Transcript Dystopian Unit - Wando High School

Novel choice of Brave New World, Frankenstein, or 1984
 Utopia- A place, state, or condition that is ideally
perfect
Dys- meaning ill or bad (Ancient Greek)
 DYSTOPIA- A futuristic, imagined universe in which
oppressive societal control and the illusion of
perfection are maintained through corporate,
bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian
control. Dystopias are an exaggerated, worst-case
scenario way to criticism a current trend, norm, or
political system.
 1984, Frankenstein, Brave New World, Hunger Games,
Minority Report, The Running Man, Terminator, The
Matrix, V for Vendetta, Equilibrium, Demolition Man
etc.
 Use of Propaganda to control citizens
 Information, freedom, and independent thought are
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restricted
A figurehead or concept is worshipped by citizenry
Citizens perceived to be under constant surveillance
Citizens fear outside world
Citizens live in dehumanized state
Natural world is banished and distrusted
Citizens conform to uniform expectations
Individuality/dissent is bad
 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 control:
 Corporate Control
 Bureaucratic Control
 Technological Control
 Philosophical/Religious Control
 One or more large corporations control society
through products, advertising, and/or the medias.
 Ex: Minority Report, Running Man, Wall-E, Demolition
Man
 Society is controlled by a mindless bureaucracy
through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations,
and incompetent government officials
 Ex: Brazil, Hunger Games
 Society is controlled by technology-through
computers, robots, and/or scientific means.
 Ex: The Matrix, Terminator, I, Robot; Equilibrium
 Society is controlled by philosophical or religious
ideology often enforced through a dictatorship or
theocratic government
 Often feels trapped and struggles to escape
 Questions existing social/political systems
 Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong w/
the society
 Helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of
the dystopian world through his/her perspective
 Read “The Lottery”
 Watch segments of Hunger Games
 Choice of novel: 1984, Frankenstein, Brave New World
 Assessments:
 Socratic Circles
 Reading Guides
 Unit Test