Mindless happiness: presentism, utopia and dystopian suspension of thought in Psycho-Pass

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Main author: Cervelli, Filippo
Format: Journal Article           
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id eprints-38134
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description Contemporary Japanese popular culture is particularly rich in representations of utopian social imaginations that often reveal dystopian scenarios. The anime series Psycho-Pass (2012–2013), especially, is overtly aware of its everyday utopia, and of its inscription in the history of utopian/dystopian representations, in and outside Japan. In 22nd-century Japan, citizens live in a ‘perfect’, stable society, where a powerful government-managed network called ‘Sibyl System’ measures each person’s characteristics and assigns them to their appropriate job and social role. In a system where Japan has reached autarchy, crime rates have plummeted, as Sibyl can calculate the probability of individuals committing crimes, allowing for pre-emptive police apprehension and termination. However, the promise of this utopian society guaranteeing happiness and security is actualised on the citizens’ uncritical acceptance of the roles assigned to them. This suspension of critical thought, concomitant with a general presentism where the characters only concentrate on their repetitive present routines, is at the core of Psycho-Pass. The article investigates how these elements illuminate the anime’s dystopian side, finally highlighting its critical relevance vis-à-vis contemporary Japan.
format Journal Article
author Cervelli, Filippo
author_facet Cervelli, Filippo
authorStr Cervelli, Filippo
author_letter Cervelli, Filippo
title Mindless happiness: presentism, utopia and dystopian suspension of thought in Psycho-Pass
publisher Taylor and Francis
publishDate 2022
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/38134/

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