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APERFECTWORLD?

UTOPIASANDDYSTOPIAS

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INDEX

HSCPRELIMINARYCOURSE 4

TEXTS,CULTUREANDVALUE 4 ELECTIVERUBRIC 4

KEYTERMS 5

APERFECTWORLD 5

THEKEYTEXTSSETFORSTUDY 6 FOCUSQUESTIONS 6

DYSTOPIAS:DEFINITIONANDCHARACTERISTICS 7

CHARACTERISTICSOFA‘TYPICAL’DYSTOPIANSOCIETY 7 TYPESOFDYSTOPIANCONTROLS 7 THEDYSTOPIANPROTAGONIST 7

VARIETIESOFUTOPIAS 8

ECOLOGY 8 ECONOMICS 8 POLITICSANDHISTORY 9 RELIGIOUSUTOPIA 9 SCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGY 10 FEMINISM 10

GREEKANDROMANMYTHS 12

THEGOLDENAGE/ELYSIUM 12

ANEXCERPTFROMTHEINTRODUCTIONOFCAREY’STHEFABERBOOKOFUTOPIAS,PUBLISHEDIN1999: 14

QUESTIONS 14 EXCERPTFROMLITERATUREOFTRAVELANDEXPLORATION 15

BIBLEEXTRACTS 19

GENESIS1 19 GENESIS2 19 GENESIS3 20

CONVERSATIONSABOUTTHEINTERNET#5:ANONYMOUSFACEBOOKEMPLOYEE 21

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QUESTIONS 24 BACKGROUNDINFORMATIONONTHE“1984”MACINTOSHCOMMERCIAL 27 1984BYGEORGEORWELL 27 FASTFACTSABOUTTHE“1984”MACINTOSHCOMMERCIAL 27

SCENE‐BY‐SCENESUMMARYOFTHE“1984”MACINTOSHCOMMERCIAL 28

METROPOLIS(FRITZLANG,1927) 29 BRAZIL(TERRYGILLIAM,1985) 29 I,ROBOT(2004) 29 GATTACA 29

REFERENCES 33

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HSCPRELIMINARYCOURSE

Texts,CultureandValueStudentsshouldexamineeachtexttodetermine:

• Howthelanguageofthetextshapesandreflectsitsvalues• Whythetextisvaluedandinwhatcontext• Whatistherelationshipbetweenthetextanditsculture• Towhatextenttheculturalvaluesofthetexthavechangedormaintained

ElectiveRubricUtopiasandDystopiasInthisunitstudentsexploretextswhichrelatetotheconceptsofutopiasanddystopias.Utopiaswereandareusedinliteraturetosatiriseandcritiquesociety.Utopiasaretypifiedbytheauthor’sidealizationofkeyparadigmssuchaspolitics,class,religionandlaw.Theportrayalofanidealcommonwealthhasadoublefunction:itestablishesastandard,agoal;andbyvirtueofitsexistencealoneitcastsacriticallightonsocietyaspresentlyconstituted.Overtime,therehasbeenashifttowardsthecompositionofdystopiaswhichservethesamesatiricandallegoricpurposeinaformthatratherthanidealizingcertainvalues,thepresentationofadystopiashowstheeffectofaworldwithdifferingoranoveremphasisoncertainvalues.Thestudyofthesetextsexaminesandexploresthecomposers’valuesandtheimpactofcontext.Itwillalsoshowthetransformationandtheshiftinthegenreandformovertime.

EchoingthestandardsoftheHSCprescriptions,studentsarerequiredtostudyatleastthreeoftheprescribedtexts,twoofwhichmustbeprinttexts,aswellasothertextsoftheirownchoosing.Intheirrespondingandcomposingtheyexplore,analyse,experimentwithandcriticallyevaluatetheirprescribedtextsandarangeofotherappropriateexamples.Textsshouldbedrawnfromarangeofcontextsandmedia,andshouldreflecttheconcernsoftheRomanticperiod.

EnglishStage6Prescriptions2009‐2012BoardofStudiesNSW,Sydney

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KeyTerms

TEXTSarecommunicationsofmeaningproducedinanymedium;includingsound,film,electronicandmultimediarepresentations.Theymaybeextendedunifiedworksoraseriesofrelatedpieces.Itisacollectivenounusedtorefertothisvarietyofforms.CULTURE:thesocialpracticesofaparticularpeopleorgroup,includingsharedbeliefs,values,knowledge,customsandlifestyle.POPULARCULTURE:culturalexperienceswidelyenjoyedbymembersofvariousgroupswithinthecommunity.VALUE:toestimateorassignworthtoatext;toconsidersomethingtohaveworth.APPROPRIATION:Theprocesswherebyatexthasbeentakenfromonecontextandtranslatedintoanother.Theprocessoftranslationallowsnewinsightsintotheoriginaltextandemphasisescontextualdifferencesbetweenthetwo.CONTEXT:Therangeofpersonal,social,historicalandculturalconditionsinwhichatextiscomposedANDrespondedto.

APerfectWorld

1. Gothroughthedescriptionofthecourse.2. Readthevariousexcerptsaboututopias.3. Insmallgroups,designyourownutopia.

a. Giveitaname.b. Apoliticalsystem.c. Socialstructure–considerclassandfamily.d. Workandlaw.e. Basiceconomics.f. Educationg. Anythingelseyouthinkitmayneed.

4. Presentthistotheclass.

Tohelpbrainstormideasforyourperfectsocieties:Ifyoucouldliveanywhereintheworld,wherewouldyoulive?Why?Whataboutthisplaceappealstoyou?Describeyourperfectlife.Whowouldyouwantwithyou?Whatwouldyoudoeveryday?Howwouldyoumakemoney?Whatkindofruleswouldyoufollow(ornot)?

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IntroductionUtopiaisanameforanidealcommunityorsociety,thatistakenfromUtopia,abookwrittenin1516bySirThomasMoredescribingafictionalislandintheAtlanticOcean,possessingaseeminglyperfectsocio‐politico‐legalsystem.Thetermhasbeenusedtodescribebothintentionalcommunitiesthatattemptedtocreateanidealsociety,andfictionalsocietiesportrayedinliterature."Utopia"issometimesusedpejoratively,inreferencetoanunrealisticidealthatisimpossibletoachieve.Ithasspawnedotherconcepts,mostprominentlydystopia.Thewordcomesfromtheprefix"not",andτόπος,"place",indicatingthatMorewasutilizingtheconceptasallegoryanddidnotconsidersuchanidealplacetoberealisticallypossible.ThehomophoneEutopia,derivedfromtheGreekεὖ,"good"or"well",andτόπος,"place",signifiesadoublemeaningthatwasalmostcertainlyintended.Despitethis,mostmodernusageoftheterm"Utopia"assumesthelattermeaning,thatofaplaceofperfectionratherthannonexistence.ThenotionofutopiahasbeenrepresentedinmanyacienttextsincludingTheRepublicbytheGreekphilosopherPlatoandtheBiblicalbooks,GenesisandRevelation.TheRepublicistheearliestsurvivingEuropeanwritingontheideaofutopia(althoughofcoursethetermutopiadidnotexistuntilMore’swritings).

ThekeytextssetforstudyUtopiabyThomasMoreFahrenheit451byRayBradburyGattacabyAndrewNiccolStudentswillexamine:

• Thefeaturesofthesestories• Thevaluesofeachsociety• Thecontextandvaluesofthecomposers• Thevalueswebringotthetextsas21stcenturyresponders

FocusQuestions1. WhyisthenotionofutopiafascinatingtoWesterncultures?Isitalsoofinteresttoother

cultures?Whataretheways,andthereasonswhy,utopiantextsareculturallysignificantandvalued?

2. Whatisthepurposeofutopiantexts?Dothecomposersintendtocreateanidealwhichisunattainable?Doestheutopiantextcreateaworkableblueprintforanewandbettersociety?Isthepurposeoftheworktosatirisethecomposer’sownsocietybypostulatingabetterorworseworld?

3. Whatisthecontextoftheutopiantext?Thecomposer’sownpersonal,social,historicalandculturalconditionshaveinfluencedthecreationofthetext.Whyisthismoreprominentinthisgenrethanothergenresoftexts?Theresponderalsobringshis/herowncontexttotheexaminationandunderstandingofthetext.

4. Howdoesthecomposerrepresenthis/herconceptofutopia?Howdoestherepresentationshapeandreflectvalues?

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Dystopias:DefinitionandCharacteristicsUtopia:Aplace,state,orconditionthatisideallyperfectinrespectofpolitics,laws,customs,andconditions.Dystopia:Afuturistic,imagineduniverseinwhichoppressivesocietalcontrolandtheillusionofaperfectsocietyaremaintainedthroughcorporate,bureaucratic,technological,moral,ortotalitariancontrol.Dystopias,throughanexaggeratedworst‐casescenario,makeacriticismaboutacurrenttrend,societalnorm,orpoliticalsystem.

Characteristicsofa‘typical’DystopianSociety•Propagandaisusedtocontrolthecitizensofsociety.•Information,independentthought,andfreedomarerestricted.•Afigureheadorconceptisworshippedbythecitizensofthesociety.•Citizensareperceivedtobeunderconstantsurveillance.•Citizenshaveafearoftheoutsideworld.•Citizensliveinadehumanisedstate.•Thenaturalworldisbanishedanddistrusted.•Citizensconformtouniformexpectations.Individualityanddissentarebad.•Thesocietyisanillusionofaperfectutopianworld.

TypesofDystopianControlsMostdystopianworkspresentaworldinwhichoppressivesocietalcontrolandtheillusionofaperfectsocietyaremaintainedthroughoneormoreofthefollowingtypesofcontrols:

•Corporatecontrol:Oneormorelargecorporationscontrolsocietythroughproducts,advertising,and/orthemedia.ExamplesincludeMinorityReportandRunningMan.

