Yunus Emre InstituteYunus Emre Enstitüsü – London is pleased to announce the successful hosting of its Young Scholar Seminar Series talk titled “Visions of the Future: Utopian and Dystopian Narratives in the Anglophone World and Türkiye.” The insightful discussion took place on Thursday, 20th June 2024.
The event focused on a critical examination of utopian and dystopian narratives in literature and film within both Turkish and global contexts. Through nuanced historical, literary, and thematic analysis, it highlighted the distinctive world-building techniques within each cultural setting.
Dr. Emrah Atasoy began his talk by discussing the historical and literary background of utopian and dystopian narratives. He referred to significant works in literature and film, such as Thomas More’s Utopia, Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World, and Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange to explain the characteristic features of the genre. He explained how pivotal issues of today’s world such as climate change and artificial intelligence are illustrated through these literary and cinematic narratives. He provided insights into the academic and intellectual studies conducted in Türkiye and worldwide in literature and cinema. Additionally, he analysed two selected works, namely Alfonso Cuarón’s Children of Men and Mert Baykal’s Hot Skull.
Dr. Atasoy concluded his presentation by emphasising how utopian and dystopian narratives have the potential to offer solutions to current global issues. He highlighted the importance of social sciences and humanities in addressing global crises.
Dr. Emrah Atasoy, an Associate Professor of English Language and Literature and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Cofund Fellow, captivated the audience with a compelling narrative, exploring not only the literary and cinematic portrayals of speculative futures but also the broader implications for societal structures, technological influence, and environmental challenges. Participants were invited to reflect on the unique and shared concerns that echo global societal anxieties and aspirations, emphasising the lessons these narratives hold for sustainable development and future possibilities.
This research was supported by the EUTOPIA Science and Innovation Fellowship Programme and funded by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 945380. This talk reflects only the author’s view and the Research Executive Agency is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information it contains.