Using satirical irony to comment on
how current trends may lead to
future problems
• A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive
societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are
maintained.
• Some kinds of oppressive control
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–
–
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Corporate (big business) Minority Report
Bureaucratic (big government)
Technological (computers & robots) Terminator, The Matrix
Moral (religion, theocracy)
Totalitarian (single leader whom all obey)
• Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case
scenario, make a criticism about a current trend,
societal norm, or political system.
• Word was coined by Sir Thomas
Moore for his book.
• Utopia (1516) portrays an ideal
community on a fictional island
society in the Atlantic Ocean
• A utopia, now, is a community or
society possessing highly
desirable or perfect qualities
• Dystopia relies on the idea of
utopia.
• Dystopian literature is now
much more common that
utopian literature.
• Propaganda is used to control the citizens of
society.
• Information, independent thought, and
freedom are restricted.
• A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the
citizens of the society.
• Citizens are under constant surveillance.
• Citizens fear the outside world.
• Citizens live in a dehumanized state.
• The natural world is banished and distrusted.
• Citizens conform to uniform expectations.
Individuality and dissent are bad.
• The illusion of a perfect utopian world is
broken.
• sense that something is
fundamentally wrong with their
society.
• question the existing social and
political order.
• feel trapped and struggle for
change or escape.
• help readers recognize negative
aspects of their society through
their perspective.
• Brave New World (1931) by
Aldous Huxley. Set in London of
AD 2540. World is united under
one government. Population
limited. Sex is only for recreation.
• Written in response to utopian
novels of HG Wells in which
technology makes the world
better.
•
•
Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949)
by George Orwell world of
perpetual war, omnipresent
government surveillance, and
public mind control,
Government persecutes all
individualism and
independent thinking as
thought crimes.
Their tyranny is headed by Big
Brother, the
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895)
1984 by George Orwell (1949)
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)
The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter (1977)
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)
The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)
Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954)
V For Vendetta by Alan Moore (1982-1989)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006)
Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (1963)
Logan's Run By William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson (1967)
http://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-best-dystopian-novels/ivana-wynn?page=1
Urban, futuristic, absence of natural world, monochrome
What is the political message here involving a dystopian idea
Surveillance
Satirical Irony
Are these cartoons just funny, or do they also make a point?
•Barren
•Black & white
•Contaminated earth
•Bleak landscape
•Nature gone
Faceless, voiceless
Horror
industrial
AZIZ+CUCHER INTERVIEW:
http://www.undo.net/it/magazines/933692055
1. What are some of the present trends in society that
The Giver makes us think about?
2. What does this
3. Why do you think dystopian literature is popular
with youth?
4. Is Jonas right to run away?
5. What happens to Jonas and Gabe? Do they live?