•Bureaucraticcontrol:Societyiscontrolledbyamindlessbureaucracythroughatangleofredtape,relentlessregulations,andincompetentgovernmentofficials.ExamplesinfilmincludeBrazil.

•Technologicalcontrol:Societyiscontrolledbytechnology—throughcomputers,robots,and/orscientificmeans.ExamplesincludeTheMatrix,TheTerminator,andI,Robot.

•Philosophical/religiouscontrol:Societyiscontrolledbyphilosophicalorreligiousideologyoftenenforcedthroughadictatorshiportheocraticgovernment.

TheDystopianProtagonist•oftenfeelstrappedandisstrugglingtoescape.•questionstheexistingsocialandpoliticalsystems.•believesorfeelsthatsomethingisterriblywrongwiththesocietyinwhichheorshelives.•helpstheaudiencerecognizesthenegativeaspectsofthedystopianworldthroughhisorher

perspective.

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VarietiesofUtopias More'sUtopiaislargelybasedonPlato'sRepublic.ItisaperfectversionofRepublicwhereinthebeautiesofsocietyreign(eg:equalityandageneralpacifistattitude),althoughitscitizensareallreadytofightifneedbe.Theevilsofsociety,eg:povertyandmisery,areallremoved.Ithasfewlaws,nolawyersandrarelysendsitscitizenstowar,buthiresmercenariesfromamongitswar‐proneneighbours(thesemercenariesweredeliberatelysentintodangeroussituationsinthehopethatthemorewarlikepopulationsofallsurroundingcountrieswillbeweededout,leavingpeacefulpeoples).Thesocietyencouragestoleranceofallreligions.Somereadershavechosentoacceptthisimaginarysocietyastherealisticblueprintforaworkingnation,whileothershavepostulatedMoreintendednothingofthesort.SomemaintainthepositionthatMore'sUtopiafunctionsonlyonthelevelofasatire,aworkintendedtorevealmoreabouttheEnglandofhistimethanaboutanidealisticsociety.Thisinterpretationisbolsteredbythetitleofthebookandnation,anditsapparentequivocationbetweentheGreekfor"noplace"and"goodplace":"Utopia".

Ecology Ecologicalutopiasdescribenewwaysinwhichsocietyshouldrelatetonature.TheyreacttoaperceivedwideninggapbetweenthemodernWesternwayoflivingthatdestroysnatureandthetraditionalwayoflivingthatisthoughttobemoreinharmonywithnature.AccordingtotheDutchphilosopherMariusdeGeus,ecologicalutopiascouldbesourcesofinspirationforgreenpoliticalmovements. Ecologicalutopiasorutopiasthathaveimportantecologicalcomponentsinthem:

• Utopia(book),ThomasMore• Walden,HenryThoreau(1854)• NewsfromNowhere,WilliamMorris(1891)• GardenCitiesofTo‐morrow,EbenezerHoward(1898)• WaldenTwo,B.F.Skinner(1945)• Island,AldousHuxley(1962)• Ecotopia,ErnestCallenbach(1975)

Economics Economicutopiasarebasedon,notsurprisingly,economics.Mostintentionalcommunitiesattemptingtocreateaneconomicutopiawereformedinresponsetotheharsheconomicconditionsofthe19thcentury. Particularlyintheearlynineteenthcentury,severalutopianideasarose,ofteninresponsetothesocialdisruptioncreatedbythedevelopmentofcommercialismandcapitalism.Theseareoftengroupedinagreater"utopiansocialist"movement,duetotheirsharedcharacteristics:anegalitariandistributionofgoods,frequentlywiththetotalabolitionofmoney,andcitizensonlydoingworkwhichtheyenjoyandwhichisforthecommongood,leavingthemwithampletimeforthecultivationoftheartsandsciences.OneclassicexampleofsuchautopiawasEdwardBellamy'sLookingBackward.AnothersocialistutopiaisWilliamMorris'NewsfromNowhere,writtenpartially

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inresponsetothetop‐down(bureaucratic)natureofBellamy'sutopia,whichMorriscriticized.However,asthesocialistmovementdevelopeditmovedawayfromutopianism;Marxinparticularbecameaharshcriticofearliersocialismhedescribedasutopian.(FormoreinformationseetheHistoryofSocialismarticle.)AlsoconsiderEricFrankRussell'sbookTheGreatExplosion(1963)whoselastsectiondetailsaneconomicandsocialutopia.ThisformsthefirstmentionoftheideaofLocalExchangeTradingSystems(LETS). Utopiashavealsobeenimaginedbytheoppositesideofthepoliticalspectrum.Forexample,RobertA.Heinlein'sTheMoonIsaHarshMistressportraysanindividualisticandlibertarianutopia.Capitalistutopiasofthissortaregenerallybasedonfreemarketeconomies,inwhichthepresuppositionisthatprivateenterpriseandpersonalinitiativewithoutaninstitutionofcoercion,government,providesthegreatestopportunityforachievementandprogressofboththeindividualandsocietyasawhole. Anotherviewthatcapitalistutopiasdonotaddressistheissueofmarketfailure,anymorethansocialistutopiasaddresstheissueofplanningfailure.Thusablendofsocialismandcapitalismisseenbysomeasthetypeofeconomyinautopia.Forexample,onesuchideaistohavesmall,community‐ownedenterprisesworkingunderamarket‐basedmodelofeconomy.Suchamodelofmarket‐basedCommunismitselfwasintheorysupposedtocreatea"classlessutopia",butnocommuniststatehaseverreachedthatpoint.

Politicsandhistory Politicalutopiasareonesinwhichthegovernmentestablishesasocietythatisstrivingtowardperfection. Aglobalutopiaofworldpeaceisoftenseenasoneofthepossibleendingsofhistory.Withinthelocalizedpoliticalstructuresorspheresitpresents,"polyculturalism"isthemodel‐basedadaptationofpossibleinteractionsbetweendifferentculturesandidentitiesinaccordancewiththeprinciplesofparticipatorysociety.

Religiousutopia Religiousutopiasarebasedonreligiousideals,andaretodatethosemostcommonlyfoundinhumansociety.Theirmembersareusuallyrequiredtofollowandbelieveintheparticularreligioustraditionthatestablishedtheutopia.Somepermitnon‐believersornon‐adherentstotakeupresidencewithinthem;others(suchastheCommunityatQumran)donot. TheIslamic,Jewish,andChristianideasoftheGardenofEdenandHeavenmaybeinterpretedasformsofutopianism,especiallyintheirfolk‐religiousforms.Suchreligiousutopiasareoftendescribedas"gardensofdelight",implyinganexistencefreefromworryinastateofblissorenlightenment.Theypostulatefreedomfromsin,pain,poverty,anddeath,andoftenassumecommunionwithbeingssuchasangelsorthehouri.InasimilarsensetheHinduconceptofMokshaandtheBuddhistconceptofNirvanamaybethoughtofasakindofutopia.InHinduismorBuddhism,however,utopiaisnotaplacebutastateofmind.Abeliefthatifweareabletopracticemeditationwithoutcontinuousstreamofthoughts,weareabletoreachenlightenment.Thisenlightenmentpromisesexitfromthecycleoflifeanddeath,relatingbacktotheconceptofutopia. However,theusualideaofUtopia,whichisnormallycreatedbyhumaneffort,ismoreclearlyevidentintheuseoftheseideasasthebasesforreligiousutopias,asmembersattempttoestablish/reestablishonEarthasocietywhichreflectsthevirtuesandvaluestheybelievehavebeenlostorwhichawaitthemintheAfterlife.

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IntheUnitedStatesandEuropeduringtheSecondGreatAwakeningofthenineteenthcenturyandthereafter,manyradicalreligiousgroupsformedutopiansocietiesinwhichallaspectsofpeople'slivescouldbegovernedbytheirfaith.Amongthebest‐knownoftheseutopiansocietiesweretheShakers,whichoriginatedinEnglandinthe18thcenturybutmovedtoAmericashortlyafterward.AnumberofreligiousutopiansocietiesfromEuropecametotheUnitedStatesfromthe18thcenturythroughoutthe19thcentury,includingtheSocietyoftheWomanintheWilderness(ledbyJohannesKelpius),theEphrataCloister,andtheHarmonySociety,amongothers.TheHarmonySocietywasaChristiantheosophyandpietistgroupfoundedinIptingen,Germany,in1785.DuetoreligiouspersecutionbytheLutheranChurchandthegovernmentinWürttemberg,thesocietymovedtotheUnitedStatesonOctober7,1803,settledinPennsylvania,andonFebruary15,1805,they,togetherwithabout400followers,formallyorganizedtheHarmonySociety,placingalltheirgoodsincommon.Thegrouplasteduntil1905,makingitoneofthelongest‐runningfinanciallysuccessfulcommunesinAmericanhistory.TheOneidaCommunity,foundedbyJohnHumphreyNoyesinOneida,NewYork,wasautopianreligiouscommunethatlastedfrom1848to1881.AlthoughthisutopianexperimentisbetterknowntodayforitsmanufactureofOneidasilverware,itwasoneofthelongest‐runningcommunesinAmericanhistory.TheAmanaColonieswerecommunalsettlementsinIowa,startedbyradicalGermanpietists,whichlastedfrom1855to1932.TheAmanaCorporation,manufacturerofrefrigeratorsandhouseholdappliances,wasoriginallystartedbythegroup.OtherexamplesareFountainGrove,Riker'sHolyCityandotherCalifornianutopiancoloniesbetween1855and1955(Hine),aswellasSointulainBritishColumbia,Canada.

