Dystopian Resurgence

Dystopian representations in literature and pop culture are back on the rise

Implications - Classic dystopian imagery and literature is being revisited, and dystopian societies as concepts are being reimagined, as a result of the political and technological forces that are shaping the world today. The resurgence of such concepts in pop culture and academia alike function as a conflicted form of escapism, in which consumers' political fears can be simultaneously strengthened and assuaged when confronted with radical dystopian representations.
Workshop Question - What kind of escapist experiences could your brand involve itself with for the sake of customer engagement and relief?
Trend Themes
1. Dystopian Resurgence - There is a renewed interest in dystopian literature and culture as a result of current political and technological forces, providing opportunities for businesses to create products and services that cater to consumers' fears and offer solutions to those fears.
2. Controversial Sci-fi Media - Sci-fi media like China’s Ten Years and Black Mirror continue to address controversial topics like censorship and how technology can be used as a tool for oppression, providing opportunities for businesses to create products and services that utilize new technologies while offering transparent communication and protection of data privacy.
3. Dystopian Aesthetic - The dystopian aesthetic is becoming more popular in fashion, jewelry, and advertising, providing opportunities for businesses to create products and services that utilize dark and eerie themes to make an impact on consumers and cater to their love of all things dark and mysterious.
Industry Implications
1. Publishing - The resurgence of dystopian literature and culture provides opportunities for publishers to tap into the market and create new content that appeals to consumers' fears and desires for solutions to those fears.
2. Tech and Data Privacy - Controversial sci-fi media like China’s Ten Years and Black Mirror offer opportunities for businesses in the tech industry to provide transparency and protection of data privacy in an effort to regain consumer trust.
3. Fashion and Jewelry - The dystopian aesthetic is becoming more prevalent in fashion and jewelry, providing opportunities for businesses to create unique products that cater to consumers' love of all things dark and mysterious.
3.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
6 Featured, 54 Examples:
212,040 Total Clicks
Date Range:
Mar 16 — Mar 18
Trending:
Mild
Consumer Insight Topics:

Featured Examples

Dystopian Hand-Carved Jewelry
Dystopian Hand-Carved Jewelry
Captve Makes Accessories with a Narrative
Jade Boutilier, the founder of Captve, creates handmade jewelry that tells a story. The accessories are custom carved in Montreal and fuse personal ornaments with sculpture. Captve’s handmade... MORE
Dystopian Literature Fashion Lookbooks
Dystopian Literature Fashion Lookbooks
Syndicate's Fall/Winter 2018 Shoot Has a Chilling Message
The Syndicate Original Fall/Winter 2018 taps into militantly authoritative styles and dystopian literature for its silhouette designs, as well as its lookbook photography. The popular Ukrainian... MORE
play_circle_filledHairy Pollution PSAs
Hairy Pollution PSAs
This Ad by 'WildAid China' Conveys the Dangers of China's Air Polluttion
‘WildAid China’ recently teamed up with the advertising agency ‘McCann Shanghai’ to humorously convey the dangers of air pollution. While many people know that air pollution... MORE
Sci-Fi TV Series Books
Sci-Fi TV Series Books
The 'Black Mirror' TV Series is Being Turned into a Three-Part Book Series
As common as it is for books to be turned into TV shows and movies, TV-to-book series adaptations rarely happen—but the hit science fiction television anthology series Black Mirror is set to... MORE
Controversial Dystopian Films
Controversial Dystopian Films
China's Ten Years Addresses Censorship While Gaining Audience Praise
‘Ten Years’ is a Chinese dystopian film that recently garnered the Best Film title at the 35th annual Hong Kong Film Awards. Released last year, the horror drama sparked mass criticism... MORE
play_circle_filledDystopian Ice Cream Ads
Dystopian Ice Cream Ads
Halo Top's 'Eat the Ice Cream' Envisions an Unsettling World Run by Robots
American video director, special effects artist, musician and YouTuber Mike Dahlquist (also known as Mike Diva) recently created an unsettling commercial for Halo Top called ‘Eat the Ice Cream.&... MORE

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