Utopia, Deus Ex Machina & Paradox

• St. Thomas More's book was first titled Nusquama, meaning imaginary realm.
• The book later became Utopia in 1516.
• The word Utopia comes from the Greek words "ou-topos" (no place) and "eu-topos" (perfect place)
• Utopia highlights the paradox of an ideal society that doesn't exist.

Utopia vs Eutopia

• Utopia means "no place."
• Eutopia means "good, perfect place."

Nusquam

• Nusquam answers the question "What if?"

Deus Ex Machina

• Deus Ex Machina translates to "god from the machine" in Latin.
• Deus Ex Machina is a plot device where a seemingly unsolvable conflict is resolved by a sudden, improbable intervention.
• This intervention involves a character or event appearing out of nowhere.
• A Deus Ex Machina event can rescue a character from certain death by a magical object or power that appears unexpectedly.
• Deus Ex Machina can be when a complex problem resolves with a simple solution.

Paradox

• A paradox contradicts itself or defies logic, often revealing a deeper truth.
• Paradoxes challenge our ways of thinking and exposes hidden complexities in concepts.
• Paradox can be a vision of an ideal or better society
• It can also be a philosophical and theoretical framework
• Paradox is presented as utopian literature that explores imagined perfect societies.
• Paradox is seen in Utopia, a book by St. Thomas More in 1516.

Evolution of Utopian Framework

• Pre-Modern (2000 BC-1400): represented by Plato's "The Republic."
• Early Modern (1516-1790s): focused on space and exploration.
• Modern (1700-1970s): dealt with socialism or barbarism, emphasizing temporality.
• Globalization (1970s - present): characterized by a Neoliberal Economy.
• "The One Who Walks Away from Omelas" (1973) by Ursula Le Guin is not a classic utopia, but self-reflexive.
• It serves as a blueprint for crafting a utopian narrative that doesn't necessarily aim for a better society.

Speculative Fiction

• Speculative fiction include science fiction, fantasy, utopia, and horror.
• Speculative fiction pushes the boundaries of literature's ultimate question: "Who am I as an individual?".
• Key elements involve topic, style, theme, and experience.

Utopian and Dystopian Literature

• Utopian literature explores the question "who are we as a society?"
• Dystopian literature explores the question "who are we afraid we might become?"
• Utopian genre explores ideal societies with common structures, themes, constitutive features (setting, structured society, narrative perspective), and conventions (recurring but flexible themes)

Exploring Ideal Societies

• Utopian genre has ironic self-awareness, acknowledging inherent contradictions in any perfect world.
• Marketing of utopian concepts involve appealing to readers through rhetoric and persuasive techniques.