Dystopia a natural history : a study of modern despotism, its antecedents, and its literary diffractions / Gregory Claeys.
| Author/creator | Claeys, Gregory author. |
| Format | Book |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication | Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2017. |
| Description | x, 556 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Summary | Dystopia: A Natural History" is the first monograph devoted to the concept of dystopia. Taking the term to encompass both a literary tradition of satirical works, mostly on totalitarianism, as well as real despotisms and societies in a state of disastrous collapse, this volume redefines the central concepts and the chronology of the genre and offers a paradigm-shifting understanding of the subject. Part One assesses the theory and prehistory of 'dystopia'. By contrast to utopia, conceived as promoting an ideal of friendship defined as 'enhanced sociability', dystopia is defined by estrangement, fear, and the proliferation of 'enemy' categories. A 'natural history' of dystopia thus concentrates upon the centrality of the passion or emotion of fear and hatred in modern despotisms. The work of Le Bon, Freud, and others is used to show how dystopian groups use such emotions. Utopia and dystopia are portrayed not as opposites, but as extremes on a spectrum of sociability, defined by a heightened form of group identity. The prehistory of the process whereby 'enemies' are demonised is explored from early conceptions of monstrosity through Christian conceptions of the devil and witchcraft, and the persecution of heresy. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| ISBN | 9780198785682 hardcover |
| ISBN | 0198785682 hardcover |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | General Stacks | HX806 .C53 2017 | ✔ Available | Place Hold |