Dystopian Literature

1. Dystopian Literature

2. Dystopian Literature A subgenre of science fiction Some famous dystopian movies and books are … 1984 The Matrix Fahrenheit 451 Minority Report Brave New World Wall-E Player Piano V for Vendetta

3. What is a dystopia? The vision of a society that is the opposite of utopia A dystopian society is one where life is miserable The society is full of poverty, oppression, violence, disease, and/or pollution

4. Common traits of a dystopian society Negative and undesirable societies They are seen as visions of “dangerous and alienating future societies.” They often criticize current trends in culture.

5. Dystopian Society Severe social restrictions on characters’ lives Social classes are strictly defined and enforced The government wants people to conform, not to excel

6. Social Classes in a Dystopia Mostly the only social classes are the government and its subdivisions The leader is often a religious or “god-like” character The idea of family is attacked and the family structure is disrupted

7. Nature in a Dystopia Characters are isolated from contact with the natural world Dystopias are commonly urban and generally avoid nature

8. Politics in a Dystopia Common political systems in a dystopia are anarchism, bureaucracy, socialism, communism, chaos, excessive capitalism, fascism, totalitarianism, and dictatorships. Why are these the most common types of government in a dystopia? They exert A LOT of control!

9. Politics in a Dystopia Political system is flawed in some way Portrayed as oppressive Protagonist often has pessimistic views of the ruling class or government and forms or joins a “resistance group”

10. Elements of Dystopian Literature Usually advanced technology Usually centers around a protagonist who questions the society Usually a group of people who are not under control of the government The hero puts his/her faith in these people The hero’s goal is either to escape or destroy the social order The story is often unresolved

11. Dr. Robert J. Lifton’s8 Criteria for Thought Reform • Milieu Control – controlling information and communication in the environment and the individual • Mystical Manipulation – making experiences seem spontaneous when they were really planned by the leader or the group in power • Demand for Purity – world is viewed as black and white and everyone is expected to conform • Confession – sins are expected to be confessed publicly

12. Dr. Robert J. Lifton’s8 Criteria for Thought Reform 5. Sacred Silence – the group’s beliefs are the ultimate truth beyond all questioning or dispute 6. Loading the Language – the group uses words and phrases that outsiders don’t understand – the language also makes the members conform

13. Dr. Robert J. Lifton’s8 Criteria for Thought Reform 7. Doctrine Over the Person – personal experiences must fit into the belief system – if they do not, they will be reinterpreted so that they do 8. Dispensing of Existence – those in the outside world must be converted to the group’s ideology – if they do not convert, they must be rejected by the members