1. Introduction to Research Topics
Brave New World
Introduction to Research Topics

2. Utopia Utopia vs. Dystopia 1:39-2:00
First used by Sir Thomas More in
Refers to an imagined society where “everything is awesome.”
Utopia
Utopia vs. Dystopia 1:39-2:00

3. 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

4. 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

5. Plato’s Republic and Visions of Utopia
Paper Topics
Plato’s Republic and Visions of Utopia
Plato’s Republic Movie Trailer
EPCOT Vision (1966) 10:19-12:38

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

7. Paper Topics What is civilization?
Planned Economies vs. Free-Market Economies
Caste Systems

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

9. Planned vs. Free-Market Economies
Crash Course Economic Systems :52-5:36

10. 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

11. Individual and Society
Individuals must learn to function as part of a society - interacting with other people and systems is crucial.
Individual and Society

12. Paper Topics
Cultural and Societal Norms
Social Engineering and Social Conditioning
Subliminal Propaganda and “Sleep Learning”

13. 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

14. 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

15. Social Engineering and Social Conditioning
Social Influence from Crash Course 9:07

16. Subliminal Propaganda and Hypnopaedia
Hidden Messages in Corporate Logos :40
The Island scene :34
10 Subliminal Messages 5:00

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

18. Paper Topics
Genetic Engineering / Cloning
Drug Use and Abuse
Technology and Virtual Reality

19. Genetic Engineering and Cloning
Human Cloning from Science Channel 3:00
Dolly the Sheep from NYT RetroReport
Genetically Modified Humans from SciShow 5:00

20. Drug Use and Abuse
Explain it to Me: Addiction from CNN 3:00

21. Technology and Virtual Reality
How Technology Has Changed the World
Virtual Reality from Mashable 3:00

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