2. Dystopia
• Dys = bad
• Topia = place
What’s the opposite of a dystopia?
3. Dystopia
In literature, a dystopia is 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.
4. Characteristics of Dystopian Society
• Propaganda is used to control the citizens of
society
• Information, independent thought, and
freedom are restricted
11. Read each of the following value statements
silently. After taking a few seconds to think about
it…
Do you agree with the statement?
Why?
12. Young adults crave stories of
broken societies because they
are aware that their own world
is falling apart
13. Teenagers who love dystopian
themes are the ones who don’t
have to face them. Teenagers
wouldn’t enjoy dark fiction if
they lived in a culture where
violent death was a major
concern.
14. Fear is necessary for society.
Without fear of punishment,
most people would not follow
society’s rules.
15. Schools are places where teens
are subject to dress codes, have
few free speech rights, are
constantly under surveillance,
where they sit and rise at the
sound of the bell.
16. Surveillance keeps us safe. The
only people who need to worry
about it are criminals.
What other words can you come up with that have these roots in them?
Through exaggeration, dystopias expose truths/criticism of our own society.
Oppressive = tyrannical
- In what ways does the world of the hunger games resemble our world today? What extremes are exaggerated for effect?
Give example of Hunger Games, capitol is so removed from nature. To hunt, Katniss has to go beyond the premises of the area she’s supposed to be in.
Everyone pretends to think everything is okay. People live blindly, not seeing the truth.