What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedUtopia
Thomas More · Book · 2019
If you loved Utopia, start with Utopia (Dennis Kelly, 2013) — a series from the same story. Below: 4 films, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Utopia across media.
If Utopia hooked you, you will appreciate these works that use sharp satire to examine the structures of power and society.
Start with the source
The source
Utopia
Dennis Kelly · Series · 2013
Films on the same thread
Modern Times
Film · 1936
Explores: Industrialization, Poverty, Social Criticism.
Like the social commentary embedded in Utopia, this film uses a bumbling protagonist to highlight the harsh realities of industrialization and the persistent struggle of the common individual.
The Great Dictator
Film · 1940
Shares a thread with Utopia: Humanism.
Much like the political reform explored in Utopia, this satire dissects the dangers of totalitarianism and the corruption of power through a lens of biting humanistic criticism.
Metropolis
Film · 1927
Explores: Class struggle, Industrialization, Human-machine interaction.
This film mirrors the class critique found in Utopia by presenting a stark vision of a divided society where the elite and the laborers exist in separate worlds.
The Matrix
Lana Wachowski · Film · 1999
Explores: Artificial Intelligence, Reality vs. Illusion, Free Will vs. Determinism.
Just as Utopia questions the nature of an ideal society, this narrative challenges your perception of reality and the control exerted by powerful, artificial systems over human life.
Series on the same thread
Futurama
Matt Groening · Series · 1999
Explores: Fish Out of Water, Dystopian Society, Corporate Satire.
This series serves as a comedic extension of the satirical fiction found in Utopia, using a displaced protagonist to mock the corporate and societal norms of the future.
The Simpsons
Matt Groening · Series · 1989
Shares a thread with Utopia: Social Commentary.
If you enjoyed the social commentary of Utopia, you will recognize that same spirit of institutional critique applied to the everyday life of a typical American family.
Wolf Hall
Peter Straughan · Series · 2015
Explores: Royal Court Intrigue, Power Struggles, Ambition.
This drama captures the intense political maneuvering and court intrigue of the era that produced Utopia, showcasing how ambition and power struggles dictate the fate of a nation.
Veep
Armando Iannucci · Series · 2012
Explores: Political Intrigue, Incompetence, Ambition.
This show updates the critique of power found in Utopia, focusing on the incompetence and political ambition that define the modern landscape of government and administrative failure.
Podcasts on the same thread
1619
The New York Times · Podcast · 2019
Explores: systemic racism, national identity, legacy of slavery.
Similar to the way Utopia reevaluates social customs, this podcast offers a critical look at national identity and the systemic foundations that continue to shape our current society.
Desinteligencia Artificial
Podcast
Explores: Modern Society, Technology, Future.
This podcast echoes the philosophical inquiry of Utopia by providing a modern, decadent critique of our reliance on technology and the dystopian trajectory of contemporary human society.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is Utopia based on a real place?
No, Utopia is a work of fiction. Written by Thomas More and published in 1516, the book describes a fictional island society used as a vehicle for socio-political satire regarding the customs and religious life of the era.
What is the original source material for Utopia?
The original source is a book titled Utopia, written by Thomas More in 1516. The text is a frame narrative that explores political and social customs, with many aspects of the depicted island society drawing inspiration from the structure of daily life in monasteries.
Should I watch the 2013 TV adaptation of Utopia after reading the book?
You can watch the 2013 television series Utopia after reading the 1516 book by Thomas More. While the book is a foundational work of socio-political satire, the television series serves as a modern adaptation that shares the title of the original literary work.
How long has Utopia been in print?
The book Utopia by Thomas More has been in print since it was first published in Latin in 1516. It remains a notable work of fiction and socio-political satire that describes the religious, social, and political customs of a fictional island society.