Download Utopia

Greek for “no place”
an ideal place or state
any visionary system
of political or social perfection; the
inhabitants are free and have
transcended social problems
Sir Thomas
More’s book
Utopia
religious groups
experimental communities
socialist groups
a foundational book
about the perfect
example government –
a Republic.
no war, no poverty,
no lawyers, no misery
Modern Day Utopias
Acorn Community Farm:
http://www.ic.org/directory/acorn-communityfarm/
a supposedly ideal place that
has some secret problems
an ‘enlightened one’ shows
the world how things could be
better
Utopia VS. Dystopia
Utopia
Dystopia
• A perfect place
with ideal
• A future, imagined
universe where society is
oppressed by at least
one of the following
– Laws
– Politics
– Customs
– Conditions
– Corporate control (Minority
Report)
– Bureaucratic control (too
many regulations & red
tape)
– Technology (I, Robot, The
Matrix
– Totalitarian/Dictatorship
(The Giver, Delirium)
Characteristics of a Dystopia
#1: Propaganda
• Propaganda is used
to control citizens of a
society
#2: Restrictions
• Information,
independent thought,
and freedom are
controlled or
restricted
#3: Worshipping a Concept
• A figurehead or
concept is
worshipped in a
society
– Anti-love sentiment in
Delirium
– Equality in The Giver
– Obsession with the
brain chip in Feed
#4: Constant Surveillance
• Citizens perceive they
are under constant
surveillance.
Someone is always
watching, via
cameras or spies.
#5: Fear of Outside World
• Citizens fear the
world outside the
boundaries of their
country or area.
• Even if allowed to,
citizens would likely
not leave.
#6: Dehumanized
• Citizens live in a
dehumanized state.
• This can vary:
– Living without love
– Living in abject poverty
– Living with too much
technology
#7: Fear of Natural World
• Citizens fear the
natural world (nature).
#8: Conformity
• Citizens conform to
universal
expectations.
• Individuality, dissent
is bad
The seemingly insignificant man,
Winston Smith works for the
government. His job is to change the
records, to change history, to rewrite
the events of our past. Eventually, he
can’t stand it and begins a rebellion
that leads him into torture and all
kinds of other trouble.
In this futuristic novel, Guy Montag is
a "fireman" who burns books for the
government. Anyone caught with
books is in violation of the law and
subject to punishment. Fortunately,
some people refuse to let books
disappear forever.
The government is cloning people
and producing hundreds of twins for
scientific growth and research. That
can’t be good!
Everything and everyone is the same
in Jonas’s community. That’s the best
way to make sure no one gets hurt.
The community leaders choose
everything for you – your name, your
family, your job, your hobbies, your
world. But what happens when
someone wants more than the same?
Each year, the government “reaps” 2
teens from each District to have the
honor of competing in the Hunger
Games. The problem is only one
person will make it out alive. This is
the government’s way of keeping the
people under control and in fear.