ONLINE PROGRAM: UTOPIA
INTRODUCED BY/INTRODOTTO DA MATTEO BITTANTI
MARCH 19-26 2023/19-26 MARZO 2023 (ONLINE)
SPECIAL SCREENING OF DYSTOPIA ON MARCH 25 2023 AT MIC
Utopia and dystopia present divergent visions of possible societies or worlds. A utopia is an imaginary or visionary world that embodies an ideal or flawless state. Harmonious, equal, and prosperous, utopian societies offer a haven where inhabitants live without war, poverty, or social inequality. Serving as a foil to our imperfect reality, utopias represent an aspirational vision of a better world. By contrast, a dystopia is an imagined or speculative society or world that portrays a nightmarish scenario. Inhabitants live in fear and despair, without hope for a brighter future. Dystopias serve as a cautionary tale, warning of the dire consequences that may ensue if we fail to address the social and political issues that confront our current world. Whether utopian or dystopian, these contrasting visions offer powerful insights into the human imagination and our yearning for a more just and equitable world. Sometimes, however, it is hard to tell a dystopian vision from a utopian one.
Such is the case of UTOPIA/DYSTOPIA which juxtaposes Nicolas Gebbe’s The Sunset Specialand Stanislaw Patruk’s The Remnants.
The former offers a voyeuristic glimpse into the meticulously crafted world of social media. This interdisciplinary multimedia project, anchored by a short film, invites viewers on an eerie journey to a luxurious realm of unfulfilled desire, endless longing, and the boundless promise of wanderlust.
Patruk’s The Remnants is set five years after a global disaster, where the remaining population is struggling to survive as the planet slowly dies. Screened exclusively at the Museum of Interactive Cinema on March 25, this machinima portrays the struggle and the harsh reality of human nature in a post-apocalyptic world. Purchase your ticket here.
Matteo Bittanti
Watch Nicolas Gebbe's Utopia online between March 19-26 2023.