FOCUS 01-23-14
 How would you describe a utopian society?

What would it look like?

How would people act?

Would there be laws?
 How would the utopian society handle the following
things:
Education
Careers
Medical issues
Fashion
Entertainment
Utopia
vs.
Dystopia
CLASS NOTES
Utopia
Definition: An imagined place or state of
things in which perfection has been
achieved; an ideally perfect place, an
impractical idealistic scheme
Origin: Sir Thomas More, 1516, Utopia
Concept originally linked to religious ideals,
but now also refers to socio-political ideals
Varieties of Utopia
 Ecological Utopia
 Economic Utopia
 Political Utopia
 Religious Utopia
 Science and Technology Utopia
Ecological Utopia
 A traditional way of life that is more in harmony with
nature.
 An organic way of life
Economic Utopia
 an equal distribution of goods,
frequently with the total abolition
of money, and citizens only doing
work which they enjoy and which is
for the common good, leaving them
with ample time for the cultivation
of the arts and sciences.
Political Utopia
 World Peace, Global Oneness
 Everyone getting along regardless of race, culture,
political beliefs.
 A world without war.
Religious Utopia
 Harmony
 Peace
 Understanding
 Enlightenment
Science and Technology Utopia
 Set in the future
 Utopian Living Standards: absence of death and
suffering, changes in human nature and the human
condition (Star Trek)
Dystopia
 An imaginary place or state in which
the condition of life is extremely bad, as
from deprivation, oppression, or terror.
 Origin: John Stuart Mill, 1868 speech
in the House of Commons about Irish
problem common theme in modern
books and movies
Animal Farm
 Think about Animal
Farm. What qualities
and characteristics of a
dystopia were present in
George Orwell’s novel?
List as many as you can
in your notebooks.
 Be prepared to share and
discuss your ideas with
the class.
Varieties of Dystopia
 Society
 Social Groups
 Nature
 Politics
 Economics
Society
 Examples:
 Class System
 People referred to as numbers rather than names
 People are cloned so there are several of the same people, they
are uniform and lose individuality (Brave New World)
 People required to “not excel” and lose their competence
Social Groups
 Examples:
 Concept of religion under attack
 Concept of families no longer exists
Nature
 Examples:
 Settings of dystopias are frequently urban
 Separate all characters from any contact with nature
 People are conditioned to be afraid of nature
Politics
 Examples:
 Governing class is hedonistic or shallow
 Negative consequences, oppressive
 Pessimistic views of governing class – brutal, uncaring
Economics
 Examples:
 Black markets for goods that are difficult to get
 Governing class controls everything
 Big businesses have control and are corrupt
Characteristics of a Dystopian Society
 Propaganda is used to control the citizens of
a society
 Information, independent thought , and
freedom are restricted
 A figurehead or concept is worshipped by
the citizens of the society
 Citizens are perceived to be under constant
surveillance
Characteristics of a Dystopian Society
 Citizens have a fear of 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 society is an illusion of a perfect utopian
world
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
Economy
No money, equal
distribution of goods
Rich and poor people, no
middle class
Legislation
Fair system of
punishment
Unfair and excessive
punishment
Atmosphere
Happy, harmonic
families
Unfortunate, unlucky
people
EXIT
 Could a utopian society ever truly exist? Why or
Why not?
 Have you ever seen a movie or read a book that
was about a utopian/dystopian society?

Describe it.
Utopia / Dystopia
 Complete the Chart for Ray Bradbury’s “The
Pedestrian” and answer the questions on the back of
the chart regarding setting.
 On Monday, January 27 QUIZ ON “THE
PEDESTRIAN” AND UTOPIA / DYSTOPIA CLASS
NOTES