• Utopian refers to human efforts to create a hypothetically perfect society.
• It refers to good but impossible proposals - or at least ones that are difficult to carry out.
• Dystopian is the opposite of utopian; it is often a utopia gone sour, an imaginary place or state where everything is as bad as it could be.

• Dystopian novels usually include elements of contemporary society and are seen as a warning against some modern trend.
• Writers use them as cautionary tales, in which humankind is put into a society that may look inviting on the surface but in reality, is a nightmare.

• 1984
• Brave New World
• Fahrenheit 451
• A Clockwork Orange
• Animal Farm
• The Giver
• The Time Machine
• AND ANTHEM!
• District 9
• The Island
• Gattaca
• The Matrix
• Idiocracy
• V is for Vendetta
• I, Robot
• Terminator
• The Truman Show

• Anthem by Ayn Rand
– The setting is the future world after the destruction of technology and the individual, where the concept of “we” rules and the head of state is the World Council.
– The hero’s longing for truth and individuality leads him to secretly rebel against the government.
– He is arrested by the “Council of the Home” who torture him in the name of collectivism.
– The hero escapes his society to form a new world of technological progress and celebration of the individual.

• Anthem serves as a cautionary tale against communism/collectivism
• Collectivism is any moral, political, or social outlook, that emphasizes the interdependence of every human in some collective group and the priority of group goals over individual goals.
• Collectivists focus on community and society, and seek to give priority to group rights over individual rights.
In many ways, this reflects Rand’s feelings about the rise of socialism/communism in the time before and after
WWII.

1984
Brave New
World
Fahrenheit
451
The Giver
Goals everyone equal, thinks the same way no war or poverty, only happiness absence of things disruptive to society absence of things disruptive to society
Methods Used Theme force, spying, secret police evils of totalitarianism change what people want book burnings, no personal expression government control of feelings, jobs sacrificing culture for
“happiness” consequences of fast-paced society sacrificing
“humanity” for conformity

•
•
•

• Freedom of religion attracted European groups to America who were persecuted in their own countries.
• Some colonists hoped to form Utopian societies, self-containing religious communities, removed from the perceived “vices” found in overcrowded cities.
• In these utopian societies, all aspects of people's lives were governed by their faith.

•
: the Shakers – a religious group who fled to the United States in 1774 to escape persecution.
They formed a tight knit community, which required celibacy (no sexual relations) and the separation of men and women in daily life.
Their religious expression included productive labor, peace, the equality of the sexes, and a ritual noted for its dancing and shaking.

• The Soviet Union represented the creation of a political utopia on a larger scale than had ever been attempted before.
• Communism was seen as the creation of a working society in which all give according to their means and take according to their needs. This aspect promised the future freedom of all people in a world free of oppression and inequality.

• By the end of the 1920s, the disadvantages of Soviet
Communism were evident.
• After taking power, Joseph Stalin forced peasants to work on the land, forced intellectuals into prison camps, burned books, and contributed to the death of millions.
• He used mass media to create a godlike image of himself, and any opponents were executed or deported.

• In the 1960s, thousands of people formed communes in Europe and the U.S. in an attempt to redefine the institutions of marriage, family and economy.
• People headed "back to the land“, questioning the benefits of a society based on technology and competition.

• While most of those communities disbanded, many have survived, emphasizing economic and social cooperation.
• Some communities are separate from the rest of society while others hope to serve as an example of a better lifestyle to the rest of the world.

• Think about what worked—and what failed—in the utopian texts you’ve read. How were good ideas turned ugly in practice? What balance does there need to be between control and choice, between the greater good and what individuals want? What will people tolerate?
• How will you form a utopia? What is the biggest issue that must be addressed to “fix” society?
• What may have to be “sacrificed” in order to create this society?

• You will demonstrate your understanding of the concept of a utopian society and the issues that must be considered when trying to make a “perfect world” by
writing and designing the utopia of your dreams and
proving to your classmates that it’s the best place to live.
While all options for this group project involve individuals writing parts of a plan for your society, the advertisement project ideas are endless—Blog/Website,
Brochure, PowerPoint Presentation, Video
Advertisement/Infomercial (script), Promotional Letter,
Poster, etc.
What do you want to do? Tell me and I’ll tell you if it’s appropriate.
• In order to meet all the criteria of this assignment, you
must include all of the contents
listed in the
categories to follow.
You can incorporate them into your project any way you want as long as you meet the requirements.
Check the
rubrics
for additional details on the expectations for the project.

• Write a Declaration of Independence or
Purpose: What will you be about?
• Describe the Government , Laws, and
Economic/Social Structures: How will life be structured?
• Explain your Motto and Flag : How will you represent your ideas?
• And of course…Name it and Advertise :
How will you promote your vision?

