Brave New WorldIntroduction to Research Topics

UtopiaUtopia vs. Dystopia 1:39-2:00

First used by Sir Thomas More in 1516.

Refers to an imagined society where “everything is awesome.”

Utopia in Real life

A utopian society in real life is usually a group of people who have separated from mainstream society and chosen to come together with common goals or lifestyles.

• Shaker communities

• “Hippie” communes

• Factory towns

• Planned cities and towns

Utopia in Literature

A utopian society in literature is one that has solved societal problems - like violence, hunger, equality, poverty, environmental concerns, etc.

May be portrayed as a dystopia - where the “solution” of the utopia has caused additional and/or worse problems.

Utopia by Sir Thomas More

Plato’s Republic

Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach

Paper Topics

Plato’s Republic and Visions of UtopiaPlato’s Republic Movie Trailer

EPCOT Vision (1966) 10:19-12:38

Government and Society

Governments shape and influence society - through laws, policies, economics, infrastructure, public safety, education and even maintaining social structures.

Paper Topics

• What is civilization?

• Planned Economies vs. Free-Market Economies

• Caste Systems

Civilization

What is Civilization? from Crash Course 1:25-2:30

Planned vs. Free-Market Economies

Crash Course Economic Systems :52-5:36

Caste and Class Systems

Social strata based on heredity - a person is born into a specific caste or class, may not ever change their caste or class, and must adhere to rules dictating livelihood, marriage, and etiquette.

Caste system in India (:22-2:11)

Royalty and Aristocracy

Individual and Society Individuals must learn to

function as part of a society - interacting with other people and systems is crucial.

Paper Topics

• Cultural and Societal Norms

• Social Engineering and Social Conditioning

• Subliminal Propaganda and “Sleep Learning”

Cultural and Societal Norms

Cultural norms are the standards we live by. They are the shared expectations and rules that guide behavior of people within social groups.

Cultural norms are learned and reinforced from parents, friends, teachers and others while growing up in a society.

Greetings

Food

Etiquette and basic behavior

Customs and rituals

Cultural and Societal Norms

Greetings Around the World 1:15

Foreign Cultural Norms that Americans Find Odd 2:15

American Hand Gestures that Will Get You in Trouble 2:00

Social Engineering and Social Conditioning

Social Influence from Crash Course 9:07

Subliminal Propaganda and Hypnopaedia

Hidden Messages in Corporate Logos :40

The Island scene :34

10 Subliminal Messages 5:00

Technology and Society

Technology - from the wheel to the computer - has been affecting society for good and ill for millennia.

Paper Topics

• Genetic Engineering / Cloning

• Drug Use and Abuse

• Technology and Virtual Reality

Genetic Engineering and Cloning

Human Cloning from Science Channel 3:00

Dolly the Sheep from NYT RetroReport

Genetically Modified Humans from SciShow 5:00

Drug Use and Abuse

Explain it to Me: Addiction from CNN 3:00

Technology and Virtual Reality

How Technology Has Changed the World

Virtual Reality from Mashable 3:00

It’s a Brave New World!What topics interest you?