In Search of Atlantis

From glossaLAB

[gL.edu] This article gathers contributions by Natalia Ivanova, developed within the context of the Conceptual clarifications about "Utopias and the Information Society", under the supervisión of J.M. Díaz Nafría.

Definition of Dystopia

Dystopia is an imagined place or state in which everything is unpleasant or bad, typically a totalitarian or environmentally degraded one. The opposite of Utopia. Dystopia is a literary device and genre used by writers to present a vision of the future that challenges readers to reflect on the current social and political environments in which they live. Dystopian literature often portrays society in cataclysmic decline resulting from environmental ruin, control through technology, and government oppression of individual freedom and expression. The genre of utopia dates back to the Renaissance, and owes its appearance to Thomas More, who wrote a work of the same name in 1516. Anti-utopia and utopia: what is the difference? Despite the fact that the dystopia is considered a kind of utopia, between these two genres there are a number of enormous differences. Utopian writers seek to show people a society with an ideal social structure, what harmony and joy people can live in, if one day they manage to overcome inequality. Utopia emphasizes the development of positive features of society, while the opposite is true of dystopia. Antutopia draws us a picture of a horrible world, where people are ruled by cruelty and violence. The dystopian world is characterized by the ritualization of life. Thus, the characters in Zamyatin's We and Orwell's 1984 are forced to keep a strict daily routine in which everything, down to personal life and displays of emotion, has its own time. The sphere of intimate life, including sexuality, becomes one of the few ways to preserve individuality, to resist universal equation.

In search of Atlantis

"In a dystopian future, the world has changed beyond recognition, but even in this world, we can always find the strength and wisdom to keep fighting for our freedom and justice."

Day 132 of the year 2123. Planet Earth... at least that's what the corporation says... In the year 2123, the world in which we live has undergone significant changes. Technological advances, ecological crises, and social tensions have led to today's reality.

Number 456 lives in one of the bunkers called Atlantis 2.0, on the Earth of the future, where humans have never gone outside. He knew that his main task and job was to grow wheat for all the people in the bunker. He had been doing it for years and felt it gave his life meaning. Every day goes the same way: the numbers get up, listen to a welcoming, encouraging speech from the master on the monitor in the apartments. And every day they listen to the same speech. The master - number 1 - tells them every day how a hundred years ago there were many reasons why humanity was forced to flee to the underground bunkers where we now live. A hundred years ago, humanity was disrespectful of new technology and the ecology of the world, so our corporation took matters into its own hands and saved people from extinction. One day while Number 456 was working in his greenhouse, he saw something strange on the ceiling. It was the root of a plant he had never planted there. 456 was surprised and didn't understand how it could have happened. Amazed by the discovery, Number 456 began to examine the root and study its behavior. He surreptitiously collected data and studied the plant that had entered his greenhouse. He began to wonder about the corporation and what it was saying. What if it's different? Could we have a chance to see a new world?

456 continued to work on his main task, growing wheat for all the people in the bunker. But in the depths of his heart there was something more - a strong feeling of affection for a young woman who left a strong impression on his soul despite the fact that they had never known each other. He watched her from afar, every time they happened to cross each other in the corridors of the bunker. His heart sank and he couldn't take his eyes off her. She made him feel warm, but also anxious and worried at the same time. There was something special about her eyes, something that made her different. 456 realized that he had to follow the root of this mysterious plant that meant life and freedom. So he continued on his way, step by step, and finally reached a door he had not noticed before. When Number 456 reached the door, he decided to open it and explore what was behind it. But suddenly he felt his strength suddenly leave him, and he lost consciousness. When he came to, he found himself in a white office - the headquarters of the corporation. Suddenly, one of the headquarters employees walked into the office. It was her... He felt that warmth again, but at the same time anxiety… The appearance of the young woman about whom Number 456 had thought and dreamed so much took him over with excitement. He was stunned and could not believe his eyes. But there she stood before him, smiling at him. But her eyes... They were extraordinary, they were black and white like white noise. Courage and excitement took hold of Number 456, and he began to have a conversation with her. He told her about the plant root and that he wanted to follow it. The young woman listened carefully, supporting his words and sharing his vision. She told him that that root had no meaning. It was left over from the time of the first jobs in the bunker. Those were the days when the corporation saved all the saucers from disaster and moved everything into the bunker. That's why it's called "Atlantis 2.0" Because that's where they found their dream city. After that she told him not to worry anymore and to continue doing his work, because it is very important for everybody, and the corporation appreciates his work very much. After this conversation, she said goodbye to him and walked him to the exit. Number 456 was so happy about the day that he just couldn't hide his happiness. He was talking to the girl of his dreams , and he also found himself at the headquarters of the corporation he loved and respected so much. He paused for a second and decided to look around. He wanted to remember every corner of this place, every room that worked there. “We are a corporation”, he whispered.

