HelloOoOo everybody!
Today we’re covering a topic I almost scrapped completely because it is so damn hard to come up with literally anything. We're breaking down the best tropes in dystopian fiction–AKA finding the diamonds in a river of diarrhea. Before you get hyphy, I don't dislike dystopian fiction. In fact, one of my favorite books of all time is dystopian.
It's just that as I'm sure you're aware, the young adults category took dystopian and ran with it. They pumped out so many books regurgitating the same story and it made a lot of really cool dystopian tropes feel really tired. But I took it upon myself to find the sparkling gems in dystopian fiction that I personally love and do not feel are done to death, and now I'm sharing them with you today! It took a minute, but we're here now, and that's what counts! Let's show dystopia a little bit of love, shall we?
This video is sponsored by World Anvil. As always, all opinions are my own.
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Number 1: Stick It to “The Man.”
I feel like this is the number one reason anyone reads dystopian. We hate authority and we want to see them get wrecked! The entire premise of dystopia is an unjust society, so people typically go into the genre because they hate “the man.” They want to stick it to ’em! Sticking to authority is a classic theme that never goes out of style because it never stops being relevant. Authority often is corrupt and it leaves everyone on the outs in a vulnerable position. I think it's both a relevant and worthwhile theme to project, and I'm here for it because it so easily translates into real life.
Number 2: Assholes
Morally grey characters are super fun to read about, and boy, do they fuck shit up in dystopian novels! And dystopia is the ideal setting for a morally grey character, especially if they have evil leanings. How can people be 100% good if the world around them is utter trash? It is nature versus nurture, guys, and these people were nurtured by garbage. What I like about dystopian is I know I'm probably going to be reading about some pretty despicable people, but somehow I'll enjoy them. I get to leave my values at the door and watch thieves and murderers fuck shit up for a while. It's great!
Number 3: Zero Moral Compass
Dystopian is one of those genres where quite often there really isn't a good and bad side. Instead, there's often a bad side and another bad side, or maybe a worse side, and it’s your job to try and decide which pile of shit you support. Do I favor the militant government or the murderous bandit? It's so hard to choose, they're both lovely! I enjoy this because it's a change-up from the norm. I love a good hero's journey, but sometimes it's fun to follow a dumpster fire human–especially if they were written that way intentionally. Plus, it's a harsh reality of the world we live in. Sometimes we're put in situations where we don't have many options, and the options we do have are crap.
Number 4: Where’s the Revolution?
This may shock you, but not every dystopian novel needs to be about a revolution. There isn't always a kid wrangling a ragtag crew trying to overthrow a corrupt society. I prefer to find my heroes in fantasy and sci-fi. When I go to dystopian, I'm not looking for a chosen one. Thus, I get really excited about dystopian stories that have a different plot. Literally anything else. Soylent Green covers pollution, overpopulation, and cannibalism. A Clockwork Orange covers gang violence, sociopaths, and free will. Call me crazy, but it's nice to see diversity in a genre. I don't want to read the same premise over and over again. Big shout out to all the dystopian writers out there who keep things interesting! You're the real heroes.
Number 5: Social Expectations
You guys already know my favorite part of world-building is culture, and when it comes to reading, that's no different. Dystopian stories often feature some kind of caste system, and while some are questionable at best, others are really unique and engaging. Are social expectations based on finances, gender, sex, sexuality, occupation, or some other arbitrary trait? I want to know how this society functions. I want to see what makes someone valued and what makes someone else worthless. People haven't always been judged based on the social determiners that we have today, so I find it really interesting to see what dystopian authors create in their societies.
Number 6: Sheeple
Do you know what's believable when creating a corrupt government? People who mindlessly support said corrupt government. So many readers talk shit about the sheeple characters they read about, claiming it's not realistic. “Why are they supporting the government? It's clearly evil!” Are you familiar with history . . . at all? This is how villains get into power! They have followers. You may think these people are stupid–and you're probably right, but that's how propaganda and manipulation work. And it's not that I enjoy sheeple characters; they're usually infuriating, but they're supposed to be that way. I like their existence because they add a layer of realism and conflict that is both engaging and necessary to the story.
Number 7: No Autonomy
One of the most prevalent themes in dystopian fiction is the lack of independence, freedom, and autonomy. Invasion of privacy, thought policing, not having ownership of your own body–these are all themes that are analyzed in dystopian, and I'm here for it. I think this is something that a lot of people can relate to on some level, which is what makes it so enticing to read about and makes the characters so sympathetic. It's a conflict I like to explore in my own writing, even though I don't write dystopian, because I just find it really relatable. I wanna hear about how leadership is stripping people or person of their privacy, basic freedoms, and power, so I can nod along and say, “Yeah, fuck that guy!”
Number 8: Are You . . . Clairvoyant?
Have you noticed that a lot of dystopian novels seem to predict the future? Funny how that works! As much crap as this genre gets, it's one of two that has this ability, and I think that's pretty cool. Depressing, because we're watching our society turn into a hellscape, but cool! Writers often write about themes they care about. Injustices they have seen or experienced. So if whatever they were writing about was a problem back when they conceptualized the story, it makes sense that over time, that problem might get a shit ton worse. As much as I hate to watch the world burn, it's pretty interesting to see these stories written decades or even centuries ago come to fruition.
Number 9: Drugs
People have been getting high for centuries, and that sure in hell isn't gonna change in a dystopian future. If anything, they need drugs even more, ’cause shit sucks! I find it interesting to see the new and unique drugs and hallucinogens that people come up with, specifically in dystopian fiction because they've got a ton of really weird shit. Milk Plus? I hate the taste of milk, but I'm intrigued! Tell me more. It just makes sense for people to be getting fucked up when the world around them is also fucked up, and I like that element of creativity. You're combining a whimsical imagination with something scandalous and filthy, and that's right up my alley.
Number 10: The Unhappy Ending
“But Jenna, you said you prefer happy endings!”
I do! In the appropriate genres. For a majority of the books I read, I want the hero to win. I want the lovebirds to end up together. I want the bad guy to kick the bucket. But then there are genres like horror, thriller, or dystopian, where the entire ambiance is bleak and grim. I'm not expecting a happy ending there.
Dystopian is about dystopias! It's a genre centered around suffering. I know what I'm getting myself into with these books, and a 16-year-old who saves the world from destruction because she finally figured out which boy she wants to suck face with isn't doin’ it for me. As much as I love a happy ending, the dystopian genre is often an examination of the worst parts of our culture and I expect that shit to go down in a fiery blaze of glory.
So that's all I've got for you today!
What are your favorite dystopian tropes? Comment them below.
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This breakdown of dystopian tropes is both insightful and entertaining! I love how you highlight the complexities of morally grey characters and the societal critiques embedded in these narratives. For anyone struggling to articulate their thoughts on such themes, our do my essay services in New Zealand can provide the support needed to explore these ideas more deeply. Keep up the great work!