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Utopia vs. Dystopia
Partials as a Dystopia
What is an Utopia?
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Literally it means “a place that does not
exist”
Basically it is the “perfect” society
Utopistic narratives involve the descriptions
of societies similar to the author’s own
society, but better. That means the society
is similar to ours, but functions more
ideally.
Basic Points in a Utopian Novel:
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The story is set in an isolated place
The story is developed by following the
principles of that place/society
In the place/society there is a ruling class
A tragic development occurs in contrast
with what the reader expects
What is a Dystopia?
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A 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.
Basic Points in a Dystopia
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A hierarchical society where divisions
between the upper, middle and lower
classes are definitive and unbreakable
(Caste system).
The propaganda and the educational
system have the purpose of preserving the
order of system/society.
The cancellation of individuality.
Basic Traits in a Dystopia
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Propaganda is used to control the citizens of
society.
• Information, independent thought, and
freedom are restricted.
• A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the
citizens of the society.
• Citizens are perceived to be under constant
surveillance.
• Citizens have a fear of the outside world.
Dystopian Traits Cont.
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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.
Types of Control in a Dystopian
Society
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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.
Dystopian Protagonist
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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 recognizes the negative
aspects of the dystopian world through his or
her perspective.
Partials
Reference Points
Niccolò Machiavelli
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an Italian historian, politician, diplomat,
philosopher, humanist, and writer
Founder of modern political science;
specifically focused on ethics
"Machiavellianism" is a negative term used
to characterize immoral politicians
Robert Brown
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Botanist
Credited with Brownian Motion or partical
theory
Theory is the random motion of particles
suspended in a fluid (a liquid or a gas)
resulting from their collision with the quick
atoms or molecules in the gas or liquid
Segregation
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The practice or policy of keeping people of
different races, religions, etc., separate
from each other
In the mid-1800’s, blacks were separated
from whites by law and by private action
Blacks and whites had to use separate
transportation, public accommodations,
recreational facilities, prisons, armed
forces, and schools in both Northern and
Southern states
Totalitarianism
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The political concept that the citizen should be totally
subject to an absolute state authority.
Form of government that subordinates all aspects of its
citizens' lives to the authority of the state, with a single
charismatic leader as the ultimate authority.
Large-scale, organized violence may be legitimized.
The police operate without the constraint of laws and
regulations.
Where pursuit of the state's goal is the only ideological
foundation for such a government, achievement of the
goal can never be acknowledged.
Themes
After writing with the author, the
following are the themes that Dan
Wells thought should be mentioned
and discussed.
Themes
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Freedom vs. Security. At what point does the safety of
a group overrule the rights of an individual? It's not
'always' (because we believe in personal freedom),
and it's not 'never' (because we don't believe in
outright anarchy), so where's the line? Is it even
possible to define one clearly?
Reproductive Rights. What is your opinion of the
Hope Act? Would you consent to live under it? How
far would you go to oppose it?
Themes Cont.
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When is it wrong to disobey authority?
When is it okay to disobey authority? When
is it vital to disobey authority?
What does it mean to be human?
Themes Cont.
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How far are you willing to go to do what you know is
right? The book doesn't really have any villains: Kira
and the Senate and the Voice are all trying to save
the human race from extinction, and they all have
completely opposed methods of doing that, but are
any of them inherently 'right' or 'wrong'? If the
alternative is human extinction, would otherwise
immoral behaviors become justified, or even moral?
How does the weight of a crisis distort traditional
definitions of morality?