DYSTOPIAN LITERATURE AND CONTEMPORARY REALITY: REMAGINING POWER, TECHNOLOGY, AND ROMANTIC DISCOURSE IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Keywords:
Dystopian literature;, Romantic discourse;, Digital society;, Power;, Surveillance;, Affect theory;Abstract
This article explores the growing convergence between dystopian literature and contemporary socio-technological realities, with particular emphasis on the transformation of romantic discourse. Classical dystopian texts such as 1984 and Brave New World depict emotional relationships as suppressed or manipulated within authoritarian systems. In contrast, contemporary dystopian narratives—including The Power—reconfigure intimacy as a dynamic site of resistance and ideological negotiation.
The findings demonstrate a significant shift from narratives of emotional repression to those emphasizing relational agency and ambiguity. The article argues that dystopian literature has evolved from speculative warning to critical reflection of present-day realities shaped by surveillance, digital capitalism, and shifting power structures.
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