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Characteristics of Dystopian Literature Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions. Dystopia: The 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. There are many common traits that dystopian societies contain: 1. Society: most impose severe social restrictions on community members Social stratification: social class is strictly defined and enforced (society is split into a caste system where people have specialized functions) Repression of the intellectual (knowledge is power, ignorance keeps people weak) Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted Citizens are perceived to be under constant surveillance Citizens have fear of the outside world Citizens live in a dehumanized state Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad. The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world 2. Social Groups: total absence of social groups other than the “state” Independent religion is notable because it is omitted Family is attacked: the hostility to motherhood (family loyalty is a challenge to loyalty to the state) Instead of normal religion, a figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of society 3. Technology: technological advancements cut people off from the natural world and help the government to keep control of society People are conditioned to fear nature The natural world is banished or distrusted The natural world has been mastered to the point where nature has become barren or turns against humankind Technological advances enslave humans or regiment their lives Sophisticated equipment is used for surveillance and punishment 4. Politics: Government asserts power over citizens Government is flawed in some way, portrayed as oppressive Filled with pessimistic views of the ruling class – rules with an “iron fist” Illusions of a perfect society are maintained through one of more of following types of controls: Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through products, advertising, and/or the media (ex. Minority Report, The Running Man) Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations, and incompetent government officials (ex. Futurama, though not technically a dystopia, has this element). Technological control: Society is controlled by technology – through computers, robots, and/or scientific means (ex. The Matrix, The Terminator). Philosophical/psychological control: Society is controlled by philosophical ideology or psychological warfare often enforced through a dictatorship or theocratic government (ex. Star Wars) 5. Economic: state is in control of the economy black market – items banned or seen as contraband upper members of the government have access to wealth, luxury, and supposedly contraband goods while average people live in poverty 6. The Hero: protagonist questions society 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 7. Conflict: societal group somewhere not under control of the state 8. Resolution: can be unresolved protagonist’s/rebels’ escape from the system overthrow of the government/society death of protagonist reeducation/conformity of protagonist