Arcadia

Arcadia is named after its primary setting, an idealistic commune in New York. Arcadia is initially envisioned as a utopia in which people can escape the “evils” of American society and live authentically. The term “Arcadia” means a place or scene of simple pleasure and quiet, while “utopia” was popularized by 16th-century writer Thomas More, whose novel Utopia (1516) depicts an island free of religious extremism. However, More’s island still relies on human labor and other resources for construction. Arcadia is framed as a utopia where peace is more important than conformity and consumerism—but like many fictional utopias, it is unrealistic and ultimately destroys itself. Utopian living has captured the imaginations of people across cultures and time. Societies seeking to improve themselves often picture an idyllic future of equality and peace, a perfect world. Likewise, the founding members of Arcadia want to create a society in which everything is perfect. They reject society’s pressures, rules, and capitalistic ethos. They adopt radical autonomy, veganism, free love, lack of individual possession, and lack of hierarchy. However, perfection is an ideal, not a reality. In reality, the values that inform Arcadia become hypocritical, and its residents suffer hunger and poverty.