The Circle book photo by Erin Morrisey used under CC0
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The CircleDirected by James PonsoldtThis movie starring Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, and John Boyega was inspired by a book of the same title by Dave Eggers. This film tells the story of Mae (Watson) as she joins a powerful technology/ social media company (which seems quite a bit like Big Brother from 1984). In true utopian literary fashion, Mae believes this company will help her find true personal freedom, but instead, her ethics and privacy are brought into question.
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The Dispossessed book photo by Erin Morrisey used under CC0
Brave New World book photo by Erin Morrisey used under CC0
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The DispossessedBy Ursula Le GuinThis novel by Berkeley-born Usula Le Guin portrays a moon settlement developed by utopian anarchists. One of the physicists living on this moon (Anarres) decides to reunite his planet with its mother planet (Urras). This decision is wrought with the "fires of change," sacrifice, and conflict. If you'd like to hear the first part of a radio show version of this book, click here.
Brave New WorldBy Aldous HuxleyThis literary work of art describes a technologically advanced society in which all humans are genetically engineered for specific societal roles. English novelist Aldous Huxley describes this society as passively maintaining an authoritarian regime "at the cost of our freedom, full humanity, and perhaps also our souls" (according to Harper Collins). This novel serves as a warning to all readers of what could happen if we allow the great "machine" to overtake our lives.
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