ScienceandtechnologyScientificandtechnologicalutopiasaresetinthefuture,whenitisbelievedthatadvancedscienceandtechnologywillallowutopianlivingstandards;forexample,theabsenceofdeathandsuffering;changesinhumannatureandthehumancondition.Technologyhasaffectedthewayhumanshavelivedtosuchanextentthatnormalfunctions,likesleep,eatingorevenreproduction,havebeenreplacedbyartificialmeans.Otherexamplesincludeasocietywherehumanshavestruckabalancewithtechnologyanditismerelyusedtoenhancethehumanlivingcondition(e.g.StarTrek).Inplaceofthestaticperfectionofautopia,libertariantranshumanistsenvisionan"extropia",anopen,evolvingsocietyallowingindividualsandvoluntarygroupingstoformtheinstitutionsandsocialformstheyprefer.OnenotableexampleofatechnologicalandlibertariansocialistutopiaisScottishauthorIainBanks'Cultureopposingthisoptimismisthepredictionthatadvancedscienceandtechnologywill,throughdeliberatemisuseoraccident,causeenvironmentaldamageorevenhumanity'sextinction.Critics,suchasJacquesEllulandTimothyMitchelladvocateprecautionsagainsttheprematureembraceofnewtechnologies,raisingquestionsonresponsibilityandfreedombroughtbydivisionoflabour.AuthorssuchasJohnZerzanandDerrickJensenconsiderthatmoderntechnologyisprogressivelydeprivinghumansoftheirautonomy,andadvocatethecollapseoftheindustrialcivilization,infavorofsmall‐scaleorganization,asanecessarypathtoavoidthethreatoftechnologyonhumanfreedomandsustainabilityThereareanumberofexamplesoftechno‐dystopiasportrayedinmainstreamculture,suchastheclassicsBraveNewWorldandNineteenEighty‐Four,whichhaveexploredsomeofthesetopics.

FeminismUtopiashavebeenusedtoexploretheramificationofgenderbeingeitherasocietalconstruct,orahard‐wiredimperative.InMaryGentle'sGoldenWitchbreed,genderisnotchosenuntilmaturity,andgenderhasnobearingonsocialroles.Incontrast,DorisLessing'sTheMarriagesBetweenZones

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Three,FourandFive(1980)suggeststhatmen'sandwomen'svaluesareinherenttothesexesandcannotbechanged,makingacompromisebetweenthemessential.InMyOwnUtopia(1961)byElizabethMannBorghese,genderexistsbutisdependantuponageratherthansex—genderlesschildrenmatureintowomen,someofwhomeventuallybecomemen.Utopicsingle‐genderworldsorsingle‐sexsocietieshavelongbeenoneoftheprimarywaystoexploreimplicationsofgenderandgender‐differences.Inspeculativefiction,female‐onlyworldshavebeenimaginedtocomeaboutbytheactionofdiseasethatwipesoutmen,alongwiththedevelopmentoftechnologicalormysticalmethodthatallowfemaleparthenogenicreproduction.Theresultingsocietyisoftenshowntobeutopianbyfeministwriters.Manyinfluentialfeministutopiasofthissortwerewritteninthe1970s;themostoftenstudiedexamplesincludeJoannaRuss'sTheFemaleManandSuzyMcKeeCharnas'sWalktotheEndoftheWorldandMotherlines.Utopiasimaginedbymaleauthorshavegenerallyincludedequalitybetweensexes,ratherthanseparation.Suchworldshavebeenportrayedmostoftenbyfeministauthors;theiruseoffemale‐onlyworldsallowstheexplorationoffemaleindependenceandfreedomfrompatriarchy.

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GreekandRomanMyths

TheGoldenAge/ElysiumThetraditionofa"GoldenAge"iswidespreadovertheworld,anditisnotnecessarytogoatanylengthintothestoryoftheGardenofEdenandtheotherlegendswhichinalmosteverycountryillustratethistradition.Withoutindulginginsentimentonthesubjectwemayholditnotunlikelythatthetraditionisjustifiedbytheremembrance,amongthepeopleofeveryrace,ofapre‐civilizationperiodofcomparativeharmonyandhappinesswhentwothings,whichto‐dayweperceivetobetheprolificcausesofdiscordandmisery,wereabsentoronlyweaklydeveloped‐‐namely,propertyandself‐consciousness.Themythofalong‐lostGoldenAgegoesfarbackinhumanculture.Acommonfeatureofthemythisthattheearthborefruitwithoutcultivation,soworkwasunnecessary.ThishasledsomescholarstospeculatethattheGoldenAgemayrepresentaracialmemoryofhetimewhenmanwasahunter‐gatherer,beforethebeginningofagriculture.TheearliestWesternaccountisinthepoemWorksandDaysbytheGreekpoetHesiod,afarmer’ssonlivingontheslopesofMountHeliconincentralGreece,probablyintheeighthcenturyBC.Hedivideshistoryintofourages–golden,silver,bronzeandiron–ofwhichhisownageofpeasanttoil,strifeandhungeristhelast.Butlongagothingsweredifferent.

SomescholarsthinkthemythofthefouragescametoHesiodfromtheEast–fromIndianorZoroastrianmythology.TheRomanpoetOvidincludedamoreelborateGoldenAge,basedpartlyonHesiod,inhisMetamorphoses.TheGoldenAgeThegoldenagewasfirst;whenManyetnew,

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Norulebutuncorruptedreasonknew:And,withanativebent,didgoodpursue.Unforc'dbypunishment,un‐aw'dbyfear,Hiswordsweresimple,andhissoulsincere;Needlesswaswrittenlaw,wherenoneopprest:ThelawofManwaswritteninhisbreast:Nosuppliantcrowdsbeforethejudgeappear'd,Nocourterectedyet,norcausewasheard:Butallwassafe,forconsciencewastheirguard.Themountain‐treesindistantprospectplease,E'reyetthepinedescendedtotheseas:E'resailswerespread,newoceanstoexplore:Andhappymortals,unconcern'dformore,Confin'dtheirwishestotheirnativeshore.Nowallswereyet;norfence,normote,normound,Nordrumwasheard,nortrumpet'sangrysound:Norswordswereforg'd;butvoidofcareandcrime,Thesoftcreationsleptawaytheirtime.TheteemingEarth,yetguiltlessoftheplough,Andunprovok'd,didfruitfulstoresallow:Contentwithfood,whichNaturefreelybred,Onwildingsandonstrawberriestheyfed;Cornelsandbramble‐berriesgavetherest,Andfallingacornsfurnish'doutafeast.Theflow'rsunsown,infieldsandmeadowsreign'd:AndWesternwindsimmortalspringmaintain'd.Infollowingyears,thebeardedcornensu'dFromEarthunask'd,norwasthatEarthrenew'd.Fromveinsofvallies,milkandnectarbroke;Andhoneysweatingthroughtheporesofoak.Perfectioninmyth,liesinthefuture,aswellasthepast.TherewasaGoldenAgeandtherewillbebliss(forsome)inElysiumorParadiseorFortunateIsles.HesiodPredictedaprivilegedafterlifeforheroes.Andtheretheyhavetheirdwellingplaceandheartsfreeofsorrowintheislandsoftheblessedbythedeep‐swirlingstreamoftheocean,prosperingheroes,onwhomineveryyearthreetimesoverthefruitfulgrainlandbestowsitssweetyield.TheselivefarfromtheimmortalsandKronosiskingamongthem.Paradises,likeutopias,tendtobeonislands.Thismaybebecausetheysuggestseclusionandpurity.Butithasalsobeenpointedoutthatthehumanfoetusisanisland,sotheisland‐paradisemayreflectman’slongingfortheprotectivefluidthatoncesurroundedhim.JustthatlittlebitFreudiansoundingisn’tit?

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AnexcerptfromtheIntroductionofCarey’sTheFaberBookofUtopias,publishedin1999:Utopiameansnowhereorno‐place.Itisoftentakentomeangoodplace,throughconfusionofitsfirstsyllablewiththeGreekeu...Asaresultofthismix‐up,anotherworddystopiahasbeeninvented,tomeanbadplace...Tocountasautopia,animaginaryplacemustbeanexpressionofdesire.Tocountasadystopia,itmustbeanexpressionoffear.Aswellasbeingabookofnowheres,then,thisisacollectionofhumanity’sdesiresandfearsasrecordedoverthepasttwothousandyearsandmore.Becausetheygrowfromdesireandfear,utopiascryoutforoursympathyandattention,howeverimpracticalorunlikelytheymayappear.Anyonewhoiscapableoflovemustatsometimehavewantedtheworldtobeabetterplace,forweallwantourlovedonestolivefreeofsuffering,injustice,andheartbreak.Thosewhoconstructutopiasbuildonthatuniversalhumanlonging.Whattheybuildmay,however,carrywithinititsownpotentialforcrushingorlimitinghumanlife.Thisisthedilemmathatconfrontsallutopianprojects.Theyaimatanewworld,butmustdestroytheold.Theirimaginativeexcitementcomesfromtherecognitionthateverythinginsideourheads,andmuchoutside,arehumanconstructsandcanbechanged.Buthowandwhattochangeisendlesslycontroversial.Forthisreasontheutopiaisthemostdivisiveofliteraryforms...Tosome,“utopian”means“hopelesslyimpractical”.Othersinsistthatwithoutthecapacitytoformulateutopias,humanprogresswouldbeinconceivable...Whereasmostutopiasreformtheworld,somereformtheself...Anultimateconflictinutopianidealsisbetweenhuman‐centeredsystemsandsystemsthatdiminishorobliteratemankind...theseextremesarerepresentedbythephysicistJohnFreemanDyson[1923‐present]andthenaturalistRichardJefferies[1848‐87,authorofAfterLondon]...Dysonenvisagesmankindspreadingthroughoutthesolarsystem,andperhapseventuallyfillingthegalaxywithhimselfandhisinventions...Jefferies,ontheotherhand,imaginesmanlargelydyingoutandtheworldreturningtowildandbeautifulgreenness...Tothegreencamp,thespace‐invaderlobbyseempuerile,arrogant,andridiculouslyunawareoftheultimate,inevitabledeathofourspecies.Tothespace‐invaders,thegreensseemdefeatistandbackward.Confrontationbetweenthetwosidestendstoendinblankincomprehension.Atitssharpestthedivisionisbetweenthosewhoassumeman’sGod‐givensuperiority,andthosewhoseemhimasablemishonthefaceoftheearth.Astheplanetgrowsmoreovercrowded,andotherspeciesbecomeextinct,thisconflictcanonlyintensify.Ifutopiasareanyindication,itpromisestobeoneoftheformativeantagonismsofthetwenty‐firstcentury...Utopiaiswherewestoreourhopesforhappiness.Beforestartingthisanthology,readersmightliketojotdowntheirpersonalutopia.Thentheywillbeabletocompareitwiththedreamsofhumankind.

