Utopia vs. Dystopia

Utopia vs. Dystopia

We will be exploring the ideas behind both utopian and dystopian society, but first we need to know what they are!

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Essential Question: Is it possible to have a perfect world?

Examples of Dystopian Societies

Types of Dystopian Controls

Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls:

• Corporate control: One or more large corporations control society through

products, advertising, and/or the media.

• Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy through a tangle of manipulative rules and incompetent/greedy government officials.

• Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—through

computers, robots, and/or other scientific means.

• Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by philosophical or

religious ideology often enforced by the government, or eliminate religion all together

The Dystopian Protaganist

• 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.

Dystopia

A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal conditions and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through a system of total control. Dystopias make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.

Characteristics of a Dystopian Society

• Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.

• Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.

• A figurehead or concept is worshiped by the citizens

• Citizens are under constant surveillance.

• Citizens have a fear of the outside world.

• The natural world is banished and distrusted.

• Citizens conform to uniform expectations.

• The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.

What utopian societies can look like.

The Utopian Protagonist

Types of Utopian Ideas: Most utopian works present a world in which societal ideals and the common good of society are maintained through one or more of the following

• Works to promote the ideals of society.
• Challenges technology
• Questions the existing social and political systems with the aim to bring positive change.
• Believes or feels that the society in which he or she lives is always getting better.
• Helps the audience recognize the positive aspects of the utopian world through his or her perspective.

Utopia

Types of beliefs:

• Economic ideas: Money is abolished. Citizens only do work that they enjoy.
• Governing ideas: Society is controlled by citizenry in a largely individualist.
• Technological ideas: In some cases, technology may be embraced to enhance the human living experience. Other ideas propose that technology drives a wedge between humanity and nature.
• Ecological ideas: Back to the nature, humans live harmoniously with nature.
• Philosophical/religious ideas: Society believes in a common religious philosophy

• An imaginary place in which the government, laws, and social conditions are perfect

• The term utopia was coined from Greek by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book Utopia, describing a fictional island society in the Atlantic Ocean. The word comes from Greek: οὐ ("not") and τόπος ("place") and means "no-place", and strictly describes any non-existent society

Characteristics of a Utopian Society

• Information, independent thought, and freedom are promoted by society and government

• Citizens are brought together to make decisions

• Citizens have no fear of the outside world

• Citizens live free of war and persecution

• The natural world is embraced and respected

• Citizens embrace social and moral ideals.

• The society evolves with change to make a perfect utopian world.

Utopia vs. Dystopia