Dystopian%20Novels

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Dystopian Novels
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Definition

• dys-/dus- (Latin/Greek roots 'bad' or
  'abnormal')    -topos  (Greek root 'place')  
  'bad place'
• eu- (Greek root 'good') / ou- (Greek root
  'not')  -topos (Greek root 'place')  'good/no
  place'
• dystopia n. an imaginary wretched place, the
  opposite of utopia
• utopia n. a place or state of ideal perfection,
  the opposite of dystopia

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Definition Check Utopian

• A Utopia is a place, state or condition that is
  ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws,
  customs, and conditions.

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Definition Check Utopian

• 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.

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Examples of Utopian Novels

• Utopia by Thomas More
• Erewhon by Samuel Butler
• A Modern Utopia by H.G. Wells
• Island by Aldous Huxley

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Dystopian versus Utopian

• 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 possibly
  be.

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Dystopian Novels

• 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.

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Examples of Dystopian Novels

• 1984
• Brave New World
• Fahrenheit 451
• A Clockwork Orange
• Animal Farm
• The Time Machine

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Dystopia Defined

• Futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive
  societal control and the illusion of a perfect
  society are maintained through corporate,
  bureaucratic, technological, moral, or
  totalitarian control.

• Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case
  scenario, offer criticism of a current trend,
  societal norm, or political system.

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A Clockwork Orange
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Characteristics of Dystopian Society

• Natural world banished or distrusted.
• Conformity for all individuality and dissidence
  is considered bad.
• Society is illusion of perfect utopian world.

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Characteristics of Dystopian Society

• Propaganda used to control citizens.
• Information, independent thought, freedom
  restricted.
• A figurehead or concept worshipped by citizens.

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Animal Farm
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Characteristics of Dystopian Society

• Fear of the outside world.
• Dehumanized state of living.

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The Road
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Types of Control

• Oppressive societal control and illusion of
  perfect society maintained by
• Corporate control maintained through
  advertising, products, media.Examples include
  Minority Report and Running Man.

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The Running Man
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Types of Control

• Oppressive societal control and illusion of
  perfect society maintained by
• Bureaucratic control mindless bureaucracy
  through red tape, relentless regulations,
  incompetent government officials. Examples in
  film include Brazil.

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Brazil
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Types of Control

• Technological control Society controlled by
  technologythrough computers, robots, and/or
  scientific means. Examples include The Matrix,
  The Terminator, and I, Robot.
• Philosophical/religious control Society
  controlled by philosophical or religious ideology
  often enforced through a dictatorship or
  theocratic government.

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Dystopian Protagonist

• Feels trapped and struggles to escape.
• Questions the existing social and political
  systems.
• Believes or feels something is terribly wrong
  with his/her society.
• Helps audience recognize negative aspects of
  dystopian world through his/her perspective.