Questions1. “Tocountasautopia,animaginaryplacemustbeanexpressionofdesire.Tocount

asadystopia,itmustbeanexpressionoffear.”WhatdoesCareymeanbythis?2. WhatdoesCareysuggestarethemainmotivationsofexpressionofutopias?

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ExcerptfromLiteratureofTravelandExploration

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1. HowdoesClarkeviewtheexpressionanddefinitionofutopias?

2. WhydoesClarkesaythetravelerelementoftextsisimportant?

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Creation Stories for Different Religions Interestingly,thereisacertainunderlyingtruththatiscommontoallthereligionsoftheworld.Thediversityintermsofreligion,cultureandtraditionscanbelinkedinonewayortheother.Whileeachreligionhasofferedmanselfexpressionthatbestappealstoindividuality,ithasalsogivenmankinddifferentconceptsofcreation...

Therearecreationstoriesuniquetoeachworldreligionandvariousworldculturesandheritages.AmongthemostinterestingonesarethoseproposedbyChristianity,Islam,Hinduism,TaoismandthoseextolledviatheAboriginal'dreamtime'.AboriginalDreamTime:TheaboriginesofAustraliabelongtooneoftheoldestsurvivingculturesintheworld.TheyproposetheDreamtimeconceptofcreation.Accordingtothiscreationstory,landwasonceflatandbarren.Therewerenoanimals,birds,treesorbushes,waterorman.Baiame,'makerofthings',isbelievedtohavebroughtthedreamtimeancestorsfrombeneaththeearthandseaandoverit.Theancestorswanderedoverthelandandsoonbecameapartofinterestingadventures.Theymetotherancestors,argued,encounteredstrangecreaturesandfoughtbattles.Eacheventgavetheearthanewshape;hillsandmountainsroseandplantsgrew.Whensomethingwrongwasdone,theRainbowSnakewouldpunishtheancestors.ButtheRainbowSnakewasnotonlyvengefulandisalsoreferredtoastheOldWoman,whotaughthumanshowtotalkanddigforfood.WhentheEmuancestorandtheEagleancestorfought,theeagletookoneofemu'seggsandthrewitintotheair.Theeggburstintoflames,formingthesun.Thedreamtimeancestorsdecidedhowdifferentcreaturesshouldlookandbehaveandhowsecretceremoniesweretobeperformed.Theaboriginesbelievethatthedreamtimeisnotover,noraretheancestorsdead.TaoistYinandYang:

ChineseartandcultureandConfucianismspeaksoftheyinandyangorthedarkandthelight.Theyaresupposedtobethecreativepowerthatsustainslifeandbeing.Yinandyangarenaturalforcesbehindeventhegods.Accordingtothetheory,therewasatimeofutterchaos,mistandemptiness.Suddenly,therewasacolorfullightfromwhichallthingscametobe.Themistshookandeverythinglightroseup,whileeverythingheavysankandbecamesolid.Theheavenandearthyieldedtwostrongforces‐yinandyang.Whileyangishot,fieryandmale,yinismoist,coolandfemale.Left

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alonetheyarecapableofdestroyingtheworldandtogethertheygeneratebalanceandharmony.Thebeliefisthatyangcreatedthesunandthemooncamefromyin.Togethertheycreatedthefourseasonsandthefiveelementsandallkindsoflivingcreatures.Inthebeginning,theearthwasjustaspherewithoutfeatures.YinandyangcreatedP'anKu,theAncientOne,whowasgiventhetaskofputtingtheearthinorder.Hefoldedmountainsandhillsanddugrivervalleys.OnedayP'anKucollapsedanddied.Whenhefelltotheground,hisbodybecamethefivesacredmountains.Taoismbelievesthathishairbecametheplantsandhisbloodformedtherivers.Earlypeoplelivedincaves,butHeavenlyEmperorstaughtthemtomaketoolsandhouses,buildboats,fish,ploughandplant.ChristianCreationStory:

ChristianitybelievesthatGodhasthree:theFather,Son(Jesus)andtheHolySpirit.Genesis1and2intheOldTestamentoftheBibletellstheChristianstoryofcreation.Inthebeginning,God'sspiritroamedtheuniverseandwatersandGodwilledlightanddarkness.OntheseconddayGodcreatedheavenandseparatedwaterfromtheearth.Onthethirdday,heraiseddrylandandcreatedplants.Onthefourthday,Godmadethelight'day'andlesserlight'night'.Onthefifthday,hecreatedthecreaturesoftheseaandair.Onthesixthday,Godcreatedallkindsoflivingcreaturesonearthandmademaninhisownimage.Hegavethemauthorityoveralllivingthings.Ontheseventhdayorsabbath,Godrested.Atfirst,thefirstman,Adam,andthefirstwomanEve,livedinheaven,intheGardenofEden.Theywereforbiddenfromeatingthefruitofthetreeofknowledge‐ofgoodandevil.ButtheserpenttemptedEvetoeattheforbiddenfruit,whichsheinturngaveAdam.TheyrealizedthattheywerenakedandhidfromGod.ButGodknewoftheirsinanddrovethemtoearth,totoil.ChristianbelievethatmanisthemostimportantofGod'screations.Theyrefertothe'fall'tofindanswerstosufferinganddeath.Hindu'Yugas':

Hinduismbelievesthatthisisnotthefirstworldoruniverse.Therehavebeenandaremanymoreworlds.TheyarecreatedbyLordBrahmatheCreator.LordVishnuisthePreserver,whileLordShivaplaysannihilator.ThesethreegodsareformsoftheSupremeOne.TheuniverseisavastoceanonwhichLordVishnuresides.ThelotusflowerthatspringsfromhisnavelistheabodeofLordBrahma.ThestoryofcreationinHinduismmentionsthatwhenBramhagetslonely,hesplitshimselfintomaleandfemale,thesameformanandbeast.Everythingcomesfromdifferentpartsofhisbody,hismouth,arms,feetandthighs.OnedaytoLordBrahmaissupposedtobelongerthanfourthousandmillionearthyears.Every'night'thatLordBrahmasleeps,theworldisdestroyedandre‐createdevery'morning'.Thiscycleofyugascontinuesforever.IslamicCreationStory:

IslamorMuslimreligionstatesthatwhenGodwantstocreatesomething,hesays"Be",anditbecomes.ThiswashowGodcreatedtheworldandtheheavens.Hecreatedcreaturesthatwalk,swim,crawlandfly,angels,thesun,moonandthestars.TheHolyQuransaysthatGodcausedittorainintorrents,andgeneratedcorm,grapes,olives,palms,fruittreesandthegrass.ThenHeorderedtheangelstobringsevenhandfulsofsoilofdifferentcoloursandmodelledman.HebreathedlifeandpowerintoAdam,thefirstmanandEve,thefirstwoman.GodgaveAdamcontrolovertheearth.However,Iblis,anangelrefusedtobowdownbeforeAdam,asGodhadcommanded.WhenGodforbadethecoupletoeatthefruitoftheforbiddentree,theevilonetemptedthemtodisobeyGod.TheydidandGodcastthemoutofParadise,downtoearth.ButmercifulGodprovidedthemwithmeansoffood,drinkandshelter.Thestoriesmaybedifferent,buttheunderlyingcommonalityisseenwithinthefactthatallofthemspeakofahigherpower.

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BibleExtracts

Genesis1

TheBeginning

1InthebeginningGodcreatedtheheavensandtheearth.2Nowtheearthwasaformlessandempty,darknesswasoverthesurfaceofthedeep,andtheSpiritofGodwashoveringoverthewaters.3AndGodsaid,“Lettherebelight,”andtherewaslight.4Godsawthatthelightwasgood,andheseparatedthelightfromthedarkness.5Godcalledthelight“day,”andthedarknesshecalled“night.”Andtherewasevening,andtherewasmorning—thefirstday.6AndGodsaid,“Lettherebeanexpansebetweenthewaterstoseparatewaterfromwater.”7SoGodmadetheexpanseandseparatedthewaterundertheexpansefromthewateraboveit.Anditwasso.8Godcalledtheexpanse“sky.”Andtherewasevening,andtherewasmorning—thesecondday.9AndGodsaid,“Letthewaterundertheskybegatheredtooneplace,andletdrygroundappear.”Anditwasso.10Godcalledthedryground“land,”andthegatheredwatershecalled“seas.”AndGodsawthatitwasgood.

26ThenGodsaid,“Letusmakemaninourimage,inourlikeness,andletthemruleoverthefishoftheseaandthebirdsoftheair,overthelivestock,overalltheearth,bandoverallthecreaturesthatmovealongtheground.”27SoGodcreatedmaninhisownimage,intheimageofGodhecreatedhim;maleandfemalehecreatedthem.28Godblessedthemandsaidtothem,“Befruitfulandincreaseinnumber;filltheearthandsubdueit.Ruleoverthefishoftheseaandthebirdsoftheairandovereverylivingcreaturethatmovesontheground.”29ThenGodsaid,“Igiveyoueveryseed‐bearingplantonthefaceofthewholeearthandeverytreethathasfruitwithseedinit.Theywillbeyoursforfood.30Andtoallthebeastsoftheearthandallthebirdsoftheairandallthecreaturesthatmoveontheground—everythingthathasthebreathoflifeinit—Igiveeverygreenplantforfood.”Anditwasso.31Godsawallthathehadmade,anditwasverygood.Andtherewasevening,andtherewasmorning—thesixthday.

