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  • Essay / Theme of dystopia in 21st century films

    All works of art are a reflection of what human beings experience. Cinema is a popular form of art representation in the 21st century. Thousands of films have been made throughout history. However, one theme stands out from the others when it comes to cinema: dystopia. Over the past decade, post-apocalyptic films have gained popularity among viewers. There were approximately 59 apocalyptic films made between 1980 and 1999, a period of 20 years. However, between 2000 and 2013, more than 90 apocalyptic films were released (Harmonic, 2017). On the other hand, this is a period of only 13 years. This article seeks to show why filmmakers are increasingly exploiting post-apocalyptic themes in their works. To achieve this, we must first recognize that cinema is an industry that only produces what the public wants. So, to understand why filmmakers imitate dystopian themes, it is necessary to analyze the audience. The following paragraphs show why audiences are constantly demanding more post-apocalyptic films. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get an original essay Films with dystopian themes are popular among viewers because viewers believe that the ultimate end of civilization and human extinction are inevitable (Finke, 2014). This mentality is popular in the world today due to the myriad of problems humans face. Some of these problems have no solution while others are just consequences of scenarios that have been avoided by society as a whole. Examples of these problems include world hunger, adverse climate change and the possibility of an epidemic. On the other hand, scenarios that society has avoided include artificial intelligence surpassing the human mind, genetic design and modification of humans, etc. All of these themes have been covered in films such as Geostorm, 12 Monkeys, Terminator and many others. In line with the belief that the end of the world is inevitable, viewers appreciate post-apocalyptic films because they reflect society's hope for survival in the face of possible dystopian events (Finke, 2014). In most post-apocalyptic films, humanity never gives up. It is this demonstration of humanity's resilience and refusal to give up that attracts many viewers. Throughout history, humanity has gone through several events that nearly led to the end of civilization. These include World War I and World War II, the Black Death in Europe, and the numerous terrorist attacks around the world. Although there were casualties in all of these events, the world ultimately survived. It's this hope that viewers like to be reminded of when watching post-apocalyptic films. In addition to offering hope, viewers enjoy post-apocalyptic films because of the challenges they present (Scientific American, 2010). Many people view an apocalypse as a reset of the world. For example, in the TV series Revolution, an apocalyptic even sends the world into a state where all common conveniences such as running water, medicine, and electricity are unavailable. It is in these circumstances that the viewer imagines himself wondering if he would survive. The ability to speculate and passively participate in such an environment is what attracts viewers to post-apocalyptic films. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized item now from..