Lesson 3+4 Utopias and Dystopias

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Utopias and Dystopias

What does the word "Utopia" mean to you?

What does the word "Dystopia" mean to you?

Thomas More’s “Utopia”

• Lawyer, sheriff, statesman
  
• Friend of Erasmus
  
• 1516 publishes Utopia
  
• A story about travel to an ideal society
  
• Not the first but the definition of the genre
  
• A commentary on society
  

• .....
• .....
• Eutopia
  
• Topos = place
  
• Eu = good
  
• “the perfect society” →

• ....
• ....
  
• Outopia
  
• Topos = place
  
• Ou = not
  
• “does not exist”/“nowhere”
  

A Meaningful pun

Recognizable

A utopia cannot be completely different from our society, it must resemble it, and appear to be a progression from or alternative version of our current society.

Write a one-sentence description of your own personal utopia

watch the following video

Decide if it is a utopia or a dystopia.

Was this a Utopia or Dystopia?

Utopia

Dystopia

Is this a utopian or dystopian world? Explain

Is a utopia-for-all possible? Explain

Dystopia 

dys=bad + topos=place

New class rules

1. No one will be allowed to talk in class at all without my permission. In fact, talking will be very limited from now on

2. You will instead communicate via an online chat. ONLY in the computer lab. I will have access to everything you say in your chats. No other form of communication will be allowed in class unless it is with me or is conducted with my permission 

3. The class will be divided into 3 groups based on grades. There will be no communication allowed outside of these groups in class.

4. We will no longer talk about the past. We will be free from the burden of thinking about the past. We will only concentrate on the present and future

5. You may not discuss your family, interests or cultural background. Our classroom culture is more important.

6. Talking about Politics is absolutely forbidden!

Techniques used in dystopian literature 

During the following video take notes on:

- The techniques mentioned

- A historical moment when looking for a utopia has turned into a dystopia

- Other techniques, you see in the video, that define dystopian literature? For example, isolation etc.

0

Dystopian society in fiction

• Citizens' lives are closely controlled by a government or corporation by means of technology, religion or ideology.
•  The truth about the world is kept from most members of society
• Citizens must conform to the rules.  Individuality is a bad thing. 
• Citizens are dehumanized.
• The society presents the illusion of a utopia to its citizens.
• The main character in dystopian works is one of the few to see the truth.

Name Dystopian books, films, games, tv shows you are aware of.

Dystopian fiction criticizes

Technology

Ideology

Religion

The Seven Deadly Sins

What were the dystopian works you know criticizing?

On the next slide you find a quiz about the dystopia you belong in. Write down which dystopia you got and what you would like and dislike about this type of dystopia.

https:

Which dystopia did you get? What you would like and dislike about this type of dystopia?

On the next slide you find ANOTHER quiz about the dystopia you belong in. If you want to try and see if you have a different outcome, take the quiz! Write down which dystopia you got and what you would like and dislike about this type of dystopia.

https:

Which dystopia did you get? What you would like and dislike about this type of dystopia?