Genesis2

5Nownoshrubofthefieldhadyetappearedontheearthbandnoplantofthefieldhadyetsprungup,fortheLordGodhadnotsentrainontheearthcandtherewasnomantoworktheground,6butstreamsdcameupfromtheearthandwateredthewholesurfaceoftheground—7theLordGodformedthemanefromthedustofthegroundandbreathedintohisnostrilsthebreathoflife,andthemanbecamealivingbeing.8NowtheLordGodhadplantedagardenintheeast,inEden;andthereheputthemanhehadformed.9AndtheLordGodmadeallkindsoftreesgrowoutoftheground—treesthatwerepleasingtotheeyeandgoodforfood.Inthemiddleofthegardenwerethetreeoflifeandthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil.10AriverwateringthegardenflowedfromEden;fromthereitwasseparatedintofourheadwaters.11ThenameofthefirstisthePishon;itwindsthroughtheentirelandofHavilah,wherethereisgold.12(Thegoldofthatlandisgood;aromaticresinfandonyxarealsothere.)13ThenameofthesecondriveristheGihon;itwindsthroughtheentirelandofCush.g14ThenameofthethirdriveristheTigris;itrunsalongtheeastsideofAsshur.AndthefourthriveristheEuphrates.15TheLordGodtookthemanandputhimintheGardenofEdentoworkitandtakecareofit.16AndtheLordGodcommandedtheman,“Youarefreetoeatfromanytreeinthegarden;17butyoumustnoteatfromthetreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil,forwhenyoueatofityouwillsurelydie.”18TheLordGodsaid,“Itisnotgoodforthemantobealone.Iwillmakeahelpersuitableforhim.”19NowtheLordGodhadformedoutofthegroundallthebeastsofthefieldandallthebirdsoftheair.Hebroughtthemtothemantoseewhathewouldnamethem;andwhateverthemancalledeachlivingcreature,thatwasitsname.20Sothemangavenamestoallthelivestock,thebirdsoftheairandallthebeastsofthefield.ButforAdamhnosuitablehelperwasfound.21SotheLordGodcausedthemantofallintoadeepsleep;andwhilehewassleeping,hetookoneoftheman’sribsiandcloseduptheplacewithflesh.22ThentheLordGodmadeawomanfromtheribjhehadtakenoutoftheman,andhebroughthertotheman.23Themansaid,“Thisisnowboneofmybonesandfleshofmyflesh;sheshallbecalled‘woman,k’forshewastakenoutofman.”24Forthisreasonamanwillleavehisfatherandmotherandbeunitedtohiswife,andtheywillbecomeoneflesh.25Themanandhiswifewerebothnaked,andtheyfeltnoshame.

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Genesis3

12Themansaid,“Thewomanyouputherewithme—shegavemesomefruitfromthetree,andIateit.”13ThentheLordGodsaidtothewoman,“Whatisthisyouhavedone?”Thewomansaid,“Theserpentdeceivedme,andIate.”14SotheLordGodsaidtotheserpent,“Becauseyouhavedonethis,“Cursedareyouaboveallthelivestockandallthewildanimals!Youwillcrawlonyourbellyandyouwilleatdustallthedaysofyourlife.15AndIwillputenmitybetweenyouandthewoman,andbetweenyouroffspringaandhers;hewillcrushbyourhead,andyouwillstrikehisheel.”16Tothewomanhesaid,“Iwillgreatlyincreaseyourpainsinchildbearing;withpainyouwillgivebirthtochildren.Yourdesirewillbeforyourhusband,andhewillruleoveryou.”17ToAdamhesaid,“BecauseyoulistenedtoyourwifeandatefromthetreeaboutwhichIcommandedyou,‘Youmustnoteatofit,’“Cursedisthegroundbecauseofyou;throughpainfultoilyouwilleatofitallthedaysofyourlife.18Itwillproducethornsandthistlesforyou,andyouwilleattheplantsofthefield.19Bythesweatofyourbrowyouwilleatyourfooduntilyoureturntotheground,sincefromityouweretaken;fordustyouareandtodustyouwillreturn.”

20AdamcnamedhiswifeEve,dbecauseshewouldbecomethemotherofalltheliving.21TheLordGodmadegarmentsofskinforAdamandhiswifeandclothedthem.22AndtheLordGodsaid,“Themanhasnowbecomelikeoneofus,knowinggoodandevil.Hemustnotbeallowedtoreachouthishandandtakealsofromthetreeoflifeandeat,andliveforever.”23SotheLordGodbanishedhimfromtheGardenofEdentoworkthegroundfromwhichhehadbeentaken.24Afterhedrovethemanout,heplacedontheeastsideeoftheGardenofEdencherubimandaflamingswordflashingbackandforthtoguardthewaytothetreeoflife.

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ConversationsAbouttheInternet#5:AnonymousFacebookEmployee

ThispastsummerFacebookrelocatedfromUniversityAvenueinPaloAlto,CA—whereseveralbuildingsfanoutalongthedowntownstrip—toanewcentralofficeinStanfordResearchPark.Agoodfriendandtwo‐yearveteranofFacebookinvitedmetocheckoutthenewspace.WhenIarrived,asecurityguardhandedmeanon‐disclosurecontracttofillout,arequirementtoenterthebuilding.“Justmakingsureyou’renotaTwitterspy,”hesaid.Icanthereforenotdescribethetourmyfriendgave,thoughphotosofthenewspaceaboundontheInternet.Afterwards,wewentoutforadrinkattheDutchGoose,abarpopularwithtechiesandStanfordgraduatestudents,wheremostofthisconversationtookplace.Thoughforthcoming,myfriendwasanxioustopreserveheranonymity;Facebookemployees,afterall,knowbetterthanmostthevalueofprivacy.Assheisnotpermittedtodivulgecompanysecrets,andwouldliketoremainemployed,hernamehasbeenomittedfromthisinterview.ItprovidesaninterestingsnapshotoftheinnerworkingsandcultureofFacebookinthesummerof2009.TheRumpus:Onyourservers,doyousaveeverythingeverenteredintoFacebookatanytime,whetherornotit’sbeendeleted,untagged,andsoforth?FacebookEmployee:Thatisessentiallycorrectatthismoment.Theonlyreasonwe’rechangingthatisforperformancereasons.WhenyoumakeanysortofinteractiononFacebook—uploadaphoto,clickonsomebody’sprofile,updateyourstatus,changeyourprofileinformation—Rumpus:Whenyousay“clickonsomebody’sprofile,”youmeanyousaveourviewinghistory?Employee:That’sright.Howdoyouthinkweknowwhoyourbestfriendsare?Butthat’spublicknowledge;we’veexplicitlystatedthatwerecordthat.Ifyoulookinyourtype‐aheadsearch,andyoupress“A,”orjustoneletter,alistofyourbestfriendsshowsup.It’snolongerorganizedalphabetically,butbythepersonyouinteractwithmost,your“bestfriends,”oratleastthosewhomwehaveconcludedyouarebestfriendswith.Rumpus:Inotherwords,thepersonyoustalkthemost.Employee:No,it’smorethanjustthat.It’salsomessages,fileposts,photosyou’retaggedinwiththem,aswellasyourviewingoftheirprofileandallofthat.Essentially,wejudgehowgoodofafriendtheyaretoyou.Rumpus:WhendidFacebookmakethischange?Employee:Thatwasactuallyfairlyrecently,sometimeinthelastthreemonths.Butotherthanthat,wedefinitelystoresnapshots,whichisbasicallyapictureofallthedataonallofourservers.Iwanttosaywedothateveryhour,ofeverydayofeveryweekofeverymonth.Rumpus:Sothisiseveryviewablescreen?Employee:It’swaymorethanthat:it’severyviewablescreen,withallthedatabehindeveryscreen.Sowhenwestoreyourphotos,wehavesixversionsofyourphotos.Wedon’tstoretheoriginal:wemakesixdifferentversionsonthephotouploaderanduploadthosesixversions.

