Utopian Vs. Dystopian Societies. 6 Basic questions all societies must answer: human questionsbasic...
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Transcript of Utopian Vs. Dystopian Societies. 6 Basic questions all societies must answer: human questionsbasic...
6 Basic questions all societies must answer:
human questions basic issues
1) Why are we here? Goals & objectives
2) Who's running things? Power & authority
3) Who does this belong to? Ownership & property
4) Who's going to do that? Work & sustenance
5) Who can I marry? Love, & family relations
6) Why don't they agree with us?
Dissent & deviance
From http://www.uwec.edu/geography/ivogeler/w188/articles/utopia.htm
Defining Utopia• An ideal place (everyone lives in peace and harmony) that does not exist in reality. A place, state, or condition that is ideally “perfect” in respect of:
•Politics•Laws•Customs•Conditions•Values and beliefs
Eu - a prefix from Greek meaning good.Ou - a prefix from Greek meaning not.Topia - a root from Greek meaning place.
American Values and IdealsWhy did Pilgrims come to America?
• Enlightenment Values• Enlightened Self- Interest• The Pursuit of Happiness• Self-Determination• Expansionism
Utopian Societies in Literature:
• Usually set in an isolated place
• An optimistic view of the future
• The story is developed by following the principles, or “rules”, of that place
• In the place, there is a “ruling class”
• Tragic development occurs in contrast with reader’s expectations
Dystopia
• The antonym of utopia
• An imaginary place where people lead dehumanized and often fearful lives
• A pessimistic view of the future
Dystopian ConceptsA Dystopia may have:
• Totalitarian dictatorship• What does totalitarian mean?
– It refers to a society in which nearly every aspect of public and private behavior is regulated by the government. “Big Brother”
• Glorification and justification of violence• Technology replaces humanity• Negative social trends are taken to
nightmarish extremes
Dystopian Societies in Literature:
– Division among classes, lower, middle, and upper, that cannot be broken
• Often involving a “Caste System”– Propaganda and educational systems strive to preserve
this “Caste System” and the rules of the society– Cancellation of individuality– A presence of “symbols” meant to maintain rules and
order– Constant surveillance– Advanced technology– A protagonist that questions the society– Set in the future but resembles contemporary society– Often a comment on our own current society
What if. . .• No one had to go to school?
• You could have an iPod in your brain?
• Your computer could read your thoughts?
• No one had to pay taxes?
• Everyone had plastic surgery?
• Babies were scientifically created?
• Advanced science and technology could abolish suffering and death?
This is a Dystopia in the making!
Gattaca (1997)
• Genetic Discrimination
• Concerns of reproductive technologies
• Destiny
Dystopian Movies
Wall-E
Fahrenheit 451
Minority Report
Children of Men The Matrix
The Stepford Wives
Other Dystopian films: