Dystopia

= Dystopian Literature  = //The Giver // by Louis Lowry //Fahrenheit 451 //by Ray Bradbury //Never Let Me Go // by Kazuo Ishiguro //The Hunger Games // by Suzanne Collins //World War Z // by Max Brooks

Dystopian Characteristics > -social class is strictly defined and enforced > -repression of the intellectual > -family is attacked, omitted > -flawed in some way; oppressive > -rule with an “iron fist” > -black market, contraband items > <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-Escape or Rebel > <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-death or conformity
 * 1) Society <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: most impose severe social restriction on community members
 * 1) Social Groups <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: total absence of social groups other than the “state”
 * 1) Nature <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: characters are isolated from the natural world
 * 2) Political <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: Government asserts power over citizens
 * 1) Economic <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: state is in control of the economy
 * 1) The Hero <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: protagonist questions society
 * 1) ** Conflict **<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: a societal group not under control of state
 * 2) Climax <span style="font-family: 'Californian FB','serif'; font-size: 16px;">: can be unresolved

The Giver <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Set in a futuristic “utopian” society, //The Giver// follows the story 12 year old Jonas and his awakening to his dystopian society when he is given the position of “Receiver of Memory;” the only person who holds memories of life before “sameness.”

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">//Dystopian Characteristics//: <span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Society__- citizens are allowed no choice in life, all emotions are taken away from them, and they are all the same. The society is severely structured. <span style="font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Social Groups__-the family is completely redone with the Council choosing each member, their name, and position in life.

Fahrenheit 451 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In a society where reading is outlawed and firemen no longer fight fires but burn books, Guy Montag gave no thought to his smilingly ordinary life. Yet when he witnesses a woman sacrifice herself for the books she loves, Montag becomes obsessed with learning the truth and finds himself under the attack of his fellow firefighters and the government.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">//Dystopian Characteristics:// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Political__: Government has control over what citizens are exposed too, removing books to keep them ignorant, and dumbing them down with media __Nature__: In the high tech society, Montag flees to nature, and the fields beyond his city, to escape the fireman.

Never Let Me Go //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Never Let Me //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> go chronicalizes the lives of Kathy, Tommy and Ruth as they realize their purpose in life: clones created to provide organs for their originals with incurable diseases. Yet as they grow, mature, and find love, they will do anything to “defer” their donations, providing an intense look into what it means to be human

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Dystopian Characteristics: // <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Conflict__: When Kathy and Tommy finally confess their feelings for one another; they search for a way to defer their donations so they can be together. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Climax__: The characters realize that running from their fate is impossible and take up their lives as donors and carers.

The Hunger Games <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Set in the post-apocalyptic country of Panem, //The Hunger Games// follows the story of 16 year old Katniss Everdeen who is chosen to compete in the Hunger Games; a televised competition where one boy and girl from each district competes to the death. This “big brother” survival game will leave readers on the edge of their seat, fighting for independence and life.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">//Dystopian Characteristics:// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__The Hero__: Katniss, taking her sisters place in the Hunger Games, tries to rebel against the Capital when they pit her and Peeta against each other, plotting to commit suicide and ruin the games. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Political__: The Capital has complete control over the citizens, forcing them into the Hunger Games for their enjoyment.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In a world where undead humans are reincarnated by an incurable virus, motivated by the consumption of human flesh, Brooks plays a United Nations Postwar agent who publishes an Oral History of the Zombie War, describing the struggles as human kind nears extinction.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">//Dystopian Characteristics:// <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">__Economic__: As the disease spreads across the world thanks to black market organ donations, the Nations of the world respond, some crumble, other close their boarders, and some, like Pakistan and Iran, destroy one another in a nuclear war <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">.__Conflict__: The Zombie War is ten years in the past, yet millions of zombies still fill the earth, nations have fallen, and the human race now fights to ward off extinction.

Other Texts: <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-World War Z Art Contest: John Petersen’s image <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-T.S. Elliot’s “Wasteland” <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-George Orwell’s 1984 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-Top 50 Dystopian Movies of All Time List <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">-1984 Movie Trailer

Glog and Wiki:

Glog: [] Wiki: http://dystopianlitbproject.wikispaces.com/

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Activities > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Imagine yourself as a student during Orwell’s 1984. All around you are the eyes of Big Brother, the telescreen sprouts information, and the Thought Police constantly monitor; you are covered in Propaganda. Choose one of the five novels and create a propaganda glog that fits the specific society. Think about the values, ideas, and rituals the society follows. What images, videos, music, or audio recordings would fit? > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Once you have your glog complete, write a one page reflection on the form of propaganda you used: Bandwagon, Testimonial, Plain Folks, Transfer, Fear, Logical Fallacies, Glittering Generalities, or Name-Calling and why (Smith). > > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury explores the ideas of censorship and conformity vs. individuality, by burning books (Summer Reading). Pick 3-5 of your favorite novels, and write a 3 page essay explaining the reasons why you would save these books from burning. Explain what the books mean to you, what society can learn from them, and discuss your opinion on book burning. > > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Giver ends ambiguously, allowing the reader to decide if Jonas escapes safely or dies of hypothermia. Re-write the ending in any genre you like (prose, poetry, news article, ect) by answering either of these questions, or write it entirely differently, using your own voice and style. > > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">In Never Let Me Go, the students in Hailsham are not taught life skills, but encouraged to create various forms of art and poetry, with the best works chosen by the Madame to keep in her Gallery. We later learn that the art was an effort to prove that the clones had souls (Never Let Me Go Fun Activities). > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Imagine yourself in the shoes of Kathy, Tommy, or Ruth, and create a poem or piece of art that they might have made in Hailsham to reflect their souls. Use any materials you might have found in Hailsham or traded with another student. We will then vote on the best pieces and create our own Gallery. > > In groups of 3-5, create a public service announcement explaining how to check family members and friends for signs of infection, as described in World War Z (World War Z Fun Activities). Get Creative! Present teh announcememnt to the clas in the form of a live news broadcast, or make your own video and play it for the class! > > In T.S. Elliot's "Wasteland," the dystopian theme is evident through rich imagery of a decaying, lifeless world. Think about the dystopian landscape in our five novels and create your own dystopian "wasteland." What does your dystopia look, sound and feel like? Write a poem, descriptive essay, or create a picture that shows us.
 * 1) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Propaganda Glogster **
 * 1) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Save from Fire Essay **
 * 1) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Ending the Ambiguity **
 * 1) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Hailsham Art Work **
 * 1) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The Zombie Defense **
 * 1) **Create your own "Wastland"**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Works Cited <span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> __1984 George Orwell Movie Trailer__. Perf. John Hurt. __Youtube__. 25 Mar. 2008. 25 Oct. 2011.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Fun Classroom Activities." //Never Let Me Go Fun Activities//. Book Rags, 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Fun Classroom Activities." //World War Z FunActivities//. Book Rags, 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'times new roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Petersen, John. //Battle of Yonkers//. Digital image. //Word War Z//. Random House. Web. 25 Oct.2011.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Top 50 Dystopian Movies of All Time." //Snarkerati//. 28 Sept. 2007. Web. 25 Oct. 2011

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">Smith, Jessica H. //Dystopian Literature: From Fiction to Fact: A Course for Adult Education Programs//. //Dystopian Literature: From Fiction to Fact//. New Hampshire Bureau of Adult Education, 8 June 2009. Web. 25 Oct. 2011

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Summer Reading and Writing Assignment: Fahrenheit 451." //Fahrenheit 451 Lesson Plans//. Lesson Planet. Web. 25 Oct. 2011.