TheDaak review

Thematic Call for Submissions

Latest/Current

Issue 6: Concept Note

Theme – Utopias and Dystopias: Explorations of Human Nature

TheDaak invites book review submissions on the theme Utopias and Dystopias: Explorations of Human Nature for its sixth thematic issue.

Dystopia and Utopia are two sides of the same coin questioning the purpose and nature of human existence. There is a central theme to this genre: What it means to be human? Both genres are at opposite ends of the speculative fiction spectrum but share a common thread of enquiring about human nature and exploring how it will shape the future. Utopian and dystopian thought imagines a society wherein people either live in idyllic conditions, under a fair and equal governing regime or in an oppressive environment governed by autocratic and repressive laws. Utopian societies rest on the fallacy that perfection is the ultimate goal of human existence. They advocate for notions of equity, empathy, and cooperation, fostering an environment where individuals are encouraged to rise above their self-interests for the collective welfare. Dystopian narratives, on the other hand, look at society through a prism that is cynical about social institutions, frets about their complete decimation, and cautions against the abasement of human nature and its equilibrium with its surroundings. They delve into the erosion of ethics and morality within societies plagued by oppression, surveillance, and manipulation. While utopia romanticises an ideal, dystopia dismantles the ideals of the zeitgeist.

The themes of progressivism and morality are recurrent motifs in both utopian and dystopian philosophy. Technology often plays a crucial role in bringing the utopian and dystopian vision to fruition. The rapid growth of modern science and technology in the last two centuries has removed any preconceived barriers to human growth. This portrayal of technology and the march of scientific progress in utopian and dystopian literature reflects the complex relationship between human innovation and societal consequences. The proponents of technology view scientific innovation and mechanisation as the path to human advancement. They see technology as a tool to liberate humanity and a harbinger of salvation. Others view the intervention of machines and technology as a threat to human will and agency. The current fixation with Generative AI and Large Language Models is the latest manifestation of how disruptive technology elicits both awe and fear in humans. One society’s utopia can be another society’s dystopia.

Ethics and morality are inextricably bound to the very concept of what a utopia or dystopia is. Despite their fantastical settings, both genres reflect the nuances of real-world ethical dilemmas. These, much the same philosophies, provide a lens through which writers explore the nature of humanity and the complexities of societal constructs. They envision the different directions that the human race and society can evolve into. Utopian and dystopian literary tropes in their portrayals of either a perfect or a bleak future offer a chance to delve into the human psyche and contemplate concepts and ideas of freedom, individuality, equality, technology, religion and class. They offer a contrasting comparison with the reality wherein, on the one hand the human agency and potential has reached its apotheosis and on the other hand where it has reached ignominy. The literature of this genre uses satire and parody to lay bare the contrast between the ideal and the prevailing extant situation. The imagination of the society, however, is contingent on the ethos of the author.

Discussions on books that speak to the theme of Utopias and Dystopias: Explorations of Human Nature including themes of Social Constructs and their Subversions, Literature and Society, Ethics and Morality, Impact of Technology, but not limited to these are welcome.

Please send your book reviews to Submission@thedaak.in. The deadline for the same is 30th October 2023. This issue is due for publication on 15th November 2023. Book reviews should ideally be 1200-1500 words.

Please note that if you are looking for a book recommendation on the current theme or want to discuss your book with our editorial team, you can write to us at editor@thedaak.in

Editorial Team

TheDaak