Forum Topic

Dystopian visions, 2021

There’s a Venn diagram somewhere showing all the key dystopian novels overlapping and with “now” being right in the middle. What novel or film most accurately predicts where we are heading? I’m for Fahrenheit 451, Truffaut’s version.Here’s a good read to get you started, it’s not 1984 he reckons...https://thecritic.co.uk/our-very-british-brand-of-totalitarianism/

Russell Pearson ● 2046d26 Comments

Michael Brown Was Right All Alongby Michael Brown

Michael Brown ● 2046d

It’s dystopian novels Michael, not postmodern rambles on par with ‘If on a winter's night a traveler’

Russell Pearson ● 2046d

Thanks for alerting us to a fascinating article, Russell. A lot to think about there.

Colin Jordan ● 2046d

On the radio yesterday they were saying it's less 1984 and more Brave New World.

Viv Griffiths ● 2046d

What a cock of a thread. Have you never heard of Julie Andrews?

Simon Temple ● 2046d

Great article. Very thought provoking. According to Hounslow's Dear Leader I am an anarchist. Room 101 beckons.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2046d

Everyone knows that anyway.

Simon Temple ● 2046d

The butler did it Simon...

Russell Pearson ● 2046d

Tell you what Russ, you'd do worse than the Uncle Vanya on youtube with Holm and Warner. Great stuff.

Simon Temple ● 2046d

Stalker is my favourite Russian pic, not one for the small screen though.

Russell Pearson ● 2046d

A bit esoteric.

Simon Temple ● 2046d

RP > "What novel or film most accurately predicts where we are heading?"Pretty much anything by J G Ballard.From Collins English Dictionary:Ballardianadjective1. of James Graham Ballard (1930–2009), the British novelist, or his works2. resembling or suggestive of the conditions described in Ballard's novels and stories, esp dystopian modernity, bleak man-made landscapes, and the psychological effects of technological, social or environmental developments

John Whitworth ● 2046d

I think we’re already in High Rise!

Russell Pearson ● 2046d

An amazingly prescient piece is a short story by E. M. Forster, 'The Machine Stops', written about 1909, in which he envisages a world where everyone lives underground, and people get all their information, education and entertainment via screens in their individual 'cells'. What happens when the machine breaks down?

Colin Jordan ● 2046d

A Chiswickian to boot.Intriguing,I'll have to read it.Thanks.John Wyndham,H.G. Wells,J.G Ballard,Aldous Huxley and Orwell all wrote about similar ideas.Their generations overlapped so I expect they were influenced by each other to some degree.

Ben Gemmingen ● 2046d

Hmm, intriguing Ben, like David Icke.

Simon Temple ● 2046d

What intelligent humanity,

Simon Temple ● 2046d

All a country mile more rational than him.

Ben Gemmingen ● 2046d

That makes a lot of sense.

Simon Temple ● 2046d

Icke is no mug, and if you know how the game works, you can learn much from him. He is controlled opposition and, largely, tells the truth, but he'll throw the odd piece of false info in coz that's his job (to bring his followers down); but he predicted how the covid fraud would pan out in the UK when it had barely reached our shores, coz it wasn't a prediction - he knew the plot coz he's a gang member.

Michael Brown ● 2046d

There must be millions in on this fraud then Michael.What's in it for them if they play along ?

Ben Gemmingen ● 2046d

An elitist group wish to control the world population, and the pace of control has really picked up during covid, which prompted RP to start this thread.There is nothing new about man (or men) wishing to control the world, but the covid approach is most novel.

Michael Brown ● 2046d

I don't agree that this is planned but what about Native American Indians being knowingly given small-pox infected blankets?People may take advantage and profit from wars,plagues and disasters but that's nothing new.

Ben Gemmingen ● 2046d

Looks like Michael is plumping for “ The Crying of Lot 49” by Thomas Pynchon...

Russell Pearson ● 2045d

RP, be not at war with yourself now cometh your awakening.

Michael Brown ● 2045d

Not read that one, is it about the Bristol brigade?

Russell Pearson ● 2045d