Utopia

Perfection

Examples of Utopia

A utopic world is often depicted as the ideal or perfect society/world

Schlaraffenland-German folklore

Heaven-Christian Belief

Shangri La-Tibetan Buddism

The Republic-Plato 380 B.C.

Tao Hua Yuan-Tao Yuanming 421 A.D.

The Giver-Lois Lowry

Harmony

A common theme in utopian societies is harmony with nature and other living beings. Most stories depict a more simplistic way of life, very different from the Western lifestyle which mostly involves destroying the world around them to gain materials and resources

Peace

There is no conflict in utopia. No theft, murder, deceit, violence, differences in opinion, only peace. All people get along and so peace is a central pillar in utopian society.

Government/Society

Often utopian societies have socialist or even communist structure. In books like Animal Farm and the Giver the utopian society exists because they believe social disruption is caused by capitalism and commercialism. So to escape that stressful economic society the socialist utopia is created

Utopia

Paradise

Freedom

The ideal society in all forms. Can be religious, scientific, technological, or politically perfect.

Usually involves being in harmony with nature and takes away the pressures and problems of modern society such as poverty, social norms and stress.

In a utopian society there are no restrictions or boundaries because the whole society gets along. There is freedom to do anything. One may think, speak and do whatever they wish. In a utopian society there is no theft, murder or deceit so freedom is luxury

The word utopia is often used in a manner synonymous to the word paradise.Both are the perfect place, a place without any kind of suffering only harmony with nature and peace. Throughout history many cultures have found utopia. Europe found utopia in the form of Heaven, Tibet discovered Shangri-La, the Germans had Schlaraffenland and so on so forth.

Utopia /Dystopia

Research

Chaos

Unlike utopia, in dystopia there is nothing but chaos. Violence, crime, oppression, terror, death, and disease are rampant in many dystopian worlds.

Destruction

Oppression

A dystopian world is often war-torn or barren of major wilderness. Totalitarian governments control and rule the world so nature is gone to make way for the ever-ravenous hunder for power. Cities are ruined with the battles that rage on or they are devoid of life as everyone is oppressed and can't be unique, everyone is equal. Whether its the destruction of the world or the human nature or psyche, dystopia is followed by destruction.

Totalitarian governments or dictatorships are most commonly seen in dystopian worlds. They are usually the main source of conflict, trying to make a utopian world but making a dystopian one in the process

Dystopia

Famine

Also known as cacotopia, kakotopia,cackotopia or anti-utopia. Dystopia ia most often set in the future with dehumanization, totalitarian governments, natural disasters, etc. cause a decline in society creating less then idyllic conditions, the exact opposite of utopia.

Distortion of Humanity

Social Division

Disease and Illness

the concepts of family, religion, identity and individualism are crushed under the weight of oppression, violence and chaos. The new governments twist or even destroy the concepts of family.Like in 1984 where children spy on their parents. People are not unique, they are all the same. Being unique or an individual makes you unacceptable, and those who try to break the norm are severely punished. The only religions are those sanctioned by the powerful people who control socety, and said "religion" is more a cult than a religion.

Unlike utopian worlds, dystopian worlds have distinct divisions between classes. Because the way governments are often set up, there is a huge gap between the regular populace and government officials. Poverty, illness, violence, terror, and death run amok the masses and the those in power simply relax and enjoy their new world order.

Examples of Dystopia

Futuristic

Fahrenheit 451

1984

Avatar

The Giver

The Hunger Games

Divergent

Eragon

Hell

Yomi

The Fields of Punishment

Dystopian worlds are often set in the future where humans have attempted to create the perfect world. Egalitarian regimes, attempts at equality, etc. carried out by the use of advanced technology is common. With the improvement of the world's technology many things become possible. Immortality, weapons that can destroy countries, traveling through time, etc. cyberpunk is a reoccurring theme in dystopian stories