Utopia/Dystopia

• Utopia


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


  A 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, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system
• Characteristics of a Dystopian Society

  • 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 have a fear of the outside world
  • Citizens live in a dehumanised state
  • The natural world is banished and distrusted (nature is exploited, destroyed)
  • Citizens conform to uniform expectations. Individuality and dissent are bad
  • Society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world
• Types of Dystopian Controls

  • Corporate control
  • Bureaucratic control
  • Technological control
  • Philosophical/religious control
• Dystopian Protagonist


  • Often feels trapped and is struggling to escape
  • Questions the existing social and political systems = courage
  • Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which they live
  • Helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through their perspective. Inspires independent thought, action to improve the world