History Main / SocietyMarchesOn

** ''Film/EscapeFromNewYork'', in 1981, predicted that by 1997 crime rates would have risen to such catastrophic levels that the Manhattan Island would be turned into a penal colony for containing all the convicts. While the high crime rates of the 1970s-80s made it look more plausible then, the fact they started falling just ten years on left it looking silly when the actual 1997 rolled around.

* The 16th century comedy ''Morosophus'' by Dutch playwright Wilhelm Gnapheus stars a KnowNothingKnowItAll {{Astrologer}} who is rumoured to have a large book sitting around in his house collecting dust. It was intended on an attack on Gnapheus' contemporary Nicholas Copernicus,[[note]]This was because Copernicus remained a staunch Catholic while virtually everyone else around him (including Gnepheus) became Protestants during the Reformation, not because of his scientific beliefs[[/note]] who indeed had a large book in his house sitting around in his house. Shortly before Copernicus' death, that book was published under the title [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_revolutionibus_orbium_coelestium On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres]], the first great work on Heliocentrism. Today, Copernicus is remembered as a genius and one of the fathers of modern astronomy because of that work.

->''"We're more educated ''and'' more jaded, and having pulled up [[ShockSite 2 Girls 1 Cup]] for our elderly relatives to watch during the quiet bits of a family wedding, we can no longer be shocked, nor are things like lesbian kisses or teen pregnancy the scandalous events they once were. The VerySpecialEpisode in the 21st century would have to go to some lengths to rouse any parent into looking up from their phone, let alone cause an outbreak of sombre reflection in the living rooms of America."''
-->-- '''Stuart Millard''', ''So Excited, So Scared''

* In ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' after the {{Gendercide}}, the Secretary of the Interior (seventh in line) becomes the president because she's the highest ranking woman in government. This is in line with the real-life president of the day's, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush's cabinet in 2002 when the series started. The series follows a real-life calendar and wraps up several years later. However in 2005, Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice to Secretary of State which is third in line for succession which was then the highest rank a woman had ever been [[note]] Though Madeline Albright also served in the role during the Clinton Administration so she wasn't the first [[/note]]. By the time the series ended, Nancy Pelosi was second in line as Speaker of the House and she remained the highest ranking woman until the election of Kamala Harris as Vice President in 2020. Outside of America, UsefulNotes/AngelaMerkel became Chancellor of Germany in 2005 which means as of today, the second and fourth biggest economies in the world would have veteran female leaders who know the ropes and could lead without the issues the presented in the series.
** Also in the series Israel was depicted becomes the world's superpower after the plague because at the time there was no other country with a big military that allowed women to serve in active combat but now the much more populous countries like China, India, the UK, the US, and Germany allow for women to serve in active combat or at least having greater participations in their militaries. If the Gendercide happens today, then the world powers would likely be a Harris/Merkel-led Western coalition by economic might or India and China by sheer military numbers, and while Israel would certainly becomes a major military power in the Middle East they would also face fierce competition from a newly formed Kurdish states whose armed forces also allows for women to serve in active combat (including a few [[AmazonBrigade Amazon Brigades]] such as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units Women's Protection Units]]).

** Also in the series Israel was depicted becomes the world's superpower after the plague because at the time there was no other country with a big military that allowed women to serve in active combat but now the much more populous countries like China, India, the UK, the US, and Germany allow for women to serve in active combat or at least allows them to have greater participations in their militaries. If the Gendercide happens today, then the world powers would likely be a Harris/Merkel-led Western coalition by economic might or India and China by sheer military numbers, and while Israel would certainly becomes a major military power in the Middle East they would also face fierce competition from a newly formed Kurdish states whose armed forces also allows for women to serve in active combat (including a few [[AmazonBrigade Amazon Brigades]] such as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units Women's Protection Units]]).

* In ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' after the {{Gendercide}}, the Secretary of the Interior (seventh in line) becomes the president because she's the highest ranking woman in government. This is in line with the real-life president of the day's, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush's cabinet in 2002 when the series started. The series follows a real-life calendar and wraps up several years later. However in 2005, Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice to Secretary of State which is third in line for succession which was then the highest rank a woman had ever been [[note]] Though Madeline Albright also served in the role during the Clinton Administration so she wasn't the first [[/note]]. By the time the series ended, Nancy Pelosi was second in line as Speaker of the House and she remained the highest ranking woman until the election of Kamala Harris as Vice President in 2020. Outside of America, UsefulNotes/AngelaMerkel became Chancellor of Germany in 2005 which means as of today, the second and fourth biggest economies in the world would have veteran female leaders who know the ropes and could lead without the issues the presented in the series. Also in the series Israel was depicted becomes the world's superpower after the plague because at the time there was no other country with a big military that allowed women to serve in active combat but now the much more populous countries like China, India, the UK, the US, and Germany allow for women to serve in active combat. If the Gendercide happens today, then the world powers would likely be a Harris/Merkel-led Western coalition by economic might or India and China by sheer military numbers, and while Israel would certainly becomes a major military power in the Middle East they would also face fierce competition from a newly formed Kurdish states whose armed forces also allows for women to serve in active combat (including a few [[AmazonBrigade Amazon Brigades]] such as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units Women's Protection Units]]).

