From The Hunger Games and Divergent to Ready Player One, teenagers have long reached for dystopian novels to satiate their typically short attention spans with gripping tales of violent revolution and political turmoil. Yet, in a world which is increasingly Orwellian, with worrying advances in AI technology and the rise of authoritarianism, it is safe to say our teens seek this genre less as a means of escapism and more so for its relatability.
Indeed, when such daunting issues as climate change and war constantly permeate our screens, young people may be left feeling powerless in the face of their government, with whom the power to enact change truly lies. Instead, it is to the young heroes of dystopian fiction that teenagers turn to rebel against oppressive authority. From Katniss’s leadership of an uprising against the corrupt rule of Panem in The Hunger Games to Tris’s ability to think freely as a Divergent and resist social conformity in the Divergent series, teens find their voices in these brave protagonists’ battles for ownership over their futures.
Whether it be from parents, teachers or world leaders, young people often feel suffocated by their elders’ hold over them, despite this control often coming from a place of love or concern. The dystopian genre is therefore where this frustration can be understood and acted upon, albeit through drastic measures, leaving teenagers feeling heard and spoken for by their fictional comrades who share their desire for autonomy. This relationship is more likely formed in dystopian novels thanks to the protagonists’ typically similar age to their young readers, encouraging this solidarity to develop through a mutual understanding of the struggles of adolescence and in finding oneself amongst a world of uncertainty.
The fact that some of the most famous dystopian heroes in young adult fiction are women, and yet the books they feature in are not characterised as ‘girly’, also demonstrates how this genre remains ungendered in its fanbase. Instead, it is distinguished by its popularity amongst the younger generation who share a common yearning for independence, regardless of sex or social background.
The teenage revolution is therefore led by those fictional protagonists like Katniss Everdeen who inspire the courage to reject conformity and pave a path for oneself, hopefully without the aid of a bow and arrow.
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