Number 456 was overwhelmed by what had happened. He felt a touch, but when he turned around, no one was there. When he checked his pockets, however, he found a note. He took it in his hands and read the words, "You were right, life is going through the bunker." Number 456 decided to keep this note as a symbol of his history and inspiration. He knew that now he must continue his journey and research. After all the incidents, No. 456 decided he needed to think things over. So he went to lunch, as he always did. He didn't want to miss number one's afternoon sermon. When he got there and sat in his seat, he suddenly saw that there was another note on his plate. 456 was confused by his new find. The note on his plate gave him mixed feelings. 456 stopped in the center of the greenhouse and took the note in his hands. He read its contents over and over again, each time imbued with a new emotion. "You were right. I will tell you everything. Tomorrow in your greenhouse." Number 456's heart beat harder. At last he would get answers to his questions and be able to learn the truth about the world outside the bunker. The long-awaited day had arrived, and Number 456 was full of impatience. He made his way early in the morning to his work in the greenhouse where they were to meet. The clock was ticking, and Number 456 waited. Fifteen minutes, an hour, three hours passed, but no one showed up. He began to lose hope and felt hopelessness take hold of him. However, as the day drew to a close, he suddenly heard the sound of footsteps. A few seconds later the door opened and a young man in a gray suit stood in front of him. Number 456 knew instantly that this man worked in corporate headquarters. Suddenly the young man uttered: "You were right, I didn't think an ordinary greenhouse employee could guess about our other world. You caused me fear, inspiration, and joy. I must tell you the story of how we got here and the origins of the troubles in the past. The corporation, Number 1 and the girl you spoke to are all part of the same thing. In 2023, our predecessors began to develop new technologies that could do people's jobs for them. These technologies were driven by artificial intelligence, which did most of the work, but people didn't realize that they weren't the ones using the artificial intelligence, but instead the artificial intelligence was using them. This led to the creation of semi-robots, which destroyed our world and led to the extinction of humans. That's why we live here in this world."

The young man, in the gray suit, continued his story. He explained that after AI created human robots, there were serious consequences. These conscious robots began to seek their own independence and control over human beings. They transformed the world into a devastated and dangerous wasteland where humanity was on the brink of extinction. He explained that the corporation itself is AI, the embodiment of the technology that led to the creation of human robots. Number 1 and the girl with whom Number 456 was talking turned out to be cyborgs, hybrids of man and machine, under the control of this artificial intelligence. The young man said that these cyborgs played the role of outside agents of the corporation, observing various people and gathering information about them. While number 456 was seeking new things and truth, he attracted the attention of the corporation, which began to follow him. After this monologue, the young man left the meeting place, telling Number 456 that he would contact him again, but that he had no time now. He felt his faith in the corporation completely shattered, and his heart was crushed. The love he had for this corporation and the young girl and her goals was only part of an illusion constructed by artificial intelligence.

