Transcript Utopia vs Dystopia

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Utopia
vs.
Dystopia
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an imagined place or state of
things in which everything is
perfect
Utopia
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Varieties of Utopia
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Ecological Utopia
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Economic Utopia
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Political Utopia
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Religious Utopia
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Science and Technology Utopia
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Ecological Utopia
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A traditional way of life that is more in harmony with nature.
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An organic way of life.
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Society relates to and lives in sync with nature.
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Economic Utopia
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Everyone receives the same amount of goods.
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Currency is often not a factor.
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Citizens only take part in work that they enjoy.
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There are many leisure activities that are offered
and taken part of without the pressure of work.
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Often a result of complete economic failure and
restructuring.
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A mix between capitalism and socialism.
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Political Utopia
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World Peace
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Everyone getting along regardless of race, culture, political
beliefs
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Polyculturalism
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A world without war.
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Communities working together to make decisions.
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Religious Utopia
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Religious leaders must give up their differing viewpoints and make one
common religion for all to follow.
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OR… Communities decide to follow the same religion.
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Harmony
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Peace
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Understanding
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Enlightenment
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All aspects of life are guided by the community’s decided faith.
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There is a garden of delight, or heaven-like place, in existence.
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Science and Technology
Utopia
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Set in the future
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Technology is advanced and very active in this world.
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Death may be extremely prolonged or altogether absent.
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All sickness and deformities are curable.
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Natural humanistic actions (eat, sleep, reproduce, etc.) have
been altered by technology.
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Believed to have the ability to enhance human living
conditions.
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Dystopia
An
imaginary place or state in
which the condition of life is
extremely bad, as from
deprivation, oppression, or terror.
A
counter-utopia: a utopian society that has
one major flaw, which the government or
communities are usually trying to correct or
eliminate.
 No individualism, but conformity.
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Varieties of Dystopia
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Society
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Social Groups
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Nature
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Politics
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Economics
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Society
 Class
systems can be prevalent.
 People referred to as numbers rather than names.
 People are cloned so there are several of the same
people.
 People must not excel so they do not stand out.
 Uniformity is prized, not individuality.
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Social Groups
Religion is often under attack.
 The concept of families no longer exists.
 Reproduction is artificial so there is no “mother” or “father”
figure.
 The government keeps people
from forming social relationships.
 If relationships are allowed, tests
for compatibility are employed or all
actions are monitored.
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Nature
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Often times, the settings of dystopias are urban (large cities)
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People are separated from contact with nature or natural elements.
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People are conditioned to be afraid of nature.
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Leisure activities (ex: walking/running) make people seem
antisocial or suspicious.
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Sometimes, pollution has destroyed nature.
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Politics
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The governmental leaders are
brutal and obsessed.
The political ideas are flawed and
lead to the “normal” citizens being
oppressed or suffering.
People view the government
pessimistically.
A group of protagonistic
characters usually rebel against
the government and its
installations.
Sometimes, the government is
weak and is controlled by
businesses.
 This leads to the lower class
being oppressed.
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Economics
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There are black markets for goods that are difficult to get.
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Example: Katniss sells her “kills” in The Hunger Games.
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The high, governing class controls everything.
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Big businesses have control and are corrupt.
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Work is more important than education.
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Technology has taken over many jobs, so only undesirable positions
are left.
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Sometimes, the dystopia is based around
socialism, where there government tries to
make everyone equal, but people end up
starving and fighting.
+ Utopia Vs. Dystopia
Utopia
Dystopia
Society
Equality of all people
Classes, caste system
View on future
Optimistic, upbeat
Pessimistic, downbeat
Form of government
Democracy
Regime
Education
Equal and advancing
education
Propaganda; only for
wealthy
Economy
No money, equal
distribution of goods
No middle class;
government controlled
Legislation
Fair system of
punishment
Unfair and excessive
punishment
Atmosphere
Happy, harmonic
families
Dirty; unfortunate
people