Utopias and Dystopias

Utopia is a community or society possessing highly desirable or perfect qualities

Idea first addressed in Plato’s Republic as a metaphor for the perfect person In the sixteenth century, Thomas More's book “Utopia” proposed an ideal society Some philosophers and writers’ vision of a Utopia describe finding a balance between religion, science, technology, education, the environment, social status and numerous other factors Other’s argue that a real Utopia needs shift focus to a singular area if it is ever to function Ex. A technocracy is a society where everything functions in service of technology.

Dystopia - A futuristic society that has degraded into a repressive and controlled state. -Dystopia’s can be seen as either a Utopia gone wrong or a particular person/groups sinister Utopian vision.

Characteristics of Dystopian Stories

->There is often a. person vs. society ->There is often a person vs. society conflict ->The conflict is with a totalitarian government

->a lack or total absence of individual freedoms ->people live under threat of violence

->Many dystopias are post-apocalyptic -> take place in the aftermath of a disaster - typically nuclear holocaust, war, plague

->Technology goes too far ->Religion goes too far

->Serves as a comment/warning to the world we live in

Dystopian Style ->World established early in story ->Much language guessed by context ->Much history inferred 

Dystopian Hero ->Grew-up in the system but begins to question it ->Goal is escape or change ->Conflict brings the hero to the leader or representative of the dystopia

It’s big stuff right now…