Visual Illustrations

This picture to me represents the dystopian city or life in the modern world. At first, when seeing the picture, I thought that it seemed like a normal 2012 city, but when really focusing on the details it sends a message that this picture is a futuristic society.  One of the main factors that stood out to me is the darkness in the city. There are no lights and it all seems dull and gloomy.  Also, it seems very crowded. In the world today people mostly think about making money by buying and building major towers, apartments or buildings. Even sometimes the greediness of people leads to tearing down meaningful landmarks to build more modernized structures.  If the construction industry continues to be thoughtless and driven only by  money, the places where people live will soon turn into such a crowded city that every building will be attached.  Every single structure in the illustration has an antenna which means that the society mostly relies on electronics to maintain their life. This, I believe, is a major problem in the society when electronics take over man kind. This happens in a previous book I have read called “The Veldt''.

 Another analogy that the picture creates in me is that all the buildings in the picture are so similar and identical. There is no uniqueness between each structure.  There are also mainly two colors grey and black. This is the same in the story “Uglies”. Everybody looks similar and has lost a sense of identity.  Also in the picture the buildings completely overpower the people. In this dystopian society the people are like little ants that aren’t even noticed.  I chose this picture for the book because I think it is a great example of the dark evil dystopian society.  

This picture is a great example of “Prettytown”. I believe that the citizens will always be happy and pretty, but will never be free. They will forever be trapped in the society’s perception and will always be brainwashed and held from reality and freedom.  Everything seems beautiful and wonderful in this city, but why is it  in a cage?  I think it is because someone else decides what goes on and controls the city. For the dwellers freedom is an illusion. 

To me, this image summarizes the entire society and world presented in the book. The light coming from the window symbolizes freedom which seems so close, but will never really be found. The people in the author’s world do not even realize the window. They will never know what freedom is even though it is so close.  In the book, BEAUTY is this light which makes people believe that their lives are perfect. The way they live comforts them. However, some characters like “Shay” and other smokies who refuse to take the operation realize the real light is more than just being pretty; they find real freedom not the illusion. In addition, my thoughts lead me to the observation that even if the people find out that they are in a cage, they may never escape the cruel cage.  This leads me to another puzzling question; how do we know that we are not in a cage?  

This picture illustrates the moment in which Shay decides to run away from Uglyville to The Smoke. This is a significant event in the story because when she leaves she decides to not get pretty and to stay ugly and free forever.  This alters the mood for the rest of the story and later Tally is forced to betray Shay.  The friendship between the two characters is challenged due to the fact that Tally must bring Shay back in order to turn pretty.      

 The illustration shows certain personalities of Shay. As you can see she seems muddy and dirty therefore she is still an ugly. Also, Shay is very determined and focused on forgetting Uglyville and running as fast as she can to reach The Smoke.  This is a great picture because the character is facing the other way therefore appearance does not matter . The image is really simple yet full of in depth clues. Shay’s shoes seem worn out and old which shows again that she does not care about her appearance and doesn’t take what other people think of her personally.  Depending on her shirt and hair, Shay seems like a very open and unique girl. From my point of view, Shay still thought of her self as a nice, smart, beautiful girl and taking the operation would just transform her into another boring pretty.  Her self esteem was not lowered because of the pretties and how important they were; in fact,  it was the exact opposite. Shay perceived  herself as an independent unique girl and a free sprit and this is exactly what the girl from the image conveys. 

In my illustration, the idea I try to create is that pretties in the story are controlled by the government. The king on top is the rule maker and he decides what prettiness is, how pretties think, what they do and how they feel with an operation. The marionettes on the bottom or the so called pretties have lost their independence and their identity.  In the puppet theater such dolls called marionettes  are controlled by a master's hands who pulls strings and directs all movements of the dolls. This is a great analogy towards the pretty society of the book since the citizens have lost all thoughts and are transformed to become the same by the government.

The drawing helps the reader uncover the secret of the pretty society near the end of the book. Such order in the pretty world is never discovered by some people since they are mostly brainwashed and made happy.  The portrayal of humanity is a prime example of dystopia and inequality since all the citizens are controlled by a hierarchy. Freedom is lacking from such social order and no one has an opinion.

  All in all, this representation is a major concept in the pretty world of "Uglies". Even though all pretties seem happy they truly do not understand what is happening to them.  And at first glance this world seems happy and peaceful (people having fun, parties, games) , but the social injustice is that they have no choices and they are forced to live in this way.