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1. In what ways do you feel the United States could be considered an oligarchy?

2. In what way does the government keep track of Americans’ use of the Internet, phones, and other personal information?

3. Give reasons why this information should and should not be gathered.

4. What do you think Americans’ lives will be like in 50 years? What specific changes do you imagine? What will remain the same? Discuss personal lives, jobs, transportation, education, defense, industry, and any other topics that should be examined.

Dystopia Bleak vision of the future The word itself is Greek in origin:dys (bad) + to’pas (place)

Dystopian Society Characteristics

Imaginary future in a nightmare world Oppressive regimes Dehumanizing technological advances Man-made disasters or polluted

wastelands Worlds of misery, violence, and disease

A dystopian society is the opposite of a utopia.

Utopia Utopia is the name

for an ideal or perfect society, taken from the title of a book written in 1516 by Sir Thomas More that described a fictional island in the Atlantic Ocean. His ideas were based off Plato’s Republic.

Utopian Ideals Beautiful and

peaceful society No poverty or

misery Very few laws

needed Money not

necessary People’s work is

enjoyable and benefits common good

Examples: the Garden of Eden; the Buddhist concept of Nirvana

Dystopias: Imaginary Future Worlds

Serve as cautionary tales against the threat of oppressive regimes.

Are often visions of dangerous and alienating future societies, intended to criticize current trends in culture.

The term ‘dystopia’ was coined in 1868 by the English philosopher John Stuart Mill.

Dystopias: Common in Science Fiction

George Orwell’s 1984, published in 1949, is one of the most famous dystopian texts. The term “Big Brother” came into popular use from this novel.

More Famous Dystopian Novels:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Modern Films V for Vendetta The Hunger Games The Matrix Blade Runner Minority Report

Teen Dystopian Fiction The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne

Collins The Divergent Series by Veronica Roth The Giver Series by Lois Lowry The Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver The Maze Runner Series by James

Dashner

George Orwell

Agree or Disagree?1. To protect our country, our government

should be able to spy on us. 2. People who are a serious threat to our

government should be able to be held in prison without being charged.

3. The government has a right to know what people are reading to determine who might be threats.

Agree or Disagree?5. Society would be safer if we had security

cameras in public places to catch criminals.

6. Children should turn their parents in if they are breaking the law.

Links http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9JIKn

gJnCU Apple Advertisement from 1984

The Wall, Part 2 Everybody Wants to Rule the World