Dystopia

Notes

When things go wrong for all

the right reasons…

Utopia

A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions.

What about this picture fits the definition of a “utopia”?

Dys

topia

A futuristic, imagined

universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion

of a perfect society are

maintained through corporate, bureaucratic,

technological, moral, or

totalitarian control.

Dys

topia Dystopias, through an

exaggerated worst-case

scenario, make a criticism about a current

trend, societal norm, or

political system.

What about this picture fits the characteristics of a “dystopia”?

Chara

cteri

stic

s of

a

Dys

topia

n S

oci

ety

Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.

Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the

citizens of the society.Citizens are perceived to be

under constant surveillance.

Chara

cteri

stic

s of

a

Dys

topia

n S

oci

ety

Citizens have a fear of the outside world.

Citizens live in a dehumanized state.

The natural world is banished and distrusted.Citizens conform to

uniform expectations.

Individuality and dissent are bad.

The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.

Popula

r

Dysto

pia

s

Brainstorm with your group. Think of at least

five more dystopian societies.

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Explain how this clip meets the

characteristics of a dystopia.

How does this passage represent characteristics of a dystopia?

“It was terribly dangerous to let

your thoughts wander when you

were in any public place or

within the range of a telescreen.

The smallest thing could give

you away. A nervous tic, an

unconscious look of anxiety, a

habit of muttering to yourself—

anything that carried with it a

suggestion of abnormality, of

having something to hide. In

any case, to wear an improper

expression on your face…; was

itself a punishable offense.

There was even a word on it in

Newspeak: facecrime…” 

Types of Dystopian

Control

Corp

ora

te

contr

ol:

One or more large corporations control society through products advertising, and/or the media.

Brainstorm with your group and make a list of any corporate control dystopias you have seen or read.

Soci

al

contr

ol:

Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials.

Brainstorm with your group and make a list of any bureaucratic control dystopias you have seen or read.

Tech

nolo

gic

al

contr

ol:

Society is controlled by technology—through computers, robots, and/or scientific means.

Brainstorm with your group and make a list of any technological control dystopias you have seen or read.

Philo

sophic

al o

r Relig

ious

Contr

ol:

Society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government.

Brainstorm with your group and make a list of any philosophical or religious control dystopias you have seen or read.

Which type of dystopia is illustrated in the passage?

The terrible thing that

the Party had done was persuade you that

mere impulses, mere

feelings, were of no account, while at the

same time robbing you of all power over

the material world.”

The D

ysto

pia

n

Prota

gonis

t

Often feels trapped and is struggling to escape.Questions the existing

social and political systems.Believes or feels that

something is terribly

wrong with society.Helps the audience

recognize the negative

aspects of the dystopian world.

How does this passage illustrate the characteristics of a dystopian protagonist?

Your worst enemy, he

reflected, was your nervous system. At any moment the tension inside you was

liable to translate itself

into some visible symptom.”