Late capitalism and its fictitious future(s)
THE POSTMODERN, SCIENCE FICTION, AND THE CONTEMPORARY DYSTOPIA
The current economic order is recognized as a distinct phase of capitalism, differing from the previous industrial capitalism. This new phase has been labeled in various ways, including information capitalism, biocapitalism, and late capitalism. This study investigates the aspects these terms encompass. The first part delves into the transformations capitalism has undergone over the last three decades, providing a comprehensive overview of the evolution of our economic order and highlighting the significant role of neo-liberal ideology in these changes. The second part examines postmodernism and postmodernity to determine if a postmodern condition still exists today. The final section explores how this new phase of capitalism is represented in literature, particularly in dystopian science fiction, which is viewed as the representative fiction of late capitalism. This genre serves as a form of postmodern realism, prompting a detailed discussion of both postmodern and science fiction literature. Through this exploration, the study aims to shed light on the intricate relationship between contemporary capitalism and its cultural representations.
