How would you connect the identified dystopic features

(Governmental Control, Economic Unfairness, Absence of

Personal Identity, Dominance of One Group) with the existing
real life? Do you think that these are or will be issues for people
in the future? Could you comment on it?

Governmental control:

can be found in authoritarian regimes that limit freedom of speech and use surveillance
technology to monitor and control their population- through censorship and limited political
freedom.

Economic unfairness:

can be found in many countries across the globe, although dystopian fiction often amplifies
these contrasts and portrays extreme gaps between the rich and the poor- this would, in real
life, immediately lead to social unrest

Absence of personal identity:

this can be achieved by enforcing conformity and suppressing uniqueness. In real life, social
pressure from expectations to conform to our roles and cultural norms can limit individual
expression. These individuals feel compelled to conform, and thus they compromise their
identity.

The Dominance of One Group:

Narratives in dystopian fiction portray one group that holds all the power over marginalised
groups- different races, ethnicities or social classes. In reality, these oppression systems can
result in certain groups gaining the upper hand and having power over others. Nowadays, such
big and spread instances of dominance can be observed only in history, such as racial
segregation and caste systems that were inseparable parts of society.

It is hard to compare real and fictional instances of these features, as real life is complex and
dystopian fiction often uses these features to an extreme. It is hard to predict if it will become an
issue, and I would like to use my favourite statement. It depends. Are we talking about it on a
global scale or a local one? If global, then I do not think it will become an issue. People of today
grew up in a free world with many privileges, and although they take some of them for granted,
if they start losing them, they always start fighting to get them back. If politicians started to
restrict the right to bear arms in the USA, I know that most Americans would be against these
restrictions.

The issues dealt with in the novel, such as escapism, poverty, or

elitism, are acknowledged real-world issues of nowadays society.
Could you summarise the differences and similarities of these as
presented in the novel and as they are in reality?
Escapism:

-in the novel, the problem of escapism is not presented as an issue. It is introduced as a new
way of life that the whole civilisation partakes in. It serves as a coping mechanism that is not
portrayed in a harmful way. OASIS provides an immersive virtual experience that lets people
escape from the hardships of reality.

-in reality, escapism is, most of the time, a mechanism that seeks out distractions or
entertainment to disconnect people from stress temporarily. Most of its forms are daydreaming,
hobbies, media entertainment or social media.

Poverty:

-the novel depicts a future world with widespread poverty and limited access to basic resources.
The majority of people struggle to meet their basic needs, living in a state of virtual and real-life
poverty

-the Stacks: without access to healthcare, people there are dependent on food coupons: a diet
based on corn syrup and starch (unhealthy diet), access to old and made-from-scraps
technology, access to schools for students dangerous

-in reality, it affects millions of people across the globe with differing degrees of severity
depending on where they are, the economic system and social structures. In Africa, over 450
million people live in poverty and without access to healthcare, education or economic
opportunities

Elitism:

-in the novel: IOI is the villain and represents unchecked corporate power and elitism that is
running rampant in the fictional world. It holds many advantages over the majority of the
population

-in reality: Economic and social privileges often concentrate power and influence in the hands of
a select few, leading to disparities in resources, opportunities, and social mobility. Elitism can be
observed in areas such as politics, education, and access to high-quality services.

-In both contexts, these issues contribute to social inequalities, limit opportunities for
marginalised populations, and can hinder societal progress and well-being.

-The novel's depiction of poverty and elitism reflects the specific context of its futuristic world,
while real-world poverty and elitism vary across different regions and societies.
Discuss the impact of anonymity and identity in the virtual world.
How does the ability to create alternate personas in the OASIS
affect social interactions and relationships? Are there any
parallels to real-world online identities?
Anonymity, Self-expression, overcoming barriers

This ability allows players to create a new identity and remain anonymous, which can affect
social interactions. It lends people a sense of liberation and lowers people's inhibitions. People
are more comfortable expressing themselves without the fear of judgement or any
consequences. This can lead to a more honest interaction and provide a more solid base for
relationships. These virtual identities allow people to experiment and express certain
characteristics that differ from real life. They can experiment with their gender, appearance and
personality. It is easier for people to find groups of like-minded people with the freedom that the
internet offers. And that is not the only advantage. The Internet connection removes any barriers
for people from different cultures. They can connect solely based on their interests, like the High
Five in the novel- 3 American and 2 Japanese players connected only thanks to their interest,
Halliday's Egg. On the other hand, it is common for people to deceive each other and create
false profiles- to lure in their prey, scammers, and catfishing.

Parallels:

Social media- fake profiles

Chat rooms and online forums: anonymity in online discussions and communities

Role-Playing in online communities

Online Dating: people can present themselves in certain ways- they showcase specific interests
or qualities and shape their online identity to attract partners- this process aligns with creating
an alternate identity in a game.

Examine the portrayal of gender roles and diversity in the novel.

Does Ready Player One challenge or reinforce traditional gender
stereotypes and representations? How are diverse characters
portrayed, and what does it suggest about inclusivity in the
story?
In the novel, the mother of Aech, Helen Harris, believes that it is important for women and other
people who are not white males that work in various businesses to hide their identity. She thinks
that as a white man, she was treated much better and given more opportunities than any other
group of employees in her work. She believes she avoids harassment, disrespect and other
problems by hiding that she is a black woman on the internet. She forces Helen to do the same,
and it is hard to prove if she is wrong or right. The novel does not overly concern itself with race
and gender; the only influential women in the story are Kira, Helen and Samantha. And when
the novel introduces a new character, it is mainly their online avatar, and it is problematic to
assume their actual gender and colour of skin.
Although the problem is not in any way discussed in the novel, it does not have a diverse set of
characters. One of the main characters is a white young man, a young black woman, two
Japanese and one young white woman. The author wanted to avoid the diversity issue by
allowing them in OASIS to recreate their online life from the ground up.

Compare and contrast the dystopian features present in the"

fictitious" real world with those in the virtual world of the OASIS.
How do the challenges and issues differ or intersect in each
reality?
Governmental Control

-fic-real world: IOI exerts significant control over society- enforces strict laws concerning debts
and surveillance (IOI uses their internet providing services to gain access to information about
their targets- they used the information gathered about Daito to plan a successful assassination
and to threaten Wade with the usage of bombs to make him comply with their wishes)

-OASIS is, during the entire story of the novel, utterly free from any control exerted by
government or corporate. However, it is a prize, and IOI seeks to gain control over it so it would
be another tool in the company's clutches

Economic Unfairness

-fic-real world: there is a big gap between the imaginary classes that live in the fictional world.
Most of the populace lives in Stacks where they live mostly in poverty and struggle to access
basic necessities like access to hospitals and schools- it is not that the educational system is
not present in the real fictional world, but getting to school can be challenging to many children
as the streets of Stack are full of drug addicts, muggers other violent criminals

-OASIS: the economic unfairness many people face in the real world can be felt in OASIS.
Avatars with little money are stranded on the planet where they spawned, and as transportation
through the OASIS is an expensive service, they are forced to remain there and spend their
time there. The education system from the real world has been moved into OASIS, and up to
high school, everything is free.

Lack of Personal Identity

-fic-real world: can be seen in IOI's indentured servants that they collect by buying all debts
moving the indebted individuals into their HQ, and making them work off their debt that they will
never be able to pay off because of all additional expenses that the company charges them

-OASIS: it is possible for individuals to lose their sense of identity because of how addictive the
OASIS is. However, the novel does not explore the loss of identity in a virtual environment, one
like OASIS.