![]() The trope in Western narrative of a misguided attempt to create utopia by limiting the boundaries of society appears time and again across platforms and occupies its own genre: dystopian fiction. ![]() Western media has historically checked quite a few repetitive boxes in the entertainment industry – intense, climactic and, oftentimes, utopian (McKee et al., Reference McKee, Collins and Hamley2012: 23). Consideration for the use of both negative and positive space within narrative construction reveals a story that encourages societal and social change to better care for the mentally ill, geriatric population. The following article engages in a deep reading of The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil through textual analysis to interpret and describe the message Collins communicates highlighting institutional ageism and bereavement. ![]() The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil by Stephen Collins is uniquely placed within this larger genre due to the exceptional use of negative space that is, the text communicates multiple meanings through what Collins includes and does not include. Through storytelling, these texts highlight the present issues in society, and among them, readers find deeply concerning messages about dehumanisation and oppression. The dystopian fiction genre within Western media has historically highlighted the flaws associated with societal attempts to achieve an unattainable ideal – or utopia. ![]()
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