Dystopia

Prompt: My unit plan theme is on the Quest for Perfection, which could relate to the perfection in oneself, others, or society. For this particular activity, focused on finding perfection in society around you. The quest for perfection can lead to society attempting to create a Utopia, but sometimes an attempt to creat an utopia leads to sacrificing a few liberties. In that case do you have a utopia or a Dystopia?

Pre-Writing (Thinking):
 * 1) What is your idea of utopia?
 * 2) What is your idea of dystopia?
 * 3) Can one person's idea of a utopia be another person's idea of dystopia.

Activity
 * 1) Read the poem Dystopia
 * 2) After reading the poem, identify and underline the words that "paint the picture" of dystopia (dark, brooding, black, etc.)
 * 3) After identifying the words, go through and replace them with either their opposite (dark to white, etc.) or any word that changes the mood of the poem.
 * 4) Answer the Question: How does changing the words change the meaning of the poem? Pick a title that reflects the new meaning of the poem.
 * 5) Read the poem Tedious Utopia
 * 6) Compare the poem to Dystopia and to your new poem? How are three messages different? How are they the same?
 * 7) Would you rather live in the dystopia described in Dystopia, the Utopia described in Tedious Dystopia, or the world you created after modifying Dystopia? Why?

Dystopia

Smoke pumping into the sky, A Gothic Skyline filled with black Black architecture, Dominating a brooding landscape

Clanking cogs grinding, Making an inhuman scream People walking silently, In black uniform lines

No individuality survives, Everyone dressed the same, skin pale to the eye Morbidly cold to the touch, Mere machines

Blackness permeating everywhere, Flesh providing no warmth I dream of what the world could have been like, Full of color and life, full of creativity and uniqueness

No place to voice my ideas, Dangerous ideas crushed by those in control Part of one collective mind, Merely a subjugated citizen!

Josh Gibbens

Tedious Utopia

Long ago and faraway where all good tales began in a land of plenty not marred by thinking man No poverty or sickness, anger, greed, or hate Time was not the master and folk were never late Utopian land of dreams Heavenly place to some To one man it seemed tedious "A paradise for the dumb" "Not for those who question or rise to seize the day No challenges to stretch their minds" was what he'd like to say. Others seem content in the endless glow of sun but the wise man prayed earnestly that it would come undone He grew tired of endless day and longed for the contrast of night because 'On after darkness can they hope to see the light.' He looked upon the people grown complacent, soft and fat "Nothing more and nothing less. What's a ball without a bat?" There's no competition When everyone agrees Surrounded by perfection what would they hope to see? A better world is found in balanced black and white. Growth can only happen through challenges in life. Hearts and minds grow stronger when they bravely bear the load How can one develop with only one choice of road?"

Chanti

Activity in Action

ANTI-Dystopia

A **Western** Skyline filled with **light** Dominating a **joyful** landscape
 * Cotton Candy** pumping into the sky,
 * Pink** architecture,

Clanking cogs grinding, Making a **joyful yell** People walking **excitedly**, In **clusters**

Everyone dressed **tacky**, skin **bright** to the eye Mere machines
 * All** individuality survives,
 * Comfortably** **steaming** to the touch,

Flesh providing **much** warmth I **dread** what the world could have been like,
 * Sunshine** permeating everywhere,
 * No** color and life, **lack** of creativity and uniqueness

Part of one **awesome** mind, Merely an **awesome** citizen!
 * Many** place**s** to voice my ideas,
 * Outrageous** ideas **encouraged** by those in control

4. The poem is no longer describing a dystopia. 5. The first poem (Dystopia) describes a bleak world where everyone is the same and there is no creativity or life. The poem Tedious Utopia, also describes a world where everywhere is essentially the same but there is no conflict. However, people are stunted here since everything is perfect. There is no chance for growth. The poem I created, Anti-Dystopia, essentially describes a world where everything is free and people can act they way they want to act. It is a crazy version of a Utopia. 6. I would live in the Utopia described in Tedious Utopia because the world I created is too crazy and dystopia sounds depressing. At least in Tedious Utopia everyone is content and happy.