The genre of dystopia – the ‘not good place’– has captured the imaginations of artists and audiences alike for centuries. But why do we bother with all this pessimism? Alex Gendler explains how dystopias act as cautionary tales – not about some particular government or technology, but the very idea that humanity can be molded into an ideal shape.

Immediately after Rango mentions the need for a hero to face conflict in a story, the car in which he's riding collides with an armadillo on the street, sending his tank out the back window. Rango finds himself in a desert without water, and he is evidently not adapted to this new hot and dry environment.

Wheelchair-bound photographer Jeff Jeffries experiences prolonged suspense while alone in a dark room.

The Doctor and his friends listen to a tape recording of a child searching for his mom, but turns out the child has become a zombie.

The story goes something like this: A royal, rich, or righteous individual — who is otherwise a lot like us — makes a mistake that sends his or her life spiraling into ruin. It's the classic story arc for a Greek tragedy, and we love it so much that we continue to use it today. David E. Rivas shares three critical story components, influenced by Aristotle’s “Poetics,” to help illustrate the allure.