• Write a statement (2+ paragraphs) describing the reasons for your formation of a utopian society.
In other words, what specifically don’t you like about current society? How has the current society broken trust with you?
Why do you feel the need to form a “more perfect” society?
How will your utopia deal with and/or eliminate the problems of society today? You might refer to the U.S. Declaration of
Independence for ideas and consider the following issues:
• Poverty, Hunger
• Education, Unemployment
• War, Crime/Violence
• Prejudice/Discrimination, Civil Rights
• Environment
• Marriage/Family
• Health/Sickness
• Treatment of youth & the elderly

•
• Include an explanation of how life carries on in your society. In a few paragraphs, be sure to explain:
Governing Body-
Explain how your utopia will be run: How will the government of this utopia be structured?
Will you have a democracy, an anarchy, a monarchy, or a dictatorship? How will your utopia make decisions (big ones and everyday rulings)? Who will have a say? How will the people be informed or involved?
• The Rules/Regulations-
Develop a list of at least 10 laws or codes that all community members must follow. Provide a rationale (the reasons) for the rules. These can include, but are not limited to the following prompts:
– What are the rules for responsible and moral behavior?
– Will there be a system of punishment for those who commit crimes? (You may want to develop a list of crimes and corresponding punishments.)
– How will people be educated? What will you teach?
– How free will people be? Free to think? Free to hate? Free to support any belief?
Economic and Social Life•
Provide information about how the people in your utopia live. What do the people of your country do for a living? How do they make money and spend money? Where do they live?
How much connection do they have with each other? How do people get along with one another and contribute to society? What roles do media, religion, and cultural beliefs/practices play in everyday life?

• Create a slogan or motto that inhabitants of your utopia will follow, and develop a utopian seal or flag. (You may want to refer to our own state flag and motto for ideas.)
• Your seal/flag should include symbols (animals, plants, etc.) that represent the ideals of your utopia.
• Include a written explanation (2+ paragraphs) of your chosen motto and seal/flag that reveals the meaning and significance of the motto and the colors/symbols you choose for your seal.

• Choose a creative and appropriate name to represent your new society. (Be sure your advertisement explains your choice in a way that makes the reasons for the name clear.)
• Incorporating the ideas of your group (on purpose, government, everyday life, motto, etc.), develop an advertisement for your community that explains how awesome your society is and why it should be joined.
• This ad could take a variety of forms (Blog/Website,
Brochure, PowerPoint Presentation, Video
Advertisement/Infomercial (script), Promotional Letter,
Poster, etc.) but should include relevant images and incorporate the information above in a few original paragraphs throughout the advertisement.

SKILL AREA Responses at the top level:
Meaning: the extent to which the writing exhibits sound understanding/ explanation of the writing task
Development: the extent to which ideas are elaborated
Organization: the extent to which the writing establishes a clear thesis and maintains direction, focus, & coherence
Language: the extent to which the writing reveals an awareness of audience and purpose through word choice and sentence variety
Requirements &
Conventions: the extent to which the writing exhibits conventions and meets reqs
 convey an accurate and in-depth understanding of the topic, audience, and purpose for the writing task
 offer insightful and thorough explanation in support of the topic, incorporating evidence and conclusions reached from the texts read and research on the issues.
 develop ideas clearly and fully, effectively integrating and elaborating on specific, relevant details
 skillfully establish and maintain consistent focus
 exhibit logical and coherent structure with claims, evidence and interpretations that convincingly support the main ideas
 make skillful use of transition words and phrases
 are stylistically sophisticated, using language that is precise and engaging, with a notable sense of voice and awareness of audience and purpose
 effectively incorporate a range of varied sentence patterns to reveal syntactic fluency
 demonstrate control of the conventions with essentially no errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar
 meets the requirements of style and length
Value
/25
/25
/15
/15

Items
Declaration of
Independence
Details
States reasons for formation of the new society and explains those reasons with detailed evidence. Language is appropriate for a formal statement.
Utopian Motto and Seal/Flag
Provide a clear representation of the aspects of the society upon which the utopia is founded. Description clearly provides the rationale for the selection and makes strong connections to the beliefs upon which the society is founded. Language is clear, and images appropriate.
Political,
Economic, &
Social
Structures
Governing Body: Outlines the system of government that oversees the society. Rationales are clearly explained. Rules: Includes clear rules for appropriate behavior that are in line with the beliefs upon which the society is founded. Economic/Social Life: The manner in which people live is clearly explained. Activities and roles clearly align with the beliefs.
Name &
Advertisement
Team Work
Uses a creative and appropriate name that captures the spirit of the new society. Presents life in the utopia in a clear (organized) message that engages potential citizens. The details in the ad clearly align with the beliefs upon which the society is founded. Persuades others to join the society, giving clear reasons why the utopia is appropriate for them. Uses casual, semi-formal language to engage readers and aesthetically pleasing images and design to set the desired tone.
Group members work together to make decisions and accomplish goals, while individuals pull their weight by completing assigned tasks on time.
Value
/10
/10
/10
/10
/10