener.Everyone is on drugs which have been sold to them for obscene profit by corporations because of government manipulation. The people close their windows, though which they might get a clear view of the world, and allow the radio to distract them from society’s imminent downfall. A corrupt government is common sight within traditional dystopian texts; Godspeed you! Black Emperor has used this to their advantage. Were trapped in the belly of this horrible machine and the machine is bleeding to death. The sun has fallen down and the billboards are all leering, and the flags are all dead at the top of their poles.It went like this: The buildings tumbled in on themselves; mothers clutching babies picked through the rubble and pulled out their hair. The skyline was beautiful on fire, all twisted metal stretching upwards- everything washed in a thin orange haze. I said, Kiss me, youre beautiful- these are truly the last days. You grabbed my hand and we fell into it, like a daydream or a fever. We woke up one morning and fell a little further down for sure its the valley of death. I open up my wallet and its full of blood.