Utopia and Dystopia What is the difference?

Utopia Any guesses? Utopia- a place, state, or condition that is ideal - This would be a visionary system of political or social perfection.

Go! Utopia Take out a scrap piece of paper What would your idea of a perfect society look like? What would some of the laws be? Customs? Describe as many details as possible in the next 3 minutes. Go!

Dystopia What do you think this is? Dystopia- a seemingly “perfect” society that is kept in place at the expense of the well-being or freedom of its inhabitants. - This society only appears to be perfect on the surface or in the beginning Can you think of any movies, games, books, etc. that might be Dystopian?

Dystopian Society- What are some characteristics of this? Propaganda is used to control citizens Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society Citizens are believed to be under constant surveillance Citizens have a fear of the outside world The natural world is cast out or distrusted Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and protest against society are bad. The society is an illusion of a perfect world.

Dystopian Society- Types of Controls  1. Corporate Control: One or more corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media.  2. Bureaucratic Control: Society is controlled through a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, regulations, and incompetent government officials.  3. Technological Control: Society is controlled by technology through computers, robots or scientific means.  4. Philosophical/religious Control: Society is controlled by a dictatorship or powerful group that imposes a belief on its citizens.

Utopia and Dystopia What are some examples of Dystopian literature, movies, games, etc.? Examples of Utopian? Why do you think there are so many Dystopian creations out there and very little, if any, Utopian stories? If an author could create a truly perfect society then our world’s problems would be solved Dystopia is full of conflict, action, struggle, and other elements that create an engaging and entertaining story

Characteristics of a Dystopian Protagonist  1. Often feels trapped and struggles to escape.  2. Questions the existing system  3. Believes that something about his or her society is terribly wrong.  4. Helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world.