Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student,Department of Persian Language and Literature, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran , Iran

2 Assistant Professor ,Department of Persian Language and Literature, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/jpl.2025.390434.2294

Abstract

Abstract

Speculative fiction surpasses the rules of our world to create entirely new ones. The sub-genres of dystopian, apocalyptic, and post-apocalyptic fiction consider very extreme circumstances that test human values and survival. This paper compares Kāj-Zadegi and Bārān-Zād by Zoha Kazemi with Mah-Ālood by Alista Aghaei, focusing on their governance systems, societal structures, and defining characteristics. The comparison is done along four dimensions: governance, human experience, social dynamics, and environmental features.

Kāj-Zadegi emphasizes authoritarianism, strict security measures, harsh punishments, and loss of personal identity through mechanization. In contrast, Bārān-Zād is subtler in her critiques while addressing character development, empathy, and the struggle of individuals for love, justice, and survival in the face of adversity. Common to all three works are themes of societies recovering from human or natural catastrophes. Shared motifs include class relations, fear, hope, chaos, betrayal, and strange end-of-the-world creatures.

While Mah-Ālood has stressed military components, Kāj-Zadegi does not highlight religion and sovereignty, demoting militarism, whereas Bārān-Zād refers to them all. Their settings are different-Mah-Ālood on a faraway planet and Kāj-Zadegi and Bārān-Zād on Earth, but with different futures of dystopia. All three works explore how governance and societal structures adapt to and reflect the challenges of speculative worlds.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References
 Adams, Robert (1383), a," Definition of Science Fiction Genre",Translated by Zahra Noohi, Farabi, vol.53,Autumn,169-192. [In Persian]
 Adams, Robert (1383), b," What Is Science Fiction Stories? ",Translated by Aida Damehri and Siros Amiri,Arghanoon, vol.25,Autumn,79-124. [In Persian]
Aghaei, Alista (1397), Mah Alood,Ch 1,Tehran, Bajh. [In Persian].
Afshar, Hamid Reza (1391)," Utopia in Western Political Thought and Its Reflection in Contemporary Theater", Mashreq Mo'oud, vol.21,Spring ,47-64.[In Persian]
Amini Nasab, Elham (1395)," A Study of the Ideal City in Al-Farabi's Political Thought" Parseh,vol.26, Spring and Summer, 19-46. [In Persian]
and Haghighi, Maryam and Alireza Taheri (1391)," The Image of       Demon, Giant, and Jinn in “Wonders of Creation” by Qazvini" , Naqsh       Mayeh, vol. 12 ,Autumn, 27-38. [In Persian]
Asadi,Shaham (1396), "From Utopia to Dystopia: A Critique on Political-Social Drama of Totalitarian Regimes (Case Study: Animal Farm)",Research in Art and Humanities, vol.3, Shahrivar, 135-159. [In Persian]
Bina (1404)," What We Should Know About Speculative Fiction," Iran Ketab. [In Persian] 
Biniyaz, Fathollah (1394), " An Introduction to Storytelling and Narratology", Ch 6, Tehran, Afraz , 16-17. [In Persian]
Bradbury, Ray (1375)," Science Fiction Stories Before Christ and After 2001", Translated by Hadi Payam, Fiction Literature, vol. 39,Spring,184-188. [In Persian]
Ekramifar, Mahmoud Reza (1394), " The Myth of Jinn and Fairy in the Oral Literature of Khorasan", Studies on Culture and Communication, vol.30, Summer, 41-65. [In Persian]
Eslampour, Mohammad Hossein, Haq Lesan, Masoud and Zohreh bbaszadeh (1397)," Utopian and Dystopian Thoughts from the Perspective of Contemporary Poets (Sohrab Sepehri and Fereydoon Moshiri)",Bagh-e Nazar, vol.63 ,September, 65-74. [In Persian]
Fadaei, Farbod (1369)," Psychology and Sociology of Science Fiction      Stories", Adabestan-e Farhang va Honar, vol. 6,Khordad, 30-33. [In Persian] Haj Zaman, Mohammad (1390)," The Role of Science Fiction Stories in Human Knowledge and Life" , Ketab-e Mah-e Koodak va Nojavanan, vol.170 ,Autumn,1-18. [In Persian]
Kazemi, Zoha(1397), Baran Zad, Ch 2 , Tehran, Tandis. [In Persian] _________ (1397), Kaj Zadegi, Ch 1, Tehran, Cheshmeh. [In Persian]  Mohebbi, Zohreh (1396)." The Evolution of Post-Apocalyptic Genre from      Live Cinema to Animation", Supervised by Fatemeh Hosseini Shakib,       Faculty of Cinema and Theater. [In Persian]
Mir Sadeghi, Jamal (1377), Glossary of the Art of Storytelling, Ch 1,        Tehran. Ketab Mahnaz, vol. 7. [In Persian]
___________, (1392), Imaginary Stories, Ch 2,Tehran,Sokhan, vol.14. [In Persian]
Sattari Sarbanqoli, Hassan (1395),"The Savior of the City in Apocalyptic  Cinema" ,Media and Apocalyptic Culture, vol. 1, Spring and Summer, 19-      42. [In Persian]     
Shabrang, Hoda (1399)," A Comparative Study of Post-Apocalyptic Space      in Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road”, the Myth of the Holy Grail, and the    Fisher King" , Mystical Literature and Mythology, vol. 61 ,Winter,195-     222. [In Persian]
Shaw, Bob (1381), " What Is Science Fiction? " ,Translated by Khayyam Fouladi Tatari, Fiction Literature, vol.59, Ordibehesht , 57-66. [In Persian]