Utopia vs. Dystopia

Before you create your own Utopia, have a look at the original:

“Utopia” = An ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects. Named after an imaginary island nation invented by Thomas More in his book called Utopia, published in 1516.

More’s Motivation: “When I run over in my mind the various commonwealths flourishing today, so help me God, I can see in them nothing but a conspiracy of the rich, who are fattening up their own interests under the name and the title of the commonwealth.” ---Thomas More

The Specifics – Part 1: EQUALITY: “equality for all results in enough for each”(61) WORK: everyone farms (50), six hour work days, you are assigned to a trade based on interest and ability, the idle are expelled from society (51)

The Specifics – Part 2 THE PEOPLE: everyone wears a sort of uniform to cut back on vanity and cost (50), there is great respect for the elderly (59), the population of each city has a cap. (55), there’s no greed because there is no shortage, citizens never butcher animals (57)---this work is hired out, slaves do all the dirty work (58) GOVERNMENT: you have to be educated to hold public office (53), their chief concern is human happiness (67), they pay people off to avoid war (62)

The Specifics – Part 3: LAWS: there are very few laws because everyone is so good (85), but there are a number of customs (ie) you get married at age 18 if you are a woman and at age 22 if you are a man. If you have pre-marital sex and you’re found out, then you are never allowed to marry (81).

The Specifics – Part 4: ADDITIONAL POINTS: gambling is not allowed (52), money is valued so little by the citizens that gems are used as children’s toys (63), music is very important (74), they denounce pride: “Pride is a serpent from hell that twines itself around the hearts of men, acting like a suckfish” (109-110).

Create Your Own Utopia: The Scenario: exasperated by cynicism, years of power squabbles and the extremely slow pace of the Canadian political system, the Prime Minister and Governor General have decided to hand over all the power in Canada to you in the hope that you will be able to build a better and more ideal nation. The future is in your hands. Insert Name Here

DYSTOPIA “Dystopia” is a word created in the nineteenth century to refer to the opposite of a utopia. 1. What do you and the members of your group see as the characteristics of a Dystopia? Develop a list of at least 10-15 characteristics. 2. Come up with a list of books, movies, and television shows that you could describe as “dystopian”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is it difficult to create a utopia DISCUSSION QUESTIONS 1. Why is it difficult to create a utopia? Is it possible? Why or why not? 2. What purpose is there to thinking about what dystopian situations could be like or, if you like, why are dystopian stories popular? 3. Is it possible that when one person creates a utopia for themselves, they create a dystopia for someone else? 4. What historical locations and time periods can you think of that could be described as dystopian? 5. Finally, explain how all dystopian literature or film is satire.