Utopian

Vs.

Dystopian Societies

6 Basic questions all societies must answer:

human questions basic issues

1) Why are we here? Goals & objectives

2) Who's running things? Power & authority

3) Who does this belong to? Ownership & property

4) Who's going to do that? Work & sustenance

5) Who can I marry? Love, & family relations

6) Why don't they agree with us?

Dissent & deviance

From http://www.uwec.edu/geography/ivogeler/w188/articles/utopia.htm

Defining Utopia• An ideal place (everyone lives in peace and harmony) that does not exist in reality. A place, state, or condition that is ideally “perfect” in respect of:

•Politics•Laws•Customs•Conditions•Values and beliefs

Eu - a prefix from Greek meaning good.Ou - a prefix from Greek meaning not.Topia - a root from Greek meaning place.

American Values and IdealsWhy did Pilgrims come to America?

• Enlightenment Values• Enlightened Self- Interest• The Pursuit of Happiness• Self-Determination• Expansionism

Utopian Societies in Literature:

• Usually set in an isolated place

• An optimistic view of the future

• The story is developed by following the principles, or “rules”, of that place

• In the place, there is a “ruling class”

• Tragic development occurs in contrast with reader’s expectations

Dystopia

• The antonym of utopia

• An imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives

• A pessimistic view of the future

Dystopian ConceptsA Dystopia may have:

• Totalitarian dictatorship• What does totalitarian mean?

– It refers to a society in which nearly every aspect of public and private behavior is regulated by the government. “Big Brother”

• Glorification and justification of violence• Technology replaces humanity• Negative social trends are taken to

nightmarish extremes

Dystopian Societies in Literature:

– Division among classes, lower, middle, and upper, that cannot be broken

• Often involving a “Caste System”– Propaganda and educational systems strive to preserve

this “Caste System” and the rules of the society– Cancellation of individuality– A presence of “symbols” meant to maintain rules and

order– Constant surveillance– Advanced technology– A protagonist that questions the society– Set in the future but resembles contemporary society– Often a comment on our own current society

What if. . .• No one had to go to school?

• You could have an iPod in your brain?

• Your computer could read your thoughts?

• No one had to pay taxes?

• Everyone had plastic surgery?

• Babies were scientifically created?

• Advanced science and technology could abolish suffering and death?

This is a Dystopia in the making!

Gattaca (1997)

• Genetic Discrimination

• Concerns of reproductive technologies

• Destiny

Dystopian Movies

I, Robot (2004)

• Man vs. Machine

• Humanoid Robotics

• Advancement of Technology

Dystopian Movies

Wall-E

Fahrenheit 451

Minority Report

Children of Men The Matrix

The Stepford Wives

Other Dystopian films:

More Dystopian films:

The Hunger

Games

Idiocracy

V For Vendetta

I am Legend Pleasantville

On the back of your Concept Definition Map, draw a Venn

Diagram…

• Utopia vs. Dystopia-

–How are they the same, and how are they different?