Dystopian literature for youth

Using satirical irony to comment on how current trends may lead to

future problems

• A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained.

• Some kinds of oppressive control – Corporate (big business) Minority Report– Bureaucratic (big government) – Technological (computers & robots) Terminator, The

Matrix– Moral (religion, theocracy)– Totalitarian (single leader whom all obey)

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

• Word was coined by Sir Thomas Moore for his book.

• Utopia (1516) portrays an ideal community on a fictional island society in the Atlantic Ocean

• A utopia, now, is a community or society possessing highly desirable or perfect qualities

• Dystopia relies on the idea of utopia.

• Dystopian literature is now much more common that utopian literature.

• 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 fear the outside world. • Citizens live in a dehumanized state. • The natural world is banished and distrusted. • Citizens conform to uniform expectations.

Individuality and dissent are bad. • The illusion of a perfect utopian world is

broken.

• sense that something is fundamentally wrong with their society.

• question the existing social and political order.

• feel trapped and struggle for change or escape.

• help readers recognize negative aspects of their society through their perspective.

• Brave New World (1931) by Aldous Huxley. Set in London of AD 2540. World is united under one government. Population limited. Sex is only for recreation.

• Written in response to utopian novels of HG Wells in which technology makes the world better.

• Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) by George Orwell world of perpetual war, omnipresent government surveillance, and public mind control, Government persecutes all individualism and independent thinking as thought crimes.

• Their tyranny is headed by Big Brother, the

1. The Time Machine by H.G. Wells (1895)2. 1984 by George Orwell (1949)3. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985)4. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (1932)5. The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter (1977)6. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)7. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008)8. The Giver by Lois Lowry (1993)9. Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954)10. V For Vendetta by Alan Moore (1982-1989)11. The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006)12. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (1963)13. Logan's Run By William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson (1967)

http://www.ranker.com/list/the-13-best-dystopian-novels/ivana-wynn?page=1

Urban, futuristic, absence of natural world, monochrome

What is the political message here involving a dystopian idea

SurveillanceSatirical Irony

Are these cartoons just funny, or do they also make a point?

•Barren•Black & white•Contaminated earth•Bleak landscape•Nature gone

AZIZ+CUCHER INTERVIEW:http://www.undo.net/it/magazines/933692055

Faceless, voicelessHorrorindustrial

1. What are some of the present trends in society that The Giver makes us think about?

2. What does this3. Why do you think dystopian literature is popular

with youth?4. Is Jonas right to run away?5. What happens to Jonas and Gabe? Do they live?