Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451by Ray Bradbury 1953

Timeline1900 - 8000 cars in U.S.1920 - Bradbury in IL (near St. Louis)1925 - 26 million cars in U.S.1926 - John Logie Baird (of Scotland) gave the world's first public demonstration of the TV1934 - Bradbury moves to L.A.1938 Bradbury graduates from high school (last formal education)1940 - 23 TV stations, 10,000 sets in operation. Black and white, 5 9 in. screens1940 - U.S. Car Sales: 6,665,8001947 Bradbury marries Maggie McClure1949 Bradbury and wife have first child

1950s rise of PostmodernismIn general, the postmodern view is accepting of the chaos of contemporary existence. The stress is on the present (all we have) and the focus is on popular culture. Technology is used for pleasure and self-expression - not practical use. Video and electronic media are used frequently.

Lack of belief in absolute truth or the idea of a reality constructedDistrust of social binaries, emphasizing the problem of the philosopher cleanly distinguishing knowledge from ignorancesocial progress from reversion dominance from submission presence from absence1950s first anti-depressant1951 first commercial computer1951 Bradbury and wife have second child1952 first bar code 1953 Bradbury writes Fahrenheit 4511954 first color TV is introduced. America has over 500 stations & 40 million homes with TV.1955 first microwave1955 Bradbury and wife have third child1958 Bradbury and wife have fourth child

As of 2004118 million prescriptions for antidepressants in United States. 76.4% of people in United States have a personal computer285 million televisions in use in the United States250,844,644 registered passenger vehicles in the United States

Utopia Vs. DystopiaTopos place

Greek - good - not

DYSTOPIA:A society or place which attempts to be perfect but takes perfection to the extreme and leads to a dehumanizing existence

Dystopian WorksDistrict 9 (govt)Equilibrium (govt)The Island (govt)The Matrix (govt)Minority Report (govt)28 Days Later (post-apoc)The Book of Eli (post-apoc)I am Legend (post-apoc)Terminator: Salvation (post-apoc)Wall-E (business)Mirrors Edge (govt)BioShock (govt)Half-Life 2 (govt)

http://ps3.kombo.com/images/content/news/blurb_bioshock_20081017.jpgBoth DYSTOPIAN and UTOPIAN stories are supposed to instruct us, and teach us about our mistakes as humans. Dystopian stories are often warnings, a forecast of what could happen IF we dont learn our lessons in time.

Dystopian literature depicts the flaws and failures of societies due to technology and human flaws.

They show current trends and concerns exaggerated to a nightmarish conclusion.

Individual freedom of thought is lost due to equality for everyone.

Look at the image closely on the front of your book. Pay attention to the small details. What do you notice?What does the cover tell you about the story?