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Rumpus:Andtheseresideonserversinyouroffice?Employee:No,notinouroffice.Absolutelynot.Wehavefourdatacentersaroundtheworld.There’soneinSantaClara,oneinSanFrancisco,oneinNewYorkandoneinLondon.Andineachofthose,thereareapproximatelyfivetoeightthousandservers.Eachco‐locationofourservershasessentiallythesamedataonit.Rumpus:Andhowmanyusersareyouuptonow?Employee:ThatIcandisclosepublicly?Twohundredtotwohundredtwentymillion.Rumpus:Andactually?Employee:That’sjustactiveusers.Asfarastotalaccounts,includingthosethatarepotentiallyfake,disabledandwhatnot,we’reoverthreehundredmillion.Thetwohundredtwentymillionareuserswhohaveloggedonanddonesomethingwiththesiteinthelastthirtydays.Rumpus:Yousaidthey’rechangingthepolicyofkeepingallinformation.Employee:No.They’reneverchangingthatpolicy.Westillkeepallinformation.WhatIwasreferringto,isthatifanything,we’regoingtostartdeletingmorephotosforperformancereasons.Wearethelargestphotodistributorintheworld.Rumpus:You’vepreviouslymentionedamasterpassword,whichyounolongeruse.Employee:I’mnotsurewhenexactlyitwasdeprecated,butwedidhaveamasterpasswordatonepointwhereyoucouldtypeinanyuser’suserID,andthenthepassword.I’mnotgoingtogiveyoutheexactpassword,butwithupperandlowercase,symbols,numbers,alloftheabove,itspelledout‘ChuckNorris,’moreorless.Itwasprettyfantastic.Rumpus:ThiswasaccessiblebyanyFacebookemployee?Employee:Technically,yes.Butitwasprettymuchlimitedtotheoriginalengineers,whowerebasicallytheonlypeoplewhoknewaboutit.Itwasn’tasifrandompeopleinHumanResourceswereusingthispasswordtologintoprofiles.Itwasmadeanddesignedforengineeringreasons.Butitwasthere,andanyemployeecouldfinditiftheyknewwheretolook.Ishouldalsosaythatitwasonlyavailableinternally.IfIweretologinfromahighschoolorlibrary,Icouldn’tuseit.YouhadtobeintheFacebookoffice,usingtheFacebookISP.Rumpus:DoyouthinkFacebookemployeeseverabusedtheprivilegeofhavinguniversalaccess?Employee:Iknowithashappenedinthepast,becauseatleasttwopeoplehavebeenfiredforitthatIknowof.Rumpus:Whatdidtheydo?Employee:Iknowoneofthemwentinandmanipulatedsomeotherperson’sdata,changedtheirreligiousviewsorsomethinglikethat.Idon’trememberexactlywhatitwas,buthegotreported,gotfoundout,gotfired.Rumpus:Haveyoueverloggedintoanyone’saccount?Employee:Ihave.Forengineeringreasons.Rumpus:Haveyoueverdoneitoutsideofprofessionalreasons?Employee:Iwillsay,whenIfirststartedworkingthere,yes.Iusedittoviewotherpeople’sprofileswhichIdidn’thavepermissiontovisit.Inevermanipulatedtheirdatainanyway;however,IdidabusetheprofileviewingpermissionatseveralinitialpointswhenIstartedatFacebook.Rumpus:Howaboutreadingtheirmessages?Employee:Neverindividuallylikethat.Iwouldmostlyjustlookatprofiles.Rumpus:WouldyousupposethatFacebookemployeesmightreadpeople’smessages?Employee:See,thethingis—andIdon’tknowhowmuchyouknowaboutit—it’sallstoredinadatabaseonthebackend.Literallyeverything.Yourmessagesarestoredinadatabase,whetherdeletedornot.Sowecanjustquerythedatabase,andeasilylookatitwithouteveryloggingintoyouraccount.That’swhatmostpeopledon’tunderstand.Rumpus:Sothemasterpasswordisbasicallyirrelevant.Employee:Yeah.Rumpus:It’sjustforstyle.Employee:Right.Butit’snolongerinuse.LikeIalludedto,we’vecrackeddownonthislately,butithasbeenreplacedbyaprettycooltool.IfIvisitedyourprofile,forexample,onourclosednetwork,there’sa‘switchlogin’button.Iliterallyjustclickit,explainwhyI’mlogginginasyou,click‘OK,’and

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I’myou.Youcandoitaslongasyouhaveanexplanation,becauseyou’dbetterbeabletobackitup.Forexample,ifyou’reinvestigatingacompromisedaccount,youhavetoactuallybeabletologintothataccount.Rumpus:Areyourmanagersreallyonyourassaboutiteverytimeyouloginassomeoneelse?Employee:No,butifitcomesup,you’dbetterbeabletojustifyit.Oryouwillbefired.Rumpus:Iwouldimaginetheytakethis—Employee:Prettyseriously.Idon’treally‐‐‐‐around,atall.Rumpus:TheyinventedaChiefOfficerpositionforit,ChrisKelly,right?Employee:ChiefPrivacyOfficerChrisKelly,correct.RunningforAttorneyGeneralofCalifornia.Rumpus:IsthatastandardpositionatSiliconValleywebcompanies?Employee:Ithinkit’sbecomingmoreofastandardofficerposition,especiallywithWeb2.0,3.0,wherethemodelisbasicallygetasmuchinformationoutthereasyoucan.Obviously,someoneneedstostepbackandmakesurethereissomeinformationprivacyhere,oratleastasmuchaswecanputinplace.Rumpus:Facebookwasprobablyabigtrendsetterinthatregard,right?Employee:Inmyopinion,we’vealwaysprovidedthemostnitty‐grittyuserprivacysettingsfromthebeginning.There’snoothersiteouttherethat’sthiscustomizable.Rumpus:Wouldyouliketogiveyourtakeonthelastfewroundsofstuffups;FacebookBeacon,andtherecentTermsofServicecontroversy?Employee:It’sreallyhardtojudgeexactlythewayusersaregoingtoreact.Wejustdidn’thaveagoodenoughbeta‐testingsysteminplace.Whenyouhaveagroupoftwentyengineersworkingonaproject,theythinkit’sthemostbeautiful,immaculatethingintheworld,andthentheybuildit,andaprojectmanagerapprovesit.Initially,whenthatwasthecase,wejustpushedit,andifusersdidn’tlikeitwepulleditback.Thatwasjustourphilosophy,oneoftrialanderror.Whereasnowwe’vestartedrunningpsychologicalanalysis,startingto…Rumpus:Ohreally?Employee:Areyoukiddingme?Wedoeye‐trackingtoseewhereyoureyesmovewhileyoubrowseFacebook.Rumpus:Whatdoyoumeanby“eye‐tracking”?Employee:Forexample,whenwewanttointroducenewfeatures,likewhenwestreamlinedthebrowsingofphotoalbums,youknow,whereyoucanclick‘next’abovethephoto,andthepagestaysthesameexceptyougetthenextphoto?Wedidtestsonthat,andactuallyfoundoutitincreasedthenumberofpageviewsby77%,essentiallybecausewewerereducing77%ofthepageload,andthereforeitwasloadingfaster,andthusgeneratingmoreclicks.Wenotonlyreducedourbandwidth,andhowmuchwehavetopayforourInternet,butwemadethesitefasterandincreasedtheclicks‐per‐minute,whichiswhatwe’retrulyinterestedin.Rumpus:Soinwhatotherwaysdoyoutrackbehavior,thatisn’tnecessarilyobvioustousers?Employee:Wetrackeverything.Everyphotoyouview,everypersonyou’retaggedwith,everywall‐postyoumake,andsoforth.Rumpus:Somaybeyouknowaboutthis,maybeyoudon’t.There’saparadoxwithinternationalexpansion,becauseobviouslyallinternetcompaniesaspiretoaworldwidemarket,butasserviceenterscountrieswithoutgreatinfrastructure,suchas3rd‐worldcountries,thecompanieshavetoprovidetheinfrastructureandthecountriesdon’tactuallyproduceany(ormuch)adrevenue.Employee:Idon’tknowanythingaboutthat,actually.TheonecommentIwouldmakeaboutthat,isthatwe’vedefinitelytriedtocontinueexpandingto3rd‐worldcountries.TakeIran—well,Iranisnota3rdworldcountry—butwhentheIranianelectionscameup,andthenthedisputes,wefoundouttheywereusingFacebookasatooltoorganizethemselvesandexposetheirqualmsanddiscontentwiththegovernment.SopubliclywetranslatedtheentiresiteintoFarsiwithin36hours.Itwasoursecondright‐to‐leftlanguage,whichwasactuallyreallydifficultforus.Literallytheentiresiteisflippedinamirror.Thefactthatwediditinthirty‐sixhours—theyhiredtwentysome‐oddtranslators,andengineersworkedaroundtheclocktogetitrolledout—wasprettyfuckingphenomenal.Wehadatleastthreetimesasmanyuserregistrationsperdaythefirstdayitwasout,andithasbeengrowing.Sowe’redefinitelystillseriousaboutforeignoutreach.Andthethingis,we

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havesuchagiganticmarketshareinthelargersectionsofEurope,inAustralia,inMexico,intheStatesandCanada,andthat’swhere99.9%ofouradrevenueisandprobablywillbealways—oratleastwillbethenextfive,tenyears.Sothefactthatwe’rebreachingintotheseothermarketsmostlymeansjustallowingfamilyandfriendstoconnectevenmoredeeply,whichisreallyourultimategoal.Rumpus:Sotellmeabouttheengineers.Employee:They’reweird,andsmartas.Forexample,thisguyrightnowissingle‐handedlyrewriting,essentially,theentiresite.Oursiteiscoded,I’dsay,90%inPHP.Allthefrontend—everythingyousee—isgeneratedviaalanguagecalledPHP.HeiscreatingHPHP,Hyper‐PHP,whichmeanshe’sliterallyrewritingtheentirelanguage.There’sthisdistinctionincodingbetweenascriptedlanguageandacompiledlanguage.PHPisanexampleofascriptedlanguage.Thecomputerorbrowserreadstheprogramlikeascript,fromtoptobottom,andexecutesitinthatorder:anythingyoudeclareatthebottomcannotbereferencedatthetop.Butwithacompiledlanguage,theprogramyouwriteiscompiledintoanexecutablefile.Itdoesn’thavetoreadtheprogramfrombeginningtoendinordertoexecutecommands.It’smuchfasterthatway.Sothisengineerisconvertingthesitefromonethatrunsonascriptedlanguagetoonethatrunsonacompiledlanguage.However,ifyouwenttogotalktohimaboutbasketball,youwouldprobablyhavethemostawkwardconversationyou’dhavewithahumanbeinginyourentirelife.Youjustcan’ttalktothesepeopleonanormallevel.Ifyouwantedtotalkaboutbasketball,talkaboutgraphtheory.Thenhe’dgetit.Andthere’salotofpeoplelikethat.Butbygolly,theycandotheirjobs.Rumpus:SowhatwillbetheneteffectofrunningthesiteonHyperPHP?Employee:We’regoingtoreduceourCPUusageonourserversby80%,sopractically,userswilljustseethisasafastersite.Pageswillloadinonefifthofthetimethattheyusedto.Rumpus:When’sitcomingout?Employee:Whenit’sdone.Nextcoupleofmonths,ideally.Rumpus:Sowheredothesegeekscomefrom?Employee:Iwouldsayatleast70%ofFacebookengineersarefromHarvardandStanford.

