A
dystopia (from the Greek δυσ- and τόπος, alternatively,
cacotopia,
kakotopia, or simply
anti-utopia) is a community or society that is undesirable or frightening. It is translated as "not-good place", an
antonym of
utopia, a term that was coined by
Sir Thomas More and figures as the title of his most well-known work, "Utopia." "Utopia" is the blueprint for an ideal society with no crime or poverty. Dystopian societies appear in many artistic works, particularly in stories
set in a future. Some of the most famous examples are
1984 and
Brave New World. Dystopias are often characterized by
dehumanization,
totalitarian governments,
environmental disaster, or other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society. Dystopian societies appear in many subgenres of fiction and are often used to draw attention to real-world issues regarding society,
environment,
politics,
economics,
religion,
psychology,
ethics,
science, and/or
technology, which if unaddressed could potentially lead to such a dystopia-like condition.