Totalitarian Regime and the Three R’s: Rebellion, Resistance, and Revolution in YA Dystopian Novels
Keywords:
YA Fiction Dystopia Resistance Revolution TotalitarianismAbstract
In the age of science and technological development,
Young Adult (YA) literature has undergone a
fascinating transformation. This article delves into
the study of the post-apocalyptic YA dystopian
fiction, A Whisper of Horses (2016) by Zillah Bethall
and Outwakers (2018) by Fiona Shaw. The study
employed Foucault’s three fundamental concepts of
disciplinary techniques, power/knowledge, and
subjectification to understand the concepts of
resistance, rebellion, and revolution. The textual
analysis by closely analyzing the words, visuals,
literary techniques, and relevant sections of the text
highlights how young adults and their small acts of
rebellion against the totalitarian regime snowball
into a revolutionary movement. The young subjects
represent a collective community that shares the
same experiences and fosters the narratives to
challenge the dominant oppressive powers. The
study contributes to highlight the potential of YA
dystopian fiction that can inspire critical thinking,
social change, and collective effort against injustice.
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