Re-visioning Utopian History
Utopianism is more than just a radical political or social idea. It is a, heuristically formed, thought deeply embedded in the human psyche. It has survived, making itself a prevalent topic in each centurial shift in time, as one of the most speculated possibilities of humanities future. However, the ideas, construction, and purpose of Utopias have changed. With each new Utopian rendition, there is something new or reworked that allows the Utopia to stand apart from its predecessors. This has often been cited as the particular expression of the works sociopolitical atmosphere. Looking at the content and the purpose of these works, however, another reason presents itself.
Like humanity, Utopianism is progressing. Each centurial shift in human life, capability, and creation offers a new form of Utopia to be examined, sought after, or warned against. Instead of viewing Utopia as a peculiar product of our current state of affairs, wants and desires, it can be viewed as a separate but connected representation of individual and social progress. What this website has examined, essentially, is each century’s addition to Utopianism and how that addition changed, forever, the essence of Utopianism and the works of its genre.
The pre-genre works of Utopianism had, perhaps, the most influence over the genre at large. These works by Plato, Aristotle, and the biblical writers did more than initially expose the Utopian idea. These pieces not only created the general guidelines for Utopian societies, in practice and in and idealistic sense but also explored the origin of the pursuit of these topics within the human psyche. Calling to reference the desire, or need, or humanity to strive toward something, to progress toward some ultimate goal, or as Aristotle saw it, ultimate happiness, provided a foundation for Utopianism that would not change despite the dramatic revolutions and evolutions which society has undergone in the centuries since these works were created.
Sir Thomas More, and Utopian writers of the 16th and 17th
centuries took the ideas that were exposed by pre-genre writers and attempted
to apply them to reality. More’s contribution was much more political and
lasting than any of the other writers from these periods. His use of Utopia as
a critique would influence nearly every piece of Utopian work for the rest of
time. However, Francis Bacon and other writers of the 17th century
began to infuse Utopianism, not just with the fundamental ideals of thinkers past,
with scientific elements, as well as women’s rights presenting future authors
with the ability to match Utopianism’s progress with human progress.
The experimental Utopias of the 19th century, like works before them, also affected and changed Utopianism. However, they were not merely the application of Utopian ideals. Instead, these communities showed that Utopia would not be achieved without work. The success, and failure, of these communities provided the world at large with a realistic picture of the type of people, the commitment, and the organization necessary to move toward a Utopian society. Although the reasons for failure among these communities varied, their true contribution to Utopianism was the realization that More may have been wrong. Utopia could be some place, it could exist, and it would in these communities and in future communities in centuries to follow.
The Dystopian movement of the 20th century can be viewed as a social resultant of the industrial revolution. The movement, though, can also be seen as the natural “next-step” of Utopianism. Humanity, having accepted the enormity of the industrial revolution and the social changes it implicated essentially changed. Everything about life up to this mechanical-driven turning point had, essentially, ceased to exist. Utopianism, likewise, had to change as well. Humanity had not abandoned the ideologies of the past; they merely needed tweaked and refocused to stay active in a new world. Dystopian literature, and its supremacy in the genre into the 21st century, accepts these social changes and instead of proposing or vying for a Utopian future these works highlight the possible states humanity would find itself in the future, following a dystopian path.
Having explored how Utopianism has evolved with humanity, changing as societies and people have changed, an important question remains. If all Utopian periods and works have represented a phase in the ideology of the genre and the service it provides humanity, what is the purpose of Utopian/Dystopian works of the 21st century? These works, unlike their predecessors, include both Utopian and Dystopian elements. They speak to humanity’s acceptance of a Dystopic future, but also reaffirm people innate desire to strive towards a Utopia.
If Utopia is the ultimate goal of social and political progress, then the works of the 21st century highlight the sociopolitical crossroads humanity is it. Previous works have attempted to postulate Utopian possibilities and Dystopian probabilities but the works of the 21st century do not have the pleasure of looking toward a non-existent place or future, they take place now; in our current communities, in our current cultures, to our current peoples. Creating these works in contemporary settings jars readers. Expressing realities, albeit exaggerated ones, of the 21st century highlights the fact that humanity and Utopianism are in a defining phase. Either we must recognize the power we have lost to our acceptance of Dystopia and strive, like Aristotle suggested, toward something higher, or we must prepare ourselves for the future that we have passively encouraged.
Like humanity, Utopianism is progressing. Each centurial shift in human life, capability, and creation offers a new form of Utopia to be examined, sought after, or warned against. Instead of viewing Utopia as a peculiar product of our current state of affairs, wants and desires, it can be viewed as a separate but connected representation of individual and social progress. What this website has examined, essentially, is each century’s addition to Utopianism and how that addition changed, forever, the essence of Utopianism and the works of its genre.
The pre-genre works of Utopianism had, perhaps, the most influence over the genre at large. These works by Plato, Aristotle, and the biblical writers did more than initially expose the Utopian idea. These pieces not only created the general guidelines for Utopian societies, in practice and in and idealistic sense but also explored the origin of the pursuit of these topics within the human psyche. Calling to reference the desire, or need, or humanity to strive toward something, to progress toward some ultimate goal, or as Aristotle saw it, ultimate happiness, provided a foundation for Utopianism that would not change despite the dramatic revolutions and evolutions which society has undergone in the centuries since these works were created.
Sir Thomas More, and Utopian writers of the 16
The Dystopian movement of the 20th century can be viewed as a social resultant of the industrial revolution. The movement, though, can also be seen as the natural “next-step” of Utopianism. Humanity, having accepted the enormity of the industrial revolution and the social changes it implicated essentially changed. Everything about life up to this mechanical-driven turning point had, essentially, ceased to exist. Utopianism, likewise, had to change as well. Humanity had not abandoned the ideologies of the past; they merely needed tweaked and refocused to stay active in a new world. Dystopian literature, and its supremacy in the genre into the 21st century, accepts these social changes and instead of proposing or vying for a Utopian future these works highlight the possible states humanity would find itself in the future, following a dystopian path.