Features+of+Utopias+and+Dystopias

 **Utopia: **A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions.

 **Dystopia: **A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through government control. Dystopias, through an exaggerated worst-case scenario, make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.

**Characteristics of a Dystopian Society **  • Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society.  • Information, independent thought, and freedom are restricted.  • A figurehead or concept is worshipped by the citizens of the society.  • Citizens are perceived to be under constant watch. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"> • Citizens have a fear of the outside world. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"> • Citizens live in a dehumanized state. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"> • The natural world is banished and distrusted. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"> • Citizens conform (obey) to uniform expectations. Individuality is considered bad. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: 0in;"> • The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world. <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; font-size: 11pt;">

**<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">The Dystopian Protagonist **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">
<span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;"> • often feels trapped and is struggling to escape. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;"> • questions the existing social and political systems. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;"> • believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives. <span style="margin: 0in -34.55pt 0pt -0.5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: 0in;"> • helps the audience recognizes the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.