* In ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' after the {{Gendercide}}, the Secretary of the Interior (seventh in line) becomes the president because she's the highest ranking woman in government. This is in line with the real-life president of the day's, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush's cabinet in 2002 when the series started. The series follows a real-life calendar and wraps up several years later. However in 2005, Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice to Secretary of State which is third in line for succession which was then the highest rank a woman had ever been [[note]] Though Madeline Albright also served in the role during the Clinton Administration so she wasn't the first [[/note]]. By the time the series ended, Nancy Pelosi was second in line as Speaker of the House and she remained the highest ranking woman until the election of Kamala Harris as Vice President in 2020. Outside of America, UsefulNotes/AngelaMerkel became Chancellor of Germany in 2005 which means as of today, the second and fourth biggest economies in the world would have veteran female leaders who know the ropes and could lead without the issues the presented in the series. Also in the series Israel was depicted becomes the world's superpower after the plague because at the time there was no other country with a big military that allowed women to serve in active combat but now the much more populous countries like China, India, the UK, the US, and Germany allow for women to serve in active combat. If the Gendercide happens today, then the world powers would likely be a Harris/Merkel-led Western coalition by economic might or India and China by sheer military numbers, and while Israel would certainly becomes a major military power in the Middle East they would also face fierce competition from a newly formed Kurdish states whose armed forces also allows for women to serve in active combat (including a few AmazonBrigades such as the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_Protection_Units Women's Protection Units).

* In ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' after the {{Gendercide}}, the Secretary of the Interior (seventh in line) becomes the president because she's the highest ranking woman in government. This is in line with the real-life president of the day's, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush's cabinet in 2002 when the series started. The series follows a real-life calendar and wraps up several years later. However in 2005, Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice to Secretary of State which is third in line for succession which was then the highest rank a woman had ever been [[note]] Though Madeline Albright also served in the role during the Clinton Administration so she wasn't the first [[/note]]. By the time the series ended, Nancy Pelosi was second in line as Speaker of the House and she remained the highest ranking woman until the election of Kamala Harris as Vice President in 2020. Outside of America, UsefulNotes/AngelaMerkel became Chancellor of Germany in 2005 which means as of today, the second and fourth biggest economies in the world would have veteran female leaders who know the ropes and could lead without the issues the presented in the series. Israel becomes the world's superpower after the plague because at the time there was no other country with a big millitary that allowed women to serve in active combat but now the much more populous countries of India, the UK, the US, and Germany allow for women to serve in active combat. Today, the world power would likely be a Harris/Merkel-led coalition by economic might or India by sheer military numbers.

** Heinlein's short story ''Literature/AllYouZombies'' features a sex-segregated future in which astronauts and space pilots are always male, and the spaceship stewardess/prostitutes in skimpy outfits are all female. Written not long after WWII, the story fails to anticipate that the horrifying events of that war would lead to very strict legislation about medical procedures and informed consent. His central character is placed under general anesthesia -- and wakes to be informed, ''after the fact'', that they have been subjected without consent to sex (''[[{{Hermaphrodite}} not]]'' gender) reassignment surgery. In our world such a character would not be relegated to a hand-to-mouth living writing confession stories, because they would sue the hospital and doctor into bankruptcy.

* Dungeons and Dragons, in it's early years, had a tendency towards stereotyped and racially profiled characters and settings, but has generally worked on them with each subsequent Edition. Now in Fifth Edition, Creators Creator/{{WizardsOfTheCoast}} are in the process of removing a number of issues. The recent [[Trope/UniverseBible errata]] removed Negative Racial Modifiers as well as addressing many of the racist implications of past editions such as half Orcs getting a negative intelligence modifier, or Drow culture being automatically Evil Aligned (a rule a [[ScrewTheRulesIMakeThem lot of people ignored anyway]], and future editions will ''"allow a player to customize their character’s origin, including the option to change the ability score increases that come from being an elf, a dwarf, or one of D&D’s many other playable folk."''

--->"

* In ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' after the {{Gendercide}}, the Secretary of the Interior (seventh in line) becomes the president because she's the highest ranking woman in government. This is in line with the real-life president of the day's, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush's cabinet in 2002 when the series started. The series follows a real-life calendar and wraps up several years later. However in 2005, Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice to Secretary of State which is third in line for succession which was then the highest rank a woman had ever been [[note]] Though Madeline Albright also served in the role during the Clinton Administration so she wasn't the first [[/note]]. By the time the series ended, Nancy Pelosi was second in line as Speaker of the House and she remained the highest ranking woman until the election of Kamala Harris as Vice President in 2020. Outside of America, UsefulNotes/AngelaMerkel became Chancellor of Germany in 2005 which means as of today, the second and fourth biggest economies in the world would have veteran female leaders who know the ropes and could lead without the issues the presented in the series. Israel becomes the world's superpower after the plague because at the time there was no other country with a big millitary that allowed women to serve in active combat but now the much more populous countries of India, the UK, the US, and Germany allow for women to serve in active combat. Today, the world power would likely be a Pelosi/Merkel led coalition by economic might or India by sheer military numbers.

