Genre novels go through phases. Before dystopian novels were popular, it was the super natural novel of vampires and werewolves. Currently, it is the John Green style YA fictions that are flooding the markets and giving us contemporary realism. For me though, I feel that the dystopian novel is dead but, how everything has a trend, it will make it's way around again.
I don't believe it's just the dystopian theme that is working against current novels trying to be like The Hunger Games, and Divergent, I am under the impression that the trilogy aspect of these books might be working against them. The selling of a stand alone novel seems to be more worth while than trying to get a book published in a group of three. I myself love a good trilogy but I also understand why making a trilogy for the sake of making a trilogy might sacrifice good writing that could be done in one or two novels.
I see what the article is saying about how this view of government might not be the most beneficial for children because of the government that we live in. Morrison states, "What marks these dystopias out from previous ones is that, almost without exception, the bad guys are not the corporations but the state and those well-meaning liberal leftists who want to make the world a better place."
Well, I may receive some gasps for saying this, but it is just a story. I have read all the popular dystopian books and I do not feel inclined to start marching around Evansville waving my "down with the capital" flag. Also, I don't see these novels steering conservative parent's children down paths of anti-government behaviors. We should guard what our kids read, but we should not guard them from thinking. Let them decide what they think of the novel and talk with them about its view on government instead of deciding that it is causing them to submit to the free market.
Honestly, it reminds me of the parents who didn't want their kids to read Harry Potter because they were all going to become satan worshippers, witches and wizards, wielders of black magic. Really, the dystopian mind set is much better than that of the Twilight mania which is girls need a man or they are going to run off into the woods to die and boys should be gloomy, stalker murders. That isn't a fair argument I suppose because I'm sure plenty people would argue with me that Twilight teaches valuable morals...
In conclusion, yes, I think dystopian novels are on the down turn or might be dead for the time being. No, I don't believe these novels are brainwashing children with the wrong idea of "freedom." If the whole point of being an English teacher is teaching your students how to critically think, then we should let students decide for themselves just like I did for this article. I thought about my feelings concerning the novels, how I would feel as a parent, how it affected my views of freedom and government and ultimately, my biggest take away was I needed to learn archery and be a powerful female figure.
I don't believe it's just the dystopian theme that is working against current novels trying to be like The Hunger Games, and Divergent, I am under the impression that the trilogy aspect of these books might be working against them. The selling of a stand alone novel seems to be more worth while than trying to get a book published in a group of three. I myself love a good trilogy but I also understand why making a trilogy for the sake of making a trilogy might sacrifice good writing that could be done in one or two novels.
I see what the article is saying about how this view of government might not be the most beneficial for children because of the government that we live in. Morrison states, "What marks these dystopias out from previous ones is that, almost without exception, the bad guys are not the corporations but the state and those well-meaning liberal leftists who want to make the world a better place."
Well, I may receive some gasps for saying this, but it is just a story. I have read all the popular dystopian books and I do not feel inclined to start marching around Evansville waving my "down with the capital" flag. Also, I don't see these novels steering conservative parent's children down paths of anti-government behaviors. We should guard what our kids read, but we should not guard them from thinking. Let them decide what they think of the novel and talk with them about its view on government instead of deciding that it is causing them to submit to the free market.
Honestly, it reminds me of the parents who didn't want their kids to read Harry Potter because they were all going to become satan worshippers, witches and wizards, wielders of black magic. Really, the dystopian mind set is much better than that of the Twilight mania which is girls need a man or they are going to run off into the woods to die and boys should be gloomy, stalker murders. That isn't a fair argument I suppose because I'm sure plenty people would argue with me that Twilight teaches valuable morals...
In conclusion, yes, I think dystopian novels are on the down turn or might be dead for the time being. No, I don't believe these novels are brainwashing children with the wrong idea of "freedom." If the whole point of being an English teacher is teaching your students how to critically think, then we should let students decide for themselves just like I did for this article. I thought about my feelings concerning the novels, how I would feel as a parent, how it affected my views of freedom and government and ultimately, my biggest take away was I needed to learn archery and be a powerful female figure.