Utopian and Dystopian Fictions
Utopian and Dystopian Fictions
Podcast Description
Utopian and Dystopian Fictions is a podcast for scholars, thinkers, and anyone with an interest in utopian and dystopian theory, literature, film, and television. It’s hosted by Dr Matthew Leggatt (Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Winchester) and Dr Liam Knight (Independent Scholar). In each episode we interview a different academic in the field and interrogate myths and common misconceptions about the genre. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to send us an email, using [email protected].
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast explores themes related to utopian and dystopian theory across various media, with episodes discussing topics such as Green Utopianism, the evolution of utopian literature from the 18th century, the relationship between utopia and activism, pessimistic views of utopianism, and the representation of utopia in film. For instance, Episode 6 features discussions on how literary and social movements can intersect in Green Utopianism.
Utopian and Dystopian Fictions is a podcast for scholars, thinkers, and anyone with an interest in utopian and dystopian theory, literature, film, and television. It’s hosted by Dr Matthew Leggatt (Senior Lecturer in English Literature at the University of Winchester) and Dr Liam Knight (Independent Scholar). In each episode we interview a different academic in the field and interrogate myths and common misconceptions about the genre. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to send us an email, using [email protected].
In this episode, we speak with Jess Norledge, an Assistant Professor in Stylistics at the University of Nottingham.
Our conversation with Jess centres on the relationship between language and dystopian fiction, drawing on her work at the intersection of linguistics and literary studies. We explore why language so often functions as a tool of control in dystopian worlds, from Nineteen Eighty-Four and The Giver to more contemporary texts such as Tender Is the Flesh and Vox. Along the way, we discuss the crucial (and sometimes uncomfortable) link between language, voice, and power, considering how dystopian narratives both silence individuals and enable resistance through linguistic agency.
We also turn our attention to the stylistic machinery of dystopia: how language shapes immersion, drives reader response, and underpins world-building. From constructed languages in A Clockwork Orange to the cognitive and emotional effects of dystopian storytelling, Jess offers fascinating insights into how these texts linger in the mind. Our discussion further examines narrative perspective, the role of the “social mind,” and the evolving boundaries of the genre.
Finally, we explore the concept of “paratopia” and the increasing prevalence of dystopian narratives that feel uncomfortably close to our present moment, alongside Jess’s ongoing work on gender, climate fiction, and contemporary dystopian forms.
You can find out more about Jess and her work here, and you can find out more about The Language of Dystopia (Palgrave, 2022) here.
If you enjoyed this episode, please let us know! You can follow and rate the podcast, leave us a comment, or email us on [email protected]
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.