1. Utopia and Dystopia
in literature and film

2. Utopia Perfect community or society
Greek for “good place” or “no place.”
A perfect place for all people

3. Dystopia When an attempt to create a perfect society goes wrong
Usually post- apocalyptic
Possible causes:
War or revolution
Natural disaster
Overpopulation

4. Characteristics of a dystopia
Few or no individual freedoms
State of constant warfare or violence
Repression of education or knowledge, especially in the media
Strict caste system

5. The Dystopian Hero The main character who questions society
Has a “gut feeling” that something is wrong
Must escape or overthrow society
Outcome not always clear
Will he / she change anything?
Did he / she escape?

6. Examples of dystopian movies & books
The Terminator movies
Demolition Man
I, Robot
WALL-E
The Book of Eli
Children of Men
Animal Farm
Blade Runner
Hunger Games
The Lego Movie
Mad Max
Divergent Series
V for Vendetta
The Giver
1984
Fahrenheit 451
Logan’s Run
A Clockwork Orange
Death Race
Idiocracy
Avatar
The Purge
Planet of the Apes series
Elysium