…

Fullarticlehttp://therumpus.net/2010/01/conversations‐about‐the‐internet‐5‐anonymous‐facebook‐employee/?full=yes

Questions1. Compareyourknowledgeofdystopictextslike1984,ModernTimesandBraveNew

Worldtowhatthisarticlesuggests.Isthechanginghistoriccontexteffectwhatweconsiderdystopic?Istheacceptanceoftheinvasionofprivacysuggestedinthisarticleisnolongerseenasathreattothehumanrace?

2. Usethisarticleasinspirationtoashortdystopicscene.Revisittheelementsofdystopiasandtheir‘heroes’listedearlierinthebooklet.

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“1984”MacintoshCommercialAnalysisWorksheetUsethechartbelowtogatherexamplesofdystopiancharacteristicsfromthecommercial.Usestrong,concretedetailsinyourdescriptionoftheexampleandinterpretation.DystopianCharacteristic ExamplefromtheCommercial InterpretationoftheExampleAfigureheadorconceptisworshippedbythecitizensofthesociety.

Citizensareperceivedtobeunderconstantsurveillance.

Citizensliveina“dehumanized”state.

Anillusionofaperfectutopiansociety.

Conformityamongcitizensandassumptionthatindividualityanddissentarebad.

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“1984”MacintoshCommercialAnalysisWorksheetTheprotagonistofthecommercialisthewomandressedinathleticclothingwhodestroysthelargecomputerscreenwithahammer.Usethechartbelowtogatherexamplesofindirectcharacterizationfromthecommercialthathelpestablishthischaracterasadystopianprotagonist.DystopianProtagonistCharacteristic ExampleofIndirectCharacterization NegativeAspectsoftheDystopiaIt

Reveals

Oftenfeelstrappedintheirlifeandisstrugglingtoescape.

Questionstheexistingsocialandpoliticalsystems.

Demonstratesbehaviororexpressesideasthatreflectabeliefthatsomethingisterriblywrongwiththesocietyinwhichtheylive.

Istreatedasanoutcastbysocietyduetoappearance,behavior,thoughts,beliefs,orothercharacteristicsthatareinconflictwiththenormsofthedystopia.

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BackgroundInformationonthe“1984”MacintoshCommercial

1984byGeorgeOrwell

Thetitleofthiscommercialisanallusiontothenovelwrittenin1949byGeorgeOrwell.Thenoveltakesplaceintheyear1984anddepictsadystopiansocietyinwhichcitizens’freedomsarerestrictedbyatotalitariangovernmentruledbyadictatorreferredtoas“BigBrother.”InthesocietyOrwelldescribes,everyoneisundercompletesurveillancebytheauthorities.Peopleareconstantlyremindedofthisscrutinybythecautioningphrase“BigBrotheriswatchingyou.”Thiswarningreferstothetwo‐waycomputerscreensplacedthroughoutthesocietywhichdisplaythedictator’simageandwhichareusedbytheThoughtPolicetomonitorcitizensforsubversivethoughtandspeech(referredtointhebookas“thoughtcrimes”).Manycriticsdrawparallelsbetweentoday’ssocietyandtheworlddepictedinthenovel,suggestingthatwearestartingtoliveinwhathasbecomeknownasanOrwelliansociety.

FastFactsaboutthe“1984”MacintoshCommercial

•Thecommercialwasfirstairedduringhalf‐timeofthe1984SuperBowltoannouncethearrivalof

Apple’snewpersonalcomputer,theMacintosh.•Whenthisadvertisementaired,ApplewasinafightwithIBMtowincontrolofthepersonal

computermarket.•Inthe1980s,Applehadtheimageofthemaverick,anti‐corporatecompany.Forexample,the

companyencouragedemployeestowearjeansandt‐shirtstowork.•Inthe1980s,IBMwasfamousforitsrigidcompanystructureandinsistenceonthatitsemployees

maintainthe“blue‐suitedcorporatelookandattitude”.ThenicknameforIBMis“BigBlue.”•TheadvertisementwasdirectedbyRidleyScott(Alien,1979,andBladeRunner,1982)andcost$1.6

milliontoproduce.

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Scene‐by‐SceneSummaryofthe“1984”MacintoshCommercial1.Endlesslineofworkersmarchinginalong,circulartunnel.Thesoundofmarchingfeetandthe

words“informationpurification”areaudibleinthebackground.2.Cuttoawomanrunning,carryingalong‐handledhammer.Herentranceisheraldedbytwo

electronicnotes,ahighD,followedbyanotheroneoctavelower.3.Close‐upoftheworkers’facesastheymarchby.Theirheadsareshaved,andafewarewearing

gasmasks.4.Abriefshotofguardsdressedinblackriotgearwithriflesintheirhands.5.Shotsoftheworkersmarchinginthetunnelpasttelevisionmonitors,whichareattachedtothe

walls.6.Thecameracutstoaclose‐upoftheirfeet,marchinginlockstep.7.Afteraquickglimpseofthewomanrunning,alongshotshowsahugehallfilledwithworkers

alreadyseatedasothersmarchin.Anenormouscomputerscreenonthewallisfilledbythetalkingheadofanelderlymaninglasses.Ashespeaks,hiswordsappearinwhitetypefaceonthescreenbelowhismouth.

8.Thewomanrunsdownacorridorchasedbyacadreofguardsinriotgear.9.Thecameracutstoapanningshotoftheseatedworkersstaringatthecomputerscreen.10.Thecameracutstoafullshotofthecomputerscreenwhichshowsthetyrant’sfacefillingmostof

theframe.11.Cuttotherunnerstoppingandbeginningtospinwiththegreathammer.Theguardscanbeseen

approachinginthebackground.Therunnermakesherfinalwindupandreleasesthehammerwithaloudcry.

12.Inslowmotion,thehammerfliesthroughtheairtowardsthescreenastheman’simagesays“We

ShallPrevail.”13.Thehammerexplodesthescreeninablindingflash.Asyntheticchorusofwordlesscriesisheard,

behindwhichisasoundlikerushingwind.14.Thecamerapansovertheworkers,floodedwithwhitelight,theirmouthsopenedinawe,hands

grippingthebenchesbeneaththem,uniformsblownbackagainstthem.15.Blacktypefacetextappearsonscreen,readbyavoice‐over:“OnJanuary24th,AppleComputer

willintroduceMacintosh.Andyouwillseewhy1984won’tbelike“1984.”16.Thetextisfollowedbytherainbow‐stripedApplelogo.

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DystopianFilmClipGuide

Metropolis(FritzLang,1927)Metropolisissetintheyear2026,whenthepopulaceisdividedbetweenworkerswhomustliveinthedarkundergroundandtherichwhoenjoyafuturisticcityofsplendor.Thisworkisoneoftheearliestexamplesofadystopianfilm.Thefollowingthreescenesprovideanoverallglimpseofthedystopiancharacteristicsthatarepresentthroughoutthisfilm.Thefirsttwoscenesdepictthedrudgeryofdailyworkonanassemblyline.Thethirdsceneshowsimagesofwhatthedirectorpicturesaswhattheworldofthefuturewilllooklike.1.Openingcredits(00:00‐3:16)2.ShiftChange(3:17‐5:40)3.TheNewTowerofBabel(15:51‐17:01)

Brazil(TerryGilliam,1985)Braziltakesplaceinafuturisticworlddominatedbyamindlessandoftenincompetentbureaucraticgovernment.SamLowrey,agovernmentstatistician,feelsbeatendownbythedecaying,drone‐likeworldaroundhim.ToescapethemiseryofhisjobSamfantasizesthatheisasuperheroforeverrescuingabeautifulblondehaireddamselindistress.Thesedreamsaredisrupted,however,bytherealworldwherecomputermalfunctionsandbureaucraticpoliciessuchas“informationretrieval”destroythelivesofinnocentcitizens.Thefollowingthreescenesfromthisfilmaregoodexamplestouseinclasstoillustratethedifferentcharacteristicsofabureaucraticandatechnologicaldystopia.ThefirstthreescenesshowhowthemindlessbureaucracyoftheInformationRetrievalDepartmentmistakenlyarrestsaninnocentcitizen.Thefourthscenefeaturestheprotagonist,SamLowrey,battlingahouseholdofmalfunctioninghomeappliancesashehurriestogettoworkontime.

1.“8:49p.m.,somewhereinthe20thcentury”(0:00:50‐0:03:49)

2.“Thatisyourreceiptforyourhusband(0:03:50‐0:07:31)3.“Departmentofrecords”(0:07:32‐0:10:04)4.“Dreamsandreality”(00:11:07‐00‐12:33)

I,Robot(2004)Ifyou’reabigfanofIsaacAsimov’scollectionofshortstoriespublishedunderthesamenamethenthismoviewillbehighlydisappointing.Thefilmdoes,however,providesomegoodvisualscenesofacorporateandtechnologicalcontrolleddystopia.Setintheyear2035,thisfilmdepictsasocietyinwhichanunderclassofrobotsactsasservantstohumans.Apoliceman,playedbyWillSmith,doesnottrusttherobotsandsoondiscoversthattherobotcorporationiscoveringupaflawthatallowstherobotstooverridetheirprogrammingthatpreventsthemfromdoinganyharmtoahumanbeing.

