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LITR 4632: Literature of
the Future Presenter
- Travis Kelly Recorder
– Sandy Murphy June 3, 2003 The Political
Future Video
Game: Fallout.
Interplay Productions, ©1997. Summary:
In the introduction to the video game Fallout,
the origins of the post-apocalyptic world in which the game takes place are
outlined. By and large, these
origins involve political strife on a worldwide scale, which is a common theme
in apocalyptic literature and other media.
The underlying assumption that politics will play a key role in an
apocalyptic future mirrors our own present-day fears concerning politics and the
power of the government. These
visions of the future use world governments to fulfill the role of Satan in
stories which often resemble the End Times portrayed in the book of Revelation.
There is a strange dichotomy of trust
and distrust which occupies the minds of the public with relation to the
government. On the one hand, people
tend to intrinsically trust the government to keep them safe and comfortable.
On the other hand, there is an ever-present fear that the layer of
security provided by the government will either disappear or will be turned
against them in some way. This is a
potential level of betrayal which can be terrifying, and thus it is a fertile
foundation for apocalyptic thought. In
addition, history tells us that it is political leaders such as Hitler or Stalin
who pose the greatest threat to world stability.
In is not surprising, then, that the antichrist is often identified as a
political figure. Objectives: Primary
Objectives: (1)
To identify, describe, and criticize the narratives
or stories humans tell about the future. a.
Apocalyptic (2)
To identify, describe, and criticize several typical visions or scenarios of
the future (as seen from 2003).
c. Utopia / Dystopia /
Ecotopia – perfectly planned worlds / gone wrong / + ecology Secondary
Objectives: (5)
To interpret literature of the future as
reflections of the present in which it is written. Questions: 1. Why do you think politics play such a
pivotal role in so many apocalyptic visions of the future? 2. What does this say about the current state of politics and
people’s perceptions of it? Discussion: Question:
Why do you think that politics plays such a pivotal role in apocalyptic
literature? Susie:
The government has the ability to destroy the world with the bomb.
During the Cuban Missile crisis the world was on edge because one person
could make the decision to use the bomb. Travis:
The government is the only entity that is on a large enough scale to pull
off world destruction. Most terror
groups are very small scale. Jennifer:
We are not a socialist nation but we expect our government to provide
many of the same protections and services. Kate:
People crave the structure of the government.
People want someone in control. Question:
What does this say about the current state of politics and people’s
perception of it? Cory:
Apocalyptic views indicate government is corrupt, people are evil, and
things are in a constant state of decay. For
the most part government will disappoint us.
If we are comfortable we don’t complain, but if things go bad we turn
on our government. Deep down we
expect the worst from our leaders. Travis:
People don’t vote. We
don’t pay attention. Some think
government is corrupt. Others just want to leave it be. Jonathan:
Mistrust of government is a given in my generation.
Has it always been that way or is it getting worse?
If you don’t identify with the government then you distrust it. Heather:
Critics have been so vocal. They
have gotten people to mistrust government.
In our times it has gotten much more prevalent to criticize the
government. Kate:
Advanced technology has also addend to that.
After 9-11 people thought government should have known it was going to
happen. It seems as if people today know as much as the government
does. Heather:
Advanced technology has helped mistrust to grow.
My mother used to talk about Big Brother.
Now it is much more of a reality. We
know more but we are afraid of what they know about us. Dr. White:
We are very vulnerable to that. Especially
online. Jennifer:
Today television stations, radio and newspaper are all linked together.
Companies control what we hear. The
media are no longer owned separately. Dr. White:
During the Iraqi War, many Americans tuned into the BBC and Canadian
broadcast to escape the pro-war reporting.
They wanted news with less bias. Kate:
There was a backlash against protestors. Kathy:
People were demanding strategic details from the military on the war.
What about secrets? If we
know then everyone knows. Travis:
Each
generation seems to be less trustful of government. When children, people are taken care of.
Do we look back and think the government of our childhood is better just
because we were in a better emotional state? Dr. White:
Research on apocalyptic literature shows a shift in the 20th
century. Americans are almost
always apocalyptic. Generally until the last century people thought the U.S.
government was on the side of God. Now
people wonder if U.S, government is not to be trusted.
This at least partly stems from the 1960s and the major changes that
occurred then (Viet Nam, Watergate, Barry Goldwater) and the Republican movement
of Reagan, Bush, and Bush. Susie:
Viet Nam was the first time we saw war in our homes.
It was the first time we saw the bad side. Kathy:
Government questions itself more often now.
Retired military people are speaking out against the war as press
analysts. Former legislators are also speaking out against corruption
in government. Dr. White:
The expansion of the media to 24 hours a day is also a factor. They have
to fill up that time. Good news means basically having nothing to say.
Bad news sells. They have to criticize to create conflicts. Kate:
They want inflammatory people. We
have to question their motives. Heather:
Another area of mistrust is caused by the fact that a large percentage of
the population is under the poverty line. That
group is either for or against the government.
They don’t sit on the fence. Mistrust
increases when the government cuts back on programs like Food Stamps, WIC, etc. Jonathan:
Part of me can see how the future depicted in Parable of the Sower
could happen. It is a possibility. Dr. White:
Travis has gotten out front that all these stories have profound
political implications. Our experiences tailor our reactions. Politics is dirty, but we cannot get rid of it.
Life is politics. Jonathan:
Politics is human interaction. Heather:
Politics is not evil. It is
people who are evil. Somewhere I
read the “If you want the power, then you don’t’ deserve it.” Jonathan:
In a Robert Heinlein book I read the leaders were selected from a list of
people who didn’t want to lead. Travis:
Are there people who pretend they don’t want it in order to get it? Heather:
And people who pretend they do? Jonathan:
Utopias will never work because they don’t incorporate the human desire
for change. Dr. White:
That is a classic objection to utopias.
Things always change. Heather:
Who is it perfect for? Dr. White:
One person’s utopia is another’s dystopia.
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