It began with Thomas More’s Utopia in 1516, the paradoxical phrase that means both no place and beautiful place, the creation of a perfect society where everyone is happy and citizens live in a harmonious state. Various writers and painters of the past 500 years have taken their approach on More’s Utopia, as they implement their own morals, laws, jobs, and economy to try and perfect their societies. Each “Brave New World” that is created always collects criticism from other authors and painters that claim their society is more sustainable. For something that has been changing for 500 years, it brings up the question: what is the proper definition for a Utopia? This gallery is divided into four sections that capture the most important aspects of a Utopia, where the overall goal is the pursuit of happiness and to live a life of fulfillment. In order to obtain these two things, a Utopia must focus on work, self-care, diversity, and universal services.
Work is an essential part to a Utopia because it allows for the Utopia to function. There are essential jobs, such as farming, food production, and manual labor that provide the foundation of the Utopia. Additionally, there are specialized professions that allow for more self-expression, such as the arts or providing a service. Despite work generally being seen as a burden, within a Utopia, work would be seen as a way of helping others and finding joy within it.
In oppressive utopias, taking time to allow for self-care is very important. In a place where governments reduce the ability of people to express themselves, mental health increases in prevalence. When that increases, people need to remember to think consciously about their self-care in order to avoid a steep decrease in mental wellness.
Diversity is important for the utopia as diversity is incredibly advantageous to a society. Diversity of age, gender, race, and background creates a rich culture with people equipped for all situations. Having people who look different and value different things could be cause for conflict, but in this utopia diversity is welcomed and encouraged. Everyone is comfortable with one another and things like problem solving, efficiency, and ultimately happiness are all increased because of the diversity within the community.
As for the broad idea of universal services, this can be narrowed down into food availability, healthcare opportunities, and equal education. These three topics are essential in an ideal society because everyone should deserve the right to them. Picture a world where no one would have to worry about if they will be able to provide enough food for their family, or if they will be able to pay off their hospital fee. Furthermore, everyone having access to a good education sets them up for success.
These four concepts seamlessly work together to provide oneself with happiness and fulfillment. While exploring this digital art gallery of a Utopian society, think about how each piece of art reflects the core four values of work, self-care, diversity, and universal services.
