A society where emotions are regulated by drugs. Everyone is required to take pills that keep their emotions in check. But a few start to question this system when they realize they are losing their true selves. It can explore themes of individuality and freedom.
One idea could be a world where all forms of creativity are banned. The government strictly controls what people can think and do, and anyone caught expressing themselves artistically is severely punished. This could lead to an underground movement of rebels trying to preserve creativity.
One idea could be a world where all forms of art are banned. The government believes that art stirs up emotions and individuality which they see as a threat. People live in a colorless, monotonous existence with no music, paintings or literature to inspire them. This would lead to a society where people are more like drones, following orders without question as they have no creative outlet to express their true selves.
A world where language is restricted. Only a certain set of words and phrases are allowed to be used. This is a way for the ruling class to limit people's thoughts and communication. People can't express complex ideas or emotions because the words simply don't exist in their vocabulary. It would lead to a very simplistic and controlled society, where any form of rebellion or new thought is stifled from the very start because there are no words to convey it.
Imagine a dystopian world where the environment has been so badly damaged that the air is toxic. People have to rely on respirators all the time. The government controls the distribution of clean air canisters, and only those who can afford it or are in the ruling class get enough clean air to live comfortably.
A world where memories can be erased or modified at will. The government uses this technology to control the population by getting rid of any memories that might lead to dissent or rebellion. People start to lose their sense of self as their memories are constantly manipulated.
One idea could be a world where technology has taken over so much that people have lost their basic human emotions. The government uses advanced AI to control every aspect of people's lives, from their jobs to their relationships. Another idea is a society divided by a strict genetic hierarchy, where those with 'inferior' genes are treated as second - class citizens and are forced to do the most menial jobs. A third idea could be a world after a major environmental disaster, where the remaining resources are so scarce that people have to fight each other for survival, and a powerful corporation controls all the remaining clean water and food sources.
One idea could be a world where all forms of art are banned. The government believes art incites unrest and individuality, which they want to suppress. The protagonist could be an underground artist, secretly creating works and trying to evade the authorities. It would show a society devoid of creativity and the struggle to preserve it.
Imagine a society where dreams are monitored. Every night, people have to plug into a device that records their dreams. If any dreams are deemed subversive or against the state's ideology, the dreamer is punished. The protagonist could be someone who has recurring dreams of freedom and has to hide them.