GattacaGattacaissetinafuturewhenone'slifeisdeterminedbygeneticengineeringratherthaneducationorexperience.Thewealthycanchoosethegeneticmakeupoftheirdescendants.Peoplearedesignedtofitintowhateverroleisdecidedbeforebirth.Citizensinthisimpersonalfuture‐worldarefashionedasperfectspecimens,sothoseinthenatural‐bornminorityareviewedasinferiortothepre‐plannedperfectspecimens(aka"Valids")whodominate.Oneofthenatural‐borns(aka"In‐Valids"),VincentFreeman,hasseveraldefects(poorvision,emotionalproblems,andshort30‐yearlifeexpectancy),buthealsodevelopsadifferentoutlookonhispre‐ordainedfate.Heyearnstobreakfreefromsociety'sconstraints,andhedreamsofajourneyintospaceasaGattacaCorp.navigator.Toaccomplishhisgoal,heenliststheaidofDNAbrokerGermanandmakescontactwithJeromeMorrow,whowasparalyzedinanaccidentandiswillingtosellhissuperiorgeneticmaterials.VincentassumesJerome'sidentityandisscheduledforaflyingmission.However,aweekbeforehisflight,aGattacamissiondirectorismurdered,andallmembersoftheprogramarethesuspects.Meanwhile,hedevelopsaromanticinterestinabeautifulValid,Irene,preventedfromgoingintospacebecauseofherheartdefect.Trackedbyarelentlessinvestigatorwhoismethodicallyjigsawingallthepiecestogether,Jeromefindshisaspirationsdissolvingintostardust.

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UtopiabyThomasMoreAhighlyvaluedtext,originallywritteninLatin(asmosttextswereatthispoint),hasbeentranslatedintonumerouslanguages,includingofcourseEnglish.SomepeopleconsiderthewordutopiatobeapunbymorebetweentheLatinphonemes“noplace”and“goodplace”,thushisbookexaminesanidealsocietysituatedinanunknownplacecalledUtopia.Studentswillexaminethetextintermsof:

• More’spersonalandhistoricalcontext• More’svalues• Thevaluesofthesocietyitdepicts• Thevalueswebringtothetextas21stcenturyresponders• Therepresentationofthenotionofutopiathroughwrittenfeaturesofthetext

Utopiahasaqualityofuniversality,asrevealedbythefactthatithasfascinatedreadersoffivecenturies,hasinfluencedcountlesswriters,andhasinvitedimitationbyscoresof"Utopianists."Still,however,anexaminationoftheperiodofwhichitwastheproductisnecessaryinordertoviewtheworkindepth.RememberingthatUtopiawaspublishedin1516,weneedtorecallwhatsomeofthemajoreventsassociatedwiththaterawere,whoMore'sgreatcontemporarieswere,andwhatweretheprincipalideasanddrivesthatframedtheculturalpatternsofthatbrilliantera,theRenaissance.

ThepublicationofUtopiafollowedColumbus'sfirstvoyagetoAmericabyonly24years.UtopiaprecededbyjustoneyearLuther'spublicationoftheNinety‐fiveThesesthatfomentedtheProtestantReformation.Michelangelohadcompletedhisfouryears'laborontheceilingoftheSistineChapelin1512.HenryVIIIhadrecentlycometothethroneofEngland(1509),wasstillmarriedtohisfirstwife,CatherineofAragon,andwasbeingguidedinhisgovernmentbyCardinalWolseyashisLordChancellor.SomeoftheprincipalliteraryfiguresofMore'sgenerationwereErasmus,Ariosto,Machiavelli,andCastiglione,alongwithMorehimself.OneofthegreatperiodsinWesternartwasinfullswingwithLeonardodaVinci,Raphael,Michelangelo,andTitianheadingalonglist.ThechiefexplorersinthefirstdecadesafterColumbuswereVascodaGama,JohnCabot,AmerigoVespucci,andBalboa.

TheRenaissanceagehasbeenstyled"thisbravenewworld"bymanyhistorians,viewingitasaradicallynewandbrilliantdevelopmentinWesterncivilization.Thatview,however,isnotuniversal,somescholarsquarrelingwiththeclaimthatitwasnew,representingagreatchangefromthelateMiddleAges,andotherscholarsdoubtingitsbrilliance.DebateseemsperpetualoverthenatureandtheimportanceoftheRenaissance;nevertheless,itcanscarcelybedeniedthattheoutlookandthelifestyleofWesternpeopleweregreatlyaffectedbycertainachievementsoftheperiod;namely,theinventionofprinting,thedevelopmentofgunpowder,andtheimprovementofnavigationalinstrumentsandshipdesigns.Somewhatlaterthanthosedevelopments,butstillimportantcontributionsoftheRenaissance,weretheCopernicanrevolutioninastronomyandthedevelopmentofthetelescopebyGalileo.Allofthesefactorsnotonlyproducedsubstantialchangesinpeople'slives,buttheyalsogeneratedachargedatmosphereofexcitementandcuriositythroughoutEurope.

The"classicalrevival"wasatthecenteroftheintellectualandartisticagitationoftheage.Itinvolvedarealization—orrediscovery—thataverygreatcivilizationhadflourishedinancientGreeceandRomeandaconvictionthatconscientiousstudyandimitationofthatcivilizationofferedthekeytonewgreatness.TheRenaissanceartistsstudiedancientworksofarchitectureandsculpture,notonlyfortheirformandtechniquebutalsofortheirspirit.Renaissancescholarscametoappreciatetheliteratureoftheancientsasastorehouseofwisdomandeloquence,andthroughtheirstudytheyacquiredattitudesanddevelopedtastesofenormousvalue:tochallengedogma,torecognizetheauthorityofnature,andtoregardlivingafulllifein"thisworld"asanopportunityandanobligation.

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Theycametobelieveintheirrighttoacceptandenjoyphysicalbeautyandthewholesensoryworld.Finallytheyacquiredasenseoftheworthoftheindividualandofthedignityofman.Growinggraduallyoutoftheseconceptscamethephilosophyof"humanism"andthemagnificentachievementsinthefinearts.

Thereligioushistoryoftheperiodisadramaticone.Christianity,whichformorethanathousandyearshadbeenrepresentedthroughoutallofWesternEuropebyonechurch,theRomanCatholicChurch,experiencedatremendousupheavalduringthe16thcentury.Thefirstovertactionofrevoltcamein1517whenLutherdefiedtheauthorityofRome.ThatmarkedthebeginningoftheProtestantReformation,theconsequencesofwhichwerethatEuropewasdividedintonumerousdivergentsectsandintowarringcamps.Actually,allofthatturmoiloccurredafterMorewrotehisUtopia,butthecausesoftheReformationwereoflongstandingandhadbeenasourceofconcerntoconscientiousChristiansforatleasttwocenturies.Amongtheprincipalevilsallegedintheattacksagainstthechurchwerearbitraryexerciseofpapalauthority,greedoftheclergyasrevealedinthesellingofpardonsandofchurchoffices,andthetrafficinholyrelics.Intelligentpeoplewereindignantoverthepropagationofsuperstitionstoanesthetizethecommonpeople,andsocialcriticswerebitterovertheenormousopulenceofthechurchamidthepovertyandsqualorofthemajorityofChristians.

InthedecadesimmediatelyprecedingLuther'sbreakfromthechurchofRome,manydevoutCatholicswerevocalintheircriticismofpracticesauthorizedbythechurchaswellasbytheshamefulconductamongtheclergy.Eventuallythecriticsbrokeintotwogroups.LutherandtheotherleadersoftheReformation,despairingofremodelingtheestablishedchurchwithitsingrainedfallacies,severedtheirconnectionswithRomeanddeclaredanewauthority.Anotherpartyofcriticsstroveforreformwithintheestablishedchurchtowardwhichtheymaintainedanabsoluteloyaltydespiteitsmanifestfaults.Amongthem,oneofthemostarticulateandeffectivewriterswasErasmus,More'sclosefriend;andinthesamecamp,thoughnotexpressinghisviewssovociferously,wasMorealso,whoseaspirationstowardamoretrulyChristianwayoflifearerevealedthroughhisplanofUtopia.

ItalywasunquestionablythefountainheadofRenaissancecivilization.Asearlyasthe14thcentury,menofenlightenment,notablyPetrarchandBoccaccio,wereintroducingRenaissanceconceptsandproclaiminganewallegiancetoclassicalantiquity,andthroughthe15thcenturyafeverishdevelopmenttowardnewattitudesandstylesmarkedtheworkofbrilliantartists,scholars,philosophers,andmenofletters.Throughmostofthe15thcentury,theachievementswerepredominantlyItalian,butbythebeginningofthe16thcenturythemovementwasspreadingtoothercountriesofwesternEurope;atthesametimethatItalywaslosingherpoliticalindependencethroughconquestsbyFrench,Spanish,andAustrianarmies,shegraduallyyieldedherpreeminenceintheartsandletterstoFrance,Spain,andEngland.

England,intheyear1500,wasemergingfromacenturyofgrimcivilwarsduringwhichtheculturallifeofthecountryhaddeterioratedtoadeplorablestate.Itwasnotuntil1485thatthecivilwarswereendedbythevictoryofHenryTudor,EarlofRichmond,atBosworthField,establishingtheTudordynastywiththecrowningofHenryTudorasHenryVII.Duringthenext118yearsunderthereignoftheTudors,especiallythroughthelongreignsofHenryVIIIandElizabethI,Englandattainedthestatusofafirst‐rateEuropeanpowerandproducedaflourishingculturescarcelyequaledinallthehistoryofWesterncivilization.

OneofthefirstsignsofrenewedenlightenmentinEngland,aftertherudeandbloody15thcentury,wastheappearanceofagroupof"humanist"scholarsthatflourishedatOxfordandinLondonintheearlydecadesofthe16thcentury,notablyJohnColet,WilliamLatimer,ThomasLinacre,ReginaldPole,andThomasMore—agroupthatErasmuspronouncedbothcongenialanddistinguished.

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Thenameof"humanist,"intheRenaissance,meantonewhowastrainedinthestudyofLatinandGreeklanguagestothepointofeasyfamiliarity,whohadreadwidelyinthoseliteratures,whohadadoptedtheancients'attitudetowardmanonearth,andwhobelievedthattheprescriptionforenlightenmentinmodernsocietywastobefoundchieflythroughthestudyandimitationofthoseancientclassics.

AseriousdilemmapresenteditselfasaresultofthisnewfