THE EVOLUTION OF DYSTOPIAN THOUGHT IN AMERICAN SPECULATIVE LITERATURE (ANALYSIS OF THE 20TH–21ST CENTURIES)

This article provides a scholarly analysis of the formation and development of dystopian representations in American speculative literature throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The study explores the theoretical foundations of the concept of dystopia, its system of defining features, and its functional role as a means of critically reflecting social reality. Particular attention is given to key issues such as totalitarian systems of governance, the intensification of technological control, environmental crises, and the erosion of human values. Furthermore, the paper examines the historical transformation of the dystopian genre, highlighting the shift from political and ideological oppression to technological and ecological anxieties as dominant thematic concerns. The findings demonstrate that dystopian literature continues to play a significant role in contemporary society by functioning as a critical interpretative framework and a warning mechanism that anticipates potential future threats.