Dystopia: the idea of a world gone wrong. The devastating corruption of humanity and the environment. A place that belongs in nightmares. In this course, you will explore the forms, results and the realities of human control, examining the anxieties that lead to systems of control.

Why do we both desire and hate to be controlled? What does it mean to be free? Ask yourself how methods of control are made socially acceptable and think about why we love to see rebels undermining the system. Conform or rebel, but remember: Big Brother is watching.

Using film and literature, this unit explores and analyses dystopian views of our world, considering the impact of control on our society. Is earth heading towards a dystopian future, and if so, can we change the course we’re on?

In this course you will examine a range of dystopian short stories, including much of Ray Bradbury’s work. You will also look at dystopian poems, visual images and segments of film, demonstrating your knowledge of dystopian generic conventions through the creation of a range of text types.