1. Dystopian Literature
Goal: to understand a definition of the genre, identify characteristics, and create a dystopian setting exhibiting those characteristics.

2. Definitions:
DYSTOPIA:
An (oftentimes futuristic) imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control.
Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.
UTOPIA:
A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions.
Adapted from: Read Write Think

3. Why does society need dystopian literature?

4. Characteristics of a Dystopian Society:
Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.
Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.
A figurehead or concept is worshipped by citizens of the society.
Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance.
Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
The natural world is banished and distrusted.
Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad.
The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.
Adapted from: Read Write Think

5. The Dystopian Protagonist
often feels trapped and is struggling to escape
questions the existing social and political systems
believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives
helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective
The Dystopian Protagonist
Adapted from: Read Write Think

6. What commonalities do they have for setting?
Discuss: Looking at these traits, brainstorm a list of dystopian worlds (movies, novels, tv shows, etc.)
What commonalities do they have for setting?

7. Types of Dystopian Controls:
Corporate control: society is controlled by one or more large corporations through products, advertising, and/or media.
Bureaucratic control: society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials.
Technological control: society is controlled by technology - through computers, robots, and/or scientific means.
Philosophical/religious control: society is controlled by philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government.
Adapted from: Read Write Think

8. As we read/view the following texts, identify and label characteristics according to your notes, and take special note of setting.
“The Lottery”
“The Obsolete Man”
“The Pedestrian”

9. https://archive.org/details/TheObsoleteManS2TwilightZoneFullEpsiode

10. Dystopian Setting Notes:
“The Lottery”
‘The Obsolete Man”
“The Pedestrian”
Rules of the World (Characteristics of Dystopian Setting)
Who is in Charge? (Type of Dystopian Control)
Qualities of Protagonist

11. Setting is arguably the most important aspect of your dystopian short story. Think about developing a world like you would a game - something your reader can be immersed in.
An example:

12. One last thought...
One of my rules was that I would not put any events into the book that had not already happened in what James Joyce called the “nightmare” of history, nor any technology not already available. No imaginary gizmos, no imaginary laws, no imaginary atrocities.”
-Margaret Atwood