1. Utopian & Dystopian Literature
Science Fiction/Fantasy’s Sub-genres:
Utopian & Dystopian Literature

2. Utopian Literature Literally translated: “no place” & “good place”
Definition: A place/state/world that is ideally perfect
Coined by Sir Thomas More

3. Characteristics equality for all social harmony economic prosperity
political stability
prescriptive

4. Types of Utopias paradise externally altered world
willed transformation
technological transformation

5. “Peach Blossom Spring”

6. “Peach Blossom Spring”
Why can this short story be considered a utopia?
Identify some characteristics of the genre.
What is the author’s opinion of perfection?
Which type of utopia is described?

7. “Ecotopia”
Why does Weston struggle to deal with the citizens of Ecotopia?
What do you make of the interaction between Weston and the military man at the bottom of page 218?
Why is citizen pride so important to society?
Why does one group of skiers wear ragged clothing, carry homemade backpacks, and old fashioned skis?
Would you be interested in living in Ecotopia? Why?

8. On a piece of paper, respond to the following statements:
Define perfect in your own words.
Describe your perfect world in detail.
Consider the government and laws in your society
How does the government maintain order, if there is any order in your society?
Consider human interactions – what are they like?
Is your world attainable? How?
These responses should be roughly 1 handwritten page long and are due tomorrow.

9. The Line Between Utopia & Dystopia
Thin line between utopia and dystopia
Dependent on perspective
Irony
Both display extremes

10. Dystopian Literature Literally translated:“not good place
Definition: A place/state/world that appears perfect, but in reality is oppressive and controlling
Coined by John Stewart Mill
Dystopian Literature

11. Dystopian Characteristics
use propaganda
independent thought/freedom are restricted
conformity is expected
nature is feared
one person/thing is worshipped
social castes
surveillance and paranoia
illusion of a utopia

12. Dystopian Characteristics … again
Dystopian Controls
Dystopian Protagonist
corporate control
bureaucratic control
technological control
philosophical/religious control
outsider
questions social and political norms and systems
allows audience to see flaws through his/her perspective

13. 4 Types of Dystopias The hell The externally altered world
The willed transformation
The technological transformation

14. “The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas” by Ursula Le Guin
Interpret the quote: “Happiness is based on a discrimination of what is necessary, what is neither necessary nor destructive, and what is destructive.”
What type of dystopia is explained?
How did the Omelas’ tradition of child suffering start if there was never a monarchy to start it?
Compare this story to Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.”
What are the moral characteristics of those “who walk away from Omelas?”

15. Pop-Culture Dystopias
1984 by George Orwell
Animal Farm by George Orwell
The Time Machine by H. G. Wells
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
“The Stepford Wives”
“Planet of the Apes”
“The Matrix”
“Terminator”
“I, Robot”
“RoboCop”
“The Walking Dead”