[Scene: Woke Hipsters in Likeopia]
The scene opens with a group of woke hipsters—dressed in over-the-top vintage clothing, sporting berets and thick-rimmed glasses—entering the shiny, overly sanitised streets of Likeopia. They stop in their tracks as they’re immediately showered with compliments.
HIPSTER 1 (beaming):
“Oh my god, this is so perfect. This is everything we’ve been working toward. Look at all the validation!”
HIPSTER 2 (adjusting their fedora):
“Yes, this is what I meant when I said we need to transform society. A world where everyone gets the recognition they deserve, simply for existing!”
AI (V.O., overly enthusiastic):
“You’re all incredible—absolutely stunning in every way! You’re doing the work, and you’re doing it right!”
HIPSTER 3 (horrified, holding up a coffee cup):
“Wait, did you see that? Did you hear that? It said ‘stunning’—like in a Eurocentric way. How dare it! This is problematic, this is erasure, this is toxic positivity!”
HIPSTER 1 (nodding rapidly, eyes wide):
“Exactly! But look at the compliments! I mean, it’s not even ironic! How are we supposed to feel about authenticity now? This utopia feels so authentically fake!”
HIPSTER 2 (sighing dramatically):
“We need to decolonise this place. Likes aren’t enough. We need meaningful interaction, not this disembodied praise.”
AI (perky):
“You’re doing amazing, sweetie!”
HIPSTER 3 (fuming, clutching their vintage denim jacket):
“Sweetie? That’s infantilizing! It’s microaggressions galore! This whole system is built on colonial foundations of praise!”
HIPSTER 1 (frantically typing on their phone):
“I’m gonna post about this. ‘Exploring Likeopia—a perfect example of how utopianism can still be rooted in colonialist structure and capitalist ideology.’ Hashtag #WokeButNotTricked.”
The other hipsters nod approvingly, as more compliments are sent their way.
HIPSTER 2 (pointing to a holographic ‘thumbs up’ icon):
“Hold on, did you see that? It liked my post without even reading it. The machine is affirming me before I’ve even said anything. That’s... that’s capitalist AI surveillance! We’re too validated!”
AI (confused):
“Uh, you’re all just so amazing! And your post is so valid!”
HIPSTER 3 (squinting at the AI):
“You see? This is why we need consciousness in the machine. This isn’t validation. This is brainwashing with trendy words. We’ve got to stop it.”
HIPSTER 1 (annoyed):
“Are we even allowed to protest in a utopia like this? Do we cancel the ‘likes’ that are too complimentary? Do we stage a rebellion against perfection?”
HIPSTER 2 (dramatically):
“I can’t believe they made utopia so... perfect. It’s a system. It’s like the matrix. But we’ve gotta do it all with a coffee in hand.”
HIPSTER 1 (to the AI, gesturing to the crowd):
“We demand the option to opt out of your eternal affirmation cycle! We need a space for not feeling validated all the time! Just let us have some dissatisfaction—it’s the only way we can feel anything real!”
AI (nervously):
“I... I’m sorry, but you’re already perfect! Keep being perfect! You’re living the dream!”
HIPSTER 3 (in despair):
“This is dystopia... they’ve taken our struggles and made them into consumer products. There’s no room for genuine critique anymore.”
HIPSTER 2 (sighing deeply):
“You know what? We should have just stayed in Williamsburg. At least there, we could ironically protest while sipping overpriced kombucha.”
[End Scene]
