Utopie, dystopie et leurs avatars

Abstract

The term « dystopia » first appeared during the 19th century, and has been used since then in various contexts with different meanings. Just like the concept of « utopia », from which it originated, the dystopian genre has been the subject of numerous scientifical definitions, often complementary, sometimes contradictory, mixing terms as diverse as « anti-utopia », « counter-utopia », « atopia », « uchronia» and « paratopia ». If the present article proposes to point out the lack of clarity of the notion (1), it will show subsequently the need to come back to the utopian genre (2), in an effort to clarify the relationships with its derivatives (3) and propose a new, consistent definition (4).

Keywords

• Utopia
• dystopia
• uchronia
• heterotopia
• contre utopia
• anti-utopia
• literary genre