Abraham Maslow published his paper in 1943 called, “A Theory of Human Motivation” used to study how humans intrinsically partake in behavioral motivation. He used the terms, “physiological”, “safety”, “belonging and love”, “social needs” and “self-actualization” to describe the pattern or stages through which human motivations generally move. Dystopias impede the path of self-preservation, causing angst with the reader, shattering all concepts that the world as we are taught today is accepting and forgiving.
Why is it that some of the most famous dystopian novels such as George Orwell’s, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Aldous Huxley’s, Brave New World, and Ray Bradbury’s, Fahrenheit 451 are so controversial subsequently have to battle an audience that wishes to censor at best or even ban and cancel these pieces of fictional works? In short, society as a whole becomes uncomfortable when challenged with facing the “what ifs” and it becomes easier when we can brush the proverbial questions under a rug. Out of sight means out of mind.
Common themes depicted in fictional stories that dystopian authors describe are politics, economics, class, religion, family, violence, identity, nature, science, and technology. The fear of the uncontrollable can become intolerable if we feel like the needs that Maslow described are unreachable.
The Banned And Cancelled Series is a dystopian political fiction book series that provides an eloquent description of a New World ruled by a tyrannical government that once had every intention of creating a utopian society. It strategically places historical events throughout our times that have made an influence on society allowing this dystopian world to come to fruition. Banned And Cancelled inspires the reader to question what the world might look like if the government was allowed to pursue an ideological utopia, even with the best intentions, but ending up becoming an authoritarian society. Unintended pain, suffering, and endless negative consequences are the speculative storyline allowing the reader to immerse themselves into how they might respond.
Readers have to face the reality, that survival becomes bleak in an idealistic world. Too much of any political ideology without resistance will always end up creating an authoritarian society, with tyranny as the only option to govern. For this reason, Banned And Cancelled becomes a cautionary tale about unchecked powers.
In this shattered world, you can either assimilate or be one of the countless individuals who are BANNED AND CANCELLED!