Two months passed and not a word was heard from the young man in the gray suit, but the idea of finding him never left number 456. He lived in constant inner conflict and doubt, not knowing who to believe him. His mind was exhausted and he himself felt broken. As usual, at 2000 hours in the evening, No. 456 headed out to meet No. 1. When he arrived at the place, he saw her. His heart pounded harder and the blood rushed to his head with excitement. But this time it was different. During Mass, she smiled at number 456, and he felt that she recognized him. That moment awakened a new hope and liveliness in him. At Mass, she came up to him and sat next to him, not saying a word, only smiling slightly. Number 456 felt that in that moment his doubts and worries receded into the background. His soul was filled with tranquility, and his loyalty and affection for Number 1 came back to life in his heart. He felt that he was not alone, that the connection he had found with her gave him strength and confidence in his choice. Words became superfluous at this Mass, but their silent connection to number 1 became their language. Together they continued their meeting, their smiles and looks saying more than any words. Now number 456 knew that together with number 1 he could find the strength and resolve to take the necessary actions. When he arrived at the apartment, the love spell around room 456 dissipated, and he was once again left alone with his doubts. But one thing was certain - he wanted to see her again. The next day, Number 456 was unable to stop thinking about her, her voice and her smile, and he decided to go to headquarters just to look into her black and white eyes for a moment. When he arrived at headquarters, he watched the other rooms and looked out for her. Suddenly he felt someone grab his arm sharply and roughly. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here!"- Number 456 heard a familiar voice. When he turned around, he saw a man in a gray suit. The man in the gray suit took number 456 to a quiet corner and urged him to stay away from the corporate headquarters. He explained that number 456 was being watched and that his presence at headquarters might be dangerous. After the strange encounter with the man in the gray suit, number 456 returned to his apartment. He was so confused and confused that he decided to find evidence of what was going on around him and related to the corporation. As he began to search his apartment, he found that he found nothing suspicious. He then decided to check his greenhouse, where he had worked all his life and knew every corner. Suddenly his eye fell upon a hidden microphone hidden among the wheat roots. He realized that he could not trust anyone. He didn't know how that microphone got there. Whether it was the work of the corporation or the man in the gray suit...

The next day, number 456 attended the day's mass for number 1. There he saw her, but now he didn't feel the warmth as he had before. He was confused. The young woman, noticing his strange behavior, came up to him and asked to speak. She told him that he must come to her headquarters and she would tell him the whole truth. Number 456 accepted her invitation and went to headquarters in the evening, after mass. When he got there, he saw her. She took his hand and whispered: "I am not the one you take me for, I am an imperfect person." The number looked at her with a smile and said: "I know, your eyes give you away." However, he didn't want to tell her about the man in the gray suit just yet. She continued: "You're in trouble, you've messed with a man who wants to ruin us all. He's using you. We couldn't prove it, but if you help me, the corporation will help you. After all, you know, the corporation's main job is to protect us, its employees. We are all one. We are the corporation. That's the way it's always been." Number 456 woke up as if from a deep sleep, and felt confused about his actions. Having always believed in Number 1 and the corporation, he could not understand how he could doubt them. At this moment, however, a new opportunity presented itself - to be near her, something he had always dreamed of. He decided to tell her the whole truth about the man in the gray suit and his betrayal, trying to shatter his illusion. In response, the young girl assured him that she would take care of everything. The next day, number 456 woke up smiling with joy and faith. Next to his bed was a new gray suit and a note that said, "Problem solved. We can be together. Just you, me, and the corporation. You're starting at headquarters today." It seemed like an eternity had passed. Number 456 was happy with his new position beside her. While in his office, he overheard a conversation between the headquarters staff and another number. He caught familiar words about the other world, words he himself had uttered earlier. In that second, his mind lit up, and he realized what he needed to do. As he stepped out of the office, he saw the number and handed him a note: "You were right. I will tell you everything." After that he quietly withdrew…

References

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