The Dystopian Protagonist

o has a wider and more critical understanding of reality

o helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the

dystopian world through his or her perspective

o Questions the existing social and political systems and rebels

o Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society

in which he or she lives.

o Often feels trapped and is struggling to escape.

Types of Dystopian Controls

Most dystopian works present a world in which oppressive societal control and the illusion of a perfect society are maintained through one or more of the following types of controls:

o Corporate control: One or more large corporations control

society through products, advertising, and/or the media.

Examples include Minority Report and Running Man.

o Bureaucratic control: Society is controlled by a mindless

bureaucracy through a tangle of red tape, relentless regulations,

and incompetent government officials. Examples include Brazil.

o Technological control: Society is controlled by technology—

through computers, robots, and/or scientific means. Examples

include The Matrix, The Terminator, and I, Robot.

o Philosophical/religious control: Society is controlled by

philosophical or religious ideology often enforced through a

dictatorship or theocratic government.