DYSTOPIAN FUTURES - 26th September 2018

Dystopian Futures...

In today's theory session with Faye we learnt about different ideas of Dystopian Futures. Distopia is the opposite of utopia. The term was created by Thomas Moore in 1516, the theory of a perfect society. There a very frightening fictional Dystopia's including worst case scenarios for our future. They also expose important truths about our current reality. Dystopian ideas answer 'what if' questions about future possible occurrences.

An example of a films with dystopian ideas include films such as The matrix, maze runner, walle and Hunger games. These films introduce possible ideas of future fears. For example in hunger games includes the idea of people living in a military run state. The hunger games personally made me think deeper into what military law could lead into and how the film creates the idea that strict rules lead to guarding a certain way of life. This got me thinking about our reality and how close we are to something similar happening, much worse than it already does. In the film, Panem is used to represent the perfect world which is governed by an oppressive leader in the Capitol. This is emphasized through the other districts being miserable. Panem is used to represent a dystopian united states.

Other common fears explored in dystopian narratives could consist of..

The world running out of resources and what will happen..

Humans resulting to cannibalism..

Humanity extinction..

Reality TV used as a form of propaganda..

Living in a society with no law and order..

After lunch we looked into...

Characteristics of a Dystopian society

* Propaganda is used to control the citizens of society so that people obey.

* Information and independence restriction (not allowed to do what you want.)

* A figure head concept is worshiped by citizens of society.

* Citizens under surveillance (ALWAYS being watched)

* Citizens and their fear of the outside world.. Idea that the outside world is dangerous.

* Citizens living in a dehumanized state.. not treated like humans, not individual.

* Natural world banished or destructed.

* Citizens conform to uniform expectations meaning everyone is in line and made to be doing or thinking the same.

* Society is an illusion of a perfect Utopian world.

We then went on to learning about the different types of dystopian controls meaning one or more large corporations control society through advertising product or the media. Examples include minority report and running man..

Bureaucratic control

Bureaucratic control means society controlled by documents and paper work. (being weighed down by excessive paper work to complete the smallest thing)

A group of people that make official decisions following an established process.

'society is controlled by governement'

An example of a film that includes this could be Brazil or Vendetta.

Traits of a Distopian Protagonist...

Has a problem with society and disagrees on other veiws (their opinion stands out.)

Helps audience recognise problems within society by challenging it.

They often feel trapped in some way.

As the protagonist they help prove why their veiws are right and get the audience on their side.

Challenge the fact that the people in charge probably should'nt be in charge.

Likes to discreetly out smart people.

Questions existing rules and regulations which has an impact on the audience as they also begin to question things....