There's no coincidence that most of the highest-grossing movies of all time are based on dystopian fiction. This genre has become so successful due to the entertainment displayed through the combination of stories told in books and movies. Some people prefer to read books and others prefer to watch movies, but the dual opportunity to experience this type of literature allows more people to experience it. People are also able to read books and picture in their own minds what is happening in the story. Watching a movie allows someone to compare the book to the film and make opinions based on it. Dystopian literature appeals to a broader audience than other genres do.
In order to attract a broader audience, there must be a sense of entertainment that attracts people to watch. Dystopian literature allows people to experience a fictional story and view it as if it is realistic. Teenagers seems to relate to these movies and books more due to their young imagination to put themselves in the characters' shoes. People want to see characters overcome their conflicts and succeed in the end. Dystopian literature's success comes from its ability to connect issues within the story to conflicts in the real world.
Examples of how Dystopian literature reflects dominant or counter culture ways of the world
- "Avengers: Infinity War" - If we were to erase half of Earth's population, resources would be plentiful to all people on Earth and people could live in comfort. Thanos is a villain for this because we think it is inhumane to kill people who do not deserve to die, even by random chance.
- "Wall-E" - Earth is a landfill, and people have become overweight and reliant on their floating chairs to move around. This dystopian fiction goes against our culture due to our emphasis to keep the planet clean and for people to lose weight.
- "Divergent" - People are placed in "factions" and live in peace based on the faction a person is put in. The problem arises when people are considered "divergent" and cannot be placed, which results in conflict with the government. They do not want people who are diverse in their thoughts and ability, which is the opposite of what our culture pushes for.
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