* The song "Year 3000" by Music/{{Busted}} gives us the line "Not much has changed, but they live underwater."

* Played for laughs in the first ''Film/AustinPowers'' film, where the [[FishOutOfTemporalWater recently-defrosted]] Dr. Evil's proposed evil schemes (making a hole in the ozone layer and destroying Prince Charles and Lady Diana's marriage) are things that have already happened by the time of the film (1997). Frustrated, he decides to just fall back on the classic "Hijack nuclear weapons and hold the world for hostage" plan.

*** Inverted in the sequel, wherein Dr Evil, back in The 60's, again demands $100bn, only to be met with derisive laughter, since such a vast sum simply didn't exist in that era.

** Generally speaking, totalitarian regimes are (rightly) feared even today, since Orwell's death and the downfall of several regimes that inspired Orwell's writing, we have gleaned some understanding into the inner-working ([[FascistButInefficient or lack thereof]]) of these governments. In particular, O'Brien's bold proclamation that the system is going to stand forever sounds laughably arrogant, though given the appendix at the end he may have been intended to come across that way anyway.

* In Creator/MichaelCrichton's ''Literature/RisingSun'', the JapanTakesOverTheWorld narrative is played out on steroids. Chrichton envisions a Japanese culture so ruthless and so powerful that they get away with murder. This was 1992, shortly before (or more accurately during) the Japanese economy's downfall, and the myth of the Japanese's business superiority to America was shattered.

* In [[Creator/MichaelChrichton Michael Chrichton's]] ''Series/RisingSun'', the JapanTakesOverTheWorld narrative is played out on steroids. Chrichton envisions a Japanese culture so ruthless and so powerful that they get away with murder. This was 1992, shortly before (or more accurately during) the Japanese economy crashed, and the myth of Japanese business superiority to America was shattered.

* Played with in ''Series/TheFortyFourHundred''. Richard Tyler, an African-American who was brought forward in time from the Korean War era, is sitting in a cafe having a cigarette when he notices he is getting a lot of dirty looks. He assumes it's because he's in a whites only establishment but in reality it's because the cafe is non-smoking and people want him to put it out.

* In ''ComicBook/YTheLastMan'' after the {{Gendercide}}, the Secretary of the Interior (seventh in line) becomes the president because she's the highest ranking woman in government. This is in line with the real-life president of the day's, UsefulNotes/GeorgeWBush's cabinet in 2002 when the series started. The series follows a real-life calendar and wraps up several years later. However in 2005, Bush appointed Condoleezza Rice to Secretary of State which is third in line for succession which was then the highest rank a woman had ever been [[note]] Though Madeline Albright also served in the role during the Clinton Administration so she wasn't the first [[/note]]. By the time the series ended, Nancy Pelosi was second in line as Speaker of the House and she remains the highest ranking woman ever. Outside of America, UsefulNotes/AngelaMerkel became Chancellor of Germany in 2005 which means as of today, the second and fourth biggest economies in the world would have veteran female leaders who know the ropes and could lead without the issues the presented in the series. Israel becomes the world's superpower after the plague because at the time there was no other country with a big millitary that allowed women to serve in active combat but now the much more populous countries of India, the UK, the US, and Germany allow for women to serve in active combat. Today, the world power would likely be a Pelosi/Merkel led coalition by economic might or India by sheer military numbers.

** Bordering on TechnologyMarchesOn, in TheFifties Asimov wrote a few stories in which future schools would theach children how to use [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punched_card punch cards]], but not reading and writing. As you may have noticed, punch cards became obsolete before literacy did.

Many works set in the future presume that people in the future will have the same social mores and values as they do in the present, excepting a few superficial changes in order to facilitate the plot, demonstrate the foreignness/"futureness" of the setting, or satisfy AuthorAppeal. The assumption is that our future will be essentially the same as our present -- bigger, smaller, sleeker, faster, or more automated, but still recognizable as our world.

* ''Film/TheStepfordWives'' more blatantly so than the book it was adapted from. It was made right in the middle of the 70s during Second Wave Feminism and the divorce revolution, but set TwentyMinutesIntoTheFuture (where technology allows the men of Stepford to create realistic robots). The idea that men raised in conservative families could replace their liberated feminist wives with domestic robots seemed far more plausible and horrific back then. The numerous couples with problems stay together rather than divorce because the common belief at the time was that it was better to stay in a loveless marriage than subject the children to an unpleasant divorce. That attitude had given way to more liberal views by the end of the 70s, so when the 2005 remake came along - the premise was played for comedy rather than horror.