Brave New World
&
1984
Dystopian Fiction
“If most of remain ignorant of ourselves, it is because self-knowledge is painful and we prefer the illusions of pleasure.”
“In a time of universal deceit - telling the truth is a revolutionary act.”
What is a Dystopia?
Derived from the Greek dys (“ill” or “bad”) and topos (“place”), the word Dystopia literally means “Bad Place”.
A Dystopia is normally an imagined state or society in which great suffering or injustice occurs, typically one that is totalitarian by nature and in which information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted, censored, or ignored by the masses.
Iconic Dystopian authors
huxley feared desire would ruin us
Huxley feared no one would want to read books.
Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance.
In a Brave New World people were controlled by pleasure.
Orwell feared fear would ruin us
Orwell feared those who would ban books.
Orwell feared the truth would be concealed from us.
In 1984 people were controlled by pain.
Who is George Orwell?
George Orwell, born June 25, 1903, died January 21, 1950, was an English novelist, essayist, and societal critic famous for his novels Animal Farm (1945) and 1984 (1949), the latter a profound anti-utopian novel that examines the dangers of totalitarian rule.
Who is Aldous Huxley?
Aldous Huxley, born July 26, 1894, died November 22, 1963, was a gifted novelist and critic who had an acute and far-ranging intelligence known most notably for his pessimistic wit and satire. Best known for Brave New World (1932), this novel became a foundational model for dystopian science fiction, including Orwell’s 1984.
The days where the fiction stayed in the books is in the past:
What do 1984 and Brave New World have in common?
These Dystopian Authors were ahead of their time and there is something to learn from their warnings and observations of the past. Every Dystopia originates from a Utopian Vision.
George Orwell had a genuine mistrust of government entities and other authoritative organizations simply through his observation of the Spanish Civil War. Huxley mistrusted human nature, fearing that our drive to find the path of least resistance would ultimately make gods out of our pleasures and desires.
We live in a world where we are being attacked from both these fronts. While Big Tech is silencing and cancelling opposition, Tiktok and Netflix is numbing the masses with trash TV. While politicians and CEOs are constant threats of becoming tyrants grasping for their slice of control, YouTube shorts and the latest Marvel blockbuster distract us from meaningful connections with those around us.
The Dystopian Authors of the past were yelling towards the rising generations—they were pleading with us to listen and do some critical thinking. It’s not Liberal Vs. Conservative. It’s Individual Freedom and Choice Vs. Collective Oversight and Safety.
In both fact and fiction, Utopias will always propagate Dystopias.
Kawika Miles is an American dystopian author who indulges in conversations of faith, family, and freedom. As a long time patriot, Kawika understands that only liberty minded individuals can save the future from the dystopian nightmare it is tumbling down, protecting the sanctity of life and individual independence. Read his debut novel Saga of the Nine: Origins today!
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