1. An Introduction To: A Brave New World By: Aldous Huxley

2. Definition to Get Started
Dystopian Society
A dystopia is a community or society, usually fictional, that is in some important way undesirable or frightening.
Dystopias are often characterized by dehumanization, totalitarian governments, environmental disaster, or other characteristics associated with a cataclysmic decline in society.

3. Quick Write Exercise
How would you describe your own personal dystopia?
Examples of Dystopian Society in Modern Media

4. Popular Dystopias Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Batman Begins, Dark Knight Rises
Hunger Games Series
Total Recall
I Am Legend
Wall-E
Any more?

5. Themes Use of Technology to Control Society
Incompatibility of Happiness and Truth
Consumer Society
Dangers of an All-Powerful State

6. Use of Technology to Improve Society
Control Reproductive Process
Surgically remove ovaries
Eggs are selected, fertilized, and grown by machines
Hypnopaedic conditioning
Taught morals of society:
Class system
Consumerism
Reprogramming

7. Use of Technology to Improve Society
Complicated Entertainment Machines
Movie Theater: experience movie as if it were happening to you
Harmless leisure with high consumption rates
Soma
Difference between Technology and Science

8. Incompatibility of Happiness and Truth
Characters avoid truth of the situation
Soma
Other tools of self-delusion
Better off with Happiness than Truth
Two truths:
Objective Truth
Human Truth

9. Consumer Society Criticism of own consumerism
Book logical evolution of own society
Individual happiness is defined by satisfying needs
Success in society based upon money

10. Dangers of an All-Powerful State
Citizens controlled through “happiness” and superficial fulfillment
End up not caring about personal freedom
Consequences:
Loss of dignity, morals, values, and emotions
Loss of humanity

12. The Big Question
Is it better to be happy or free?