dystopian literature - english with nichols
TRANSCRIPT
Dystopian
Literature
All in all, we’re just another brick in the wall…
What do you already know about Utopias & Dystopias?
What is a Utopia?
● A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions
● Impractical● Opposite of Dystopia
Utopian Literature
● Set in an Isolated place
● Advanced Science and Technology
● Everyone is happy – no death or suffering
● Story develops by following the principles of the society
● There is a ruling class
● A tragic development occurs in contrast with reader expectations
What is a Dystopia?
● an imagined place where everything is unpleasant and corrupt
● the condition of life is extremely bad, as from deprivation, oppression, or terror.
● Problems are typically taken to the extreme
Dystopian Literature
● Often describes a society that starts off as a utopia or thinks it is a utopia but turns into an oppressive, miserable, dysfunctional state
● Can serve as a cautionary tale or warning to modern day society
●Divisions between the upper, middle and lower classes are definitive and unbreakable (Caste system).
●The cancellation of individuality.
Characteristics of Dystopia?
● Futuristic, imagined universe
● Oppressive societal control
● Perfect society is maintained through corporate, bureaucratic, technological, moral, or totalitarian control
● Propaganda and Education serve to keep order
Characteristics of Dystopia?
● Constant surveillance by state police agencies
● More advanced technologies OR collapse of technology that leads to pre-technology conditions
● Backstory of a disaster that justified the drastic change in social structure. Post-Apocalyptic. Government collapse
● A protagonist that doubts society
Common Themes and Elements in Dystopian Literature
●Setting & Living Conditions
● Social Structure
●Government Control
●Character Development
Setting & Living Conditions
◆ Futuristic, yet Realistic◆ Often takes place in agricultural,
non-technological future worlds◆ Or… takes place in a mega-
technological world, called “cyberpunk
◆ Bleak/Dark Cities or Urban Decay
◆ Citizens have a fear of the world outside their sometimes very tangible walls
◆ Fear of Nature◆ Citizens live in terrible conditions◆ Citizens live in an often
dehumanized state
Social Structure◆ Class or Caste System
◆ People referred to as numbers rather than names
◆ People are uniform and lose individuality
◆ People required to “not excel” and lose their competence
◆ Society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world
◆ Governing class often lives much better than lower class groups
◆ Concept of families no longer exists
Government Control
A Totalitarian Government ◆ Absolute control over people’s
lives◆ Controls media and economy◆ Uses mass surveillance◆ Uses terror to control citizens◆ A figurehead (person) or concept
is worshipped by the citizens of the society
Restrictions◆ Restricts freedom of speech◆ Restriction of information,
independent thought, and freedom
◆ Citizens must conform◆ Individuality is punished
Propaganda◆ The deliberate spreading of
information or rumors is used to control the citizens of society
◆ Presents facts selectively◆ Creates an emotional, not a
rational response
Character: The Protagonist
◆ Often feels trapped and is struggling to escape
◆ Questions the existing society and political systems
◆ Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with society in which he or she lives
◆ Helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective
Character:
Protagonist vs. Antagonist
◆ Average Citizen◆ Often feels trapped and is struggling to
escape◆ Questions the existing society and political
systems◆ Believes or feels that something is terribly
wrong with society in which he or she lives◆ Helps the audience recognize the negative
aspects of the dystopian world through his or her
◆ Represents the elite and powerful (governmental leaders, wealthy or rich, etc.)
◆ Mission is to protect the current state of affairs and to maintain power/control
◆ Operates through greed and selfish motives/desires.
◆ Nature vs. The Mechanistic World (where nature is good and technology is not)
◆ Good vs. Evil◆ Freedom vs. Control◆ Innocence vs. Corruption◆ Adversity in the face of
great opposition◆ The importance of family
and friendship alliances◆ Fight to live, give up and
die mentality
Reoccurring Motifs