So, I spent the whole winter break obsessing over the book “Divergent.”
“Divergent,” a young adult novel, describes a futuristic, dystopian Chicago where people are divided into five factions: Abnegation, Amity, Candor, Dauntless, and Erudite. Each faction values a moral characteristic, such as honesty or selflessness. The heroine, 16-year old Tris, discovers that one of the factions plans to control people (no surprise there) through simulation serums, so she decides to kick their butts.
I loved every page of it. It reminded me of the “Hunger Games” trilogy that I grew fond of a few years ago and of the upcoming movie “After Earth” (featuring Will Smith and his son, whose characters try to survive a treacherous futuristic Earth) that I couldn’t wait to see.
In other words, I enjoy reading about the futuristic survival genre in which society suppresses people’s individuality, makes them suffer and commits innumerous horrible deeds against humanity. I like watching the last man on earth struggling miserably to survive in a post-apocalyptical world where everything lies destroyed around him. Muhahahahahaha!!!!!
Am I a bad person? I don’t think I am. Maybe I’m just insanely curious about what might happen to society in the future.
Post-apocalyptical and dystopian genres are popular in all sorts of books, TV shows and movies nowadays, from Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” to the Ally Condie’s “Matched” trilogy to movies such as “The Matrix” and “I am Legend.”
And I love every single one of them. Why?
First, the futuristic theme allows me to stretch my imagination. I appreciate any work that makes me think outside the box. Who would have thought our whole world is actually a computer simulation, or that nature evolved toward a more dangerous spectrum after thousands of years devoid of humans?
Second, I love strong, brave and independent heroes such as Katniss in the “Hunger Games” and the father and son in “The Road.” They perform courageous deeds that I totally admire, because if it were up to me to fight against a dictator or hide from aliens, I’d hide in a corner and whimper. I am stunned by the haunting and difficult choices these characters make and the sacrifices they take to save their love ones or for a cause they believe in. I can’t believe they have the guts to muster on when so many terrible things have already happened to them.
Third, I love the exploration of the human spirit. Many times, the characters are presented with a dilemma, and the choices they make will lead to huge consequences both good and bad. Some of them fight to the end. Some hide from fear and some betray their loved ones. All of these complex choices make me ask, “Why did they do the things they did?” and “What is the noble cause behind sacrifices, and what seduced them to fall to the dark side?” (Cookies?). In the end, survival stories tend to bring out the human spirit to its fullest. Our flaws and our strengths are shown, and the crucial choices we make determine who we really are.
Lastly, and most importantly, I have to satisfy my unquenchable desire to answer the questions “What if?” and “What will happen in the future?” It’s kind of like compiling a “How to Survive Post-Apocalyptical Dangers and Evil Societies for Dummies” after reading and watching all of those books and movies. It makes me kind of prepared just in case if our world does meltdown or go crazy.
I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who craves these types of stories. All of those futuristic books and movies surged in popularity for a reason. People want to know what will happen to society, people want to know the worst-case scenarios, and people want to know how to prevent those from happening in our current world today.
To close with a quick word of introduction — my name is Joyce and I am a pop culture enthusiast from California. I love entertainment and the arts and the excitement and glamour that come with them. I will spend the rest of the semester hopefully entertaining you with pop culture topics, whether its old-age traditions, new and exciting trends, or celebrity gossip. I do hope you stick with me in this journey.