The future is now
That's the message behind the song by Future. Our world is changing rapidly, and the future often seems dystopian. But what's the future really like? The truth is that it's often far less dystopian than we think. It's simply a world in flux, where disruption and change are accelerating at an alarming pace.
It's a dystopian world
In dystopian fiction, we see governments where power and class have been centralized and abused to achieve a desired goal. These governments are often dictatorial or a blend of various political theories, such as those in Margret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. While the story is not always easy to read, the concept is very real.
Dystopias are often set in a future where the human population has become so isolated from nature that humans have emptied all of the Earth's resources. This makes it difficult for the characters to interact with nature. Often, the social structures have crumbled and the government is overbearing and enforces a single religion for everyone, or outlaws religion entirely. It's also common for dystopian societies to attack the family structure, turning family members against each other.
Books that explore a dystopian future generally revolve around the repressive nature of advanced technology. In books like Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, the use of advanced technology is often used as a fear-mongering method. Similarly, Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep explores the dangers of technology.
It's a world of disruption
Disruption is a force that is changing the way we do business. Disruption has a wide range of causes and can take the form of sudden death, virtual integration, or manufacturing through cloud infrastructure. Disruption creates unanticipated outcomes and requires bold strategy.
Disruption often occurs as a result of a big bang innovation. These innovations are cheaper and more innovative than established offerings. They also often integrate with other products more effectively. They also take advantage of the growing ability of consumers to share information on products and services. This makes them an effective way to disrupt the market.
Disruption is a force that is transforming industries across the globe. For example, the rise of self-driving cars and drones is reshaping the manufacturing industry. It is also changing the workforce. More reliable, cheaper machines are taking over human jobs. In the future, these technologies will transform the way we live and work.
It's a world of accelerated change
We are living in a world of rapid change and technological advances. Despite this, we are still facing a few major challenges. These issues, such as income polarization and worker vulnerability, may multiply in the coming years. Other challenges we will face include the need to adapt to occupational transitions and technological advancements. These changes will impact the economy and the labor market in various ways.
Digital life has the potential to be high-stress, and tele-everything will constrict social and support systems in the real world. However, we also have a unique opportunity to reshape major systems. With the rise of artificial intelligence, smart cities, virtual reality, and data analytics, we can make many systems safer and more human. We can also improve emergency responses and communication.
It's often dystopian
While fiction can depict a dystopian future, the reality is often more complex. Fiction often depicts advanced technology as the driving force of the future, rather than an enlightened society. Aldous Huxley's novel Brave New World, published in 1932, explores the dangers of such technology. Another example of a dystopian novel is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, a novel set in a post-apocalyptic San Francisco after a nuclear war.
Dissidents are an often-recurring motif in dystopian films. These individuals often live in subterranean cities. They usually look like the protagonist of Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Josh Hartnett's kid brother, or one of the James Franco clones. These individuals seek to fight for a cause — whether that cause is a social justice movement or a peaceful revolution. In these films, a common cause exists but there is no clear leader. This means Shailene Woodley can act as the leader and be a good substitute for Tom Cruise.
A dystopian society is a society in which people live without the freedom to express their ideas. Often, dystopian fiction portrays this society in extreme ways, by using extreme metaphors. The result is a world where humans live in a state of constant fear and insecurity.
