I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the idea of hidden dystopia. By that, I basically just mean any version of the future where the people either don’t know, or don’t realize that they’re living in horrific (dystopic) times.
It feels like there are several types of hidden dystopia. Some elements or categories are repression (control of social norms or mores through heavy dogma or peer pressure), mental and/or physical control, censorship and/or selective/nonexistent media, and finally a heavy class divide. In the latter case, there are most certainly some elements of the populous who know it is dystopia, but another part of the population is either unable or unwilling to see the larger picture.
Some examples of hidden dystopia include: Rollerball (the 1975 version, I just watched this last night), Logan’s Run, The Time Machine, Brave New World, perhaps Brazil. I feel like I should have more book examples, but I can’t seem to think of any off the top of my head right now.
Of course, the question begs to be asked… Are we living in a hidden dystopia?