– Utopia, an imagined place where everything is perfect! –
Utopianalysis…
We have read quite a bit already now about it, but, as happened to me, the term also gets pretty blurry and is quickly used as a buzzword whether appropriate or inappropriate. In search of a true and modern utopia this chapter hopefully provides some guidance to identify and recognize utopias. And ultimately it hopefully helps us to create your own utopia using the “best of all utopias”.
4 Basic Principles – To be or not to be Utopia…
Sometimes the best way to comprehend a popular buzzword is to determine what it is not. So first, let’s separate the wheat from the chaff and ‘exclude’ anything not relatable to the original meaning of Utopia with the following four principles:
First – No Place; An utopia is an “imaginary place”. Therefore existing places can not be an Utopia (anymore). Obviously, many places (partly) stem from utopian thinking and planning, those are definitely worth mentioning and studying. And indeed, ideally utopianism (utopian thinking) leads to a better reality.
Secondly – Non-Existing; In line with the first principle, an utopia describes a “future perfect” – a state of society we have not yet arrived at, if ever. Therefore any past or present society is not an Utopia. Obviously any existing or past society can be used as inspiration and example to explain an utopia but (as far as I know) there wasn’t a moment in time everybody equally agreed everything was perfect.
Third – All-Good; An utopia is a “good place”. Therefore imaginary places which propose a ‘bad’ place are not an Utopia but a Dystopia – more about here.
Fourth – Impermanent; An utopia is as (con)temporary as our zeitgeist and society’s pro- or regression. Therefore an Utopia can not be captured in a one-size-fits all concept or formula. Even if such formula or concept is proclaimed it will be a reflection of the current zeitgeist of which we know drastically change over the course of time. Not to mentions the cultural, demo-graphical and geographical differences across the globe.
4 Continuum – Fifty Shades of Utopia…
Being able to separate the chaff, it is handy to realize that utopias come in many shades. In fact, following the basic principles above, Utopias might still end up opposing each other, none side being “right” or “wrong”. Below are three obvious continuum on which one can plot an utopias:
- Artificial vs. Organic:
- Artificial utopias come from the drawing board are well-planned, typicall structured and symmetric and are managed, monitored and controlled.
- Organic utopias come about naturally, evolve organically, trust in the good intentions of men and are based on basic norms, values and principles.
- Homogeneous vs. Heterogeneous:
- Homogeneous utopias consider elements and people within a community or society to react similar to a presented utopia, believing in essence elements and people are similar. The most extreme form of homogeneous utopia is a one-size-fits-all utopia:
- Heterogeneous utopias, in contrast, consider elements and people within a community or society to react different to a presented utopia, believing in essence elements and people highly differ from one to another. The most extreme form of heterogeneous utopia would be creating or integrating as many utopias (realities) as people in a society.
- Fictive vs. Realistic utopias:
- Fictive utopias are far-fetched and hardly relatable to our current way of live. It might be because it is too futuristic or simply too fantasy-like.
- Realistic utopias are those we can more easily identify with and relate to. Most probably because they relate more to the current state of affairs and incorporate short-term possibilities and predictions.
- Single Topic vs. Multi Topic:
- Single Topic a.k.a. One-Dimensional utopias emphasize one particular topic primarily. For example, utopia’s mainly concerned about the environment, or the freedom of people, or abundance of resources, or technological advancement. The categories below, in their purest form, are arguably Single Topic utopias by definition.
- Multi Topic a.k.a. Multidimensional utopias are taking into account more facets of society at the same time. One might argue that a perfect place should be perfect for all and therefore should naturally be multidimensional.
The thing with continuums is that the reality, truth, average naturally lies somewhere in the middle. And this will be the case in search of the ideal utopia. It won’t be hard what the disadvantage will be of an utopia too realistic, too fictive, too homogenous, too heterogenous, too organic, too artificial. Respectively they will be too short-sided, unrealistic, rigid, anarchistic, chaotic or materialistic.
4 Categories – It all depends on Perspective!
Following the various classifications you can find in the literature, there are probably as many types as there are utopias. Moreover, Lyman Tower Sargent (79), one of the world’s foremost scholars on Utopian studies, states that there are “socialist, capitalist, monarchical, democratic, anarchistic, ecological, feminist, patriarchal, egalitarian, hierarchical, racist, left-wing, right-wing, reformist, naturism, free love, nuclear family, extended family, gay, lesbian, and many more utopias…”. However, in this way everything complies to the definition of utopia, don’t we (want) to draw the line?
I mean, using an ultimate heterogeneous as a starting point we might as well include an Utopisland for everybody: A Candyland, Freemoneyland, PlayHardWorkNotLAnd, Yololand, Lalaland, Foodland, Dreamland, Musicland, Aloneland or whatever other desire or theme park name comes to your mind. Obviously no problem to have some of those hang-outs and communities within a society but what about the society as a whole? As we have concluded before, creating the most ideal situation for all requires thorough thinking both in diversity as well as in consequences (the long term).
The existence of utopias stem from the realities, beliefs, drivers and intentions of their creators. Since one of my obsessions is to (try to) make sense of incomprehensible concepts I make an attempt to categorize (the different categories of) utopias into four dominant starting points or perspectives. There has not been a generally accepted categorization nor (in my view) was there a solid categorization at hand. Despite the abundance of utopias Sargent suggested the most common categories in which utopias are interchangeably divided are economic, religious, spiritual, political, technological, scientific, historical and ecological. For me the four most logical categories and perspectives are as follows:
1. Contextual Utopias:
Are utopias which emphasize the aesthetic, architectural, spatial and technological aspects of society. One might say those are the more ‘materialized’ utopias since they encompass ‘tangible’ objects and for that reason also sparks ones imagination best. Typically these are the utopia which we know from science fiction stories and are well illustrated through futuristic (motion) pictures. This visibility to which we can relate makes you feel that contextual utopias are most prevalent.
Contextual Utopias tend to incorporate latest developments and advancements. The positive thing about this is that it triggers the “scared for the unknown” layman to better understand and imagine how those advancements (can) have a positive impact on life.
At the same time contextual based utopias are often clearly marked by the zeitgeist in which they are created, making them a ‘relic’ of its age. Moreover, the zeitgeist might quickly (let’s say a decade later) be outdated when new insights, findings, applications and possibilities have arrived which stretches the boundaries of technology and architecture. Another less flattering characteristic of a contextual utopia is its tendency to be over- structured, planned, symmetrical and top-down or center-controlled. It makes you feel that humans are secondary to the concept.
Utopias falling in this category are the Artificially Planned Cities such as Brasilia and the Venus Projects which conceptualizes their Utopia through elaborate space planning. On a lesser extend also More’s original utopia and the Ecotopias included materialized content to describe their visions, however, this is not the dominant focus.
Subgenre’s in this category: architectural-, technological (scientific)-, planned-, and materialized utopias.
2. Social Utopias:
Are utopias which emphasize the human, sociological, psychological, political and governing aspects of society. And, one might not expect it, but it also includes economics since it is a social science concerned with the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The utopias which have been the main topic of talks of philosophers whom seek to answer the existential quests and pursuit to find the best possible form of politics. Undoubtedly is the most ‘human’ utopias of all since it is primarily concerned about the wellbeing of people.
And although the social utopias have probably been most conversed and written about, the complexity and philosophical nature of it doesn’t make these Utopias the most prevalent one. Moreover, the comprehensiveness of these utopias – in other words, incorporating as many perspectives as it involves people – makes them impossible to implement from scratch as opposed to ‘contextual’ utopias. Also, the infinite outcomes the variability of human reaction – or better, let’s say 1 million people – bring to a proposition makes it hard if not impossible to oversee all consequences.
Hence our current state of political affairs and culture, which is first of all a hybrid heritage of centuries of disagreement and secondly never a one size satisfy all model. Thus making the social utopias the most complex, disputed and arbitrary of all. As elaborated on in chapter XX it is highly debatable whether we have already figured out the ideal governing system in which each individual is stimulated and supported to reach their full potential and besides that in which each and every one can live harmoniously.
In other words, in practice social utopias mainly end up in ‘theoretical frameworks’ which are only implemented and realized in bits and pieces and in a highly incremental pace. For this reason it often excludes a proper incorporation of technological advancements. Since our societies are ‘fear based’ (more about this in chapter XX) the use of such advancements are quickly considered as stagnating and ‘not-safe’ factors and are considered to be secondary. At the same time, ironically, those advancements could actually ease and support the social utopias to be realized quicker and more efficient and effective. So the opposites happens whereby our politicians and leaders get stuck in the ‘known’ traditional way of doing things.
Utopias falling in this category are More’s utopia, Plato’s La Republica and Christiania. On a lesser extend also the Venus Project and Ecotopia incorporate human aspects in their utopias.
Subgenre’s in this category: socialist, capitalist, monarchical, democratic, anarchistic, feminist, patriarchal, egalitarian, hierarchical, racist, left-wing, right-wing, nuclear family, extended family, gay, lesbian utopias…”
3. Ecological Utopias:
Are utopias which emphasize the natural, environmental and ecological aspects of society. Back in the days it probably was best captured in the nostalgic images of the “garden of eden” and “the land of cockagne” which illustrated the “Golden Age” as denoted in the Greek Mythology in which nature provided sufficient for mankind making earth a heavenly place. More recently the ecological utopia might as well be called ‘green utopia’ and in the last decades quickly grows in popularity in the light of the awareness of “climate change” as a results of the human behavior.
Ecological utopias are all about (restoring) the harmony with nature, animals, resources and environment. It is perhaps the most idealistic utopia and at the same time by many seen as over-romanticized and unrealistic utopias considering the state of affairs society has evolved in.
And although some ecological utopias seek their future visualization with an absence of technological advances others envision how technological advances will eventually be enablers to reach their utopia.
Utopias falling in this category are the Ecotopias. On a lesser extend also the Venus Project and Christiania incorporate ecological aspects in their utopias.
Subgenre’s in this category: ecotopia, green utopias, natural-, organic-, environmental- utopias.
4. Spiritual Utopia:
Are utopias which follow visions, prophecies, religion, beliefs and myths as starting point to create their ideal society. For centuries the spiritual utopias – or rather religious based utopias – have been the dominant one in the establishment of the ideal societies. Whether it be Buddhism, Catholic, Jewish, Islamic, even More’s utopia was heavily influenced by his religion. But even before the dawn of mainstream religions complete civilizations have sprouted and thrived on the blind belief in signs, rituals, myths, gods and wonders.
And while spiritual utopias have always been influencing our societies from the dawn of man until present day (especially still in secular states), the rise of science (and with that the ingrained need for evidence based concepts) transformed blind belief into visible distrust in religion when it comes down to shaping ideal societies.
On the other hand the increasing desire for mindfulness as a result and reply to the increasingly stressful, digital, individualistic, materialistic and superficial society opens the minds to do things differently. Differently in a way which might not have been (sufficiently) scientifically proved yet but naturally feels logic and better.
The challenge of spiritual utopias is that they perhaps are opposing the current ‘rational’, ‘money driven’ and ‘ego-driven’ state of affairs in most nations. Which results in rejection by the greater public and in contrast extreme resistance towards the majority making these minorities almost look rebellion.
Utopias falling in this category are the Azteca’s and religious communities. On a lesser extend Thomas More’s utopia was influenced by his Christian background.
Subgenre’s in this category: religious, messianic, Christian, Islamic, budha, reformist, naturalist, prophetic, visionary, millenarian, fantasy, mythical utopias.
Utopianalysis Disclaimer
All of the above, the principles, continuum and categories are not meant to divide utopias into one or the other as in black and white. In contrast, they are presented to make us aware that it is impossible to allocate utopias (nor anything else) into clearly defined boxes. Reality proves any utopia is unique, a blend and finds itself somewhere in between the extremes. As much as I myself love to structure and organize the world in an attempt to better comprehend and understand it, I am very aware that ultimately it is a form of generalizing and stereotyping.
And as we know, we can stereotype and generalize cultures into cliches as much as we like, for fun, for clarity-sake or whatever purpose, the bottom-line is that each individual (as well as an utopia) you’ll meet will disintegrate stereotypes partly if not completely. Lastly, Utopian extremism is as ignorant and dangerous as is the case with religious, nationalistic and patriotic extremism – it polarizes instead of unifies the world.
An incomplete Utopedia…
As a starter, in the first chapter we randomly touched upon and highlighted some of the more and less obvious Utopias and as we have already concluded, Utopia’s come in many shapes and forms. For the fanatics among us, there is a “Historical Dictionary of Utopionism” available which endlessly provides information on the topic. This section does not seek nor pretend to provide you with a complete overview of Utopia, it provides yet another bouquet of utopias just for your inspiration and to show More’s influence in the world.
Cause whether it is Thomas Campanella’s “City of the Sun” (1602) a book presenting a dialogue between a grandmaster and a sailor describing a theocratic-like society (also inspired by Plato’s “The Republic”). Or more recent, Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities” (1972) – a story in which adventurer and sailor Marco Polo, among others in conversation with emperor Kublai Khan, describes 55 imaginary cities in great detail set against his hometown Venice. The concept of describing another imaginary and far-away place is identical to More’s. And while More’s contextual description of Utopia was impressive and included maps, an alphabet and laws [NAME Japanes] raised the game with his [NAME city] – see more here.
And whether it was ignited by More’s Utopia or simply the zeitgeist of colonizing-hungry-Europe, the Utopia-genre involved in various sub-genres. Of which one could be best described as “travelers’ tales”, a story always starting with people finding themselves on a unknown or deserted island after they got lost or ship- (now plane-)wrecked in the middle of some ocean. Think of Antangil (1616), New Atlantis (1626), Robinson Crusoe (1719), Lord of the Flies (1954), Cast Away (2000), Lost (2004) and probably you could easily add a few more. Not surprisingly, already in 1726 this proliferation and bastardization of the utopian subgenre was ridiculed in a satirical work by Jonathan Swift called “Gulliver’s Travels”.
Nonetheless, the traveler’s tales sub-genre gave authors unlimited space to create their own completely new (ir)realistic place. And while primordial Utopian stories were mainly concerned about the political and contextual constructs of communities, new tales increasingly seem to showed interest in the sociological and psychological implications of individuals and groups when stuck in a deserted island. And from the taveler’s tale utopias influence moved on and evolved into our era with popular 21st century reality shows such as Expedition Robinson (1997), Survivor (2000), The Mole (2000), Love Island (2015), Temptation Island(2001). More about this psychological and sociological aspect in chapter XX.
Another subgenre which was heavily influenced by utopia is more obvious, science fiction. Social utopias (or often dystopias) are presented in The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner and Divergent. Ecological dystopias are mirrored in many disaster movies and fictional futuristic movies in which the world became a ruin in which survivors seek to build up a new life. Contextual utopias are presented in Black Mirror, Terminator, Blade Runner, Alter Carbon and Matrix which presents forecasts of the technological impact on our life. All stories of (mostly failing) perfect worlds which find their roots and inspiration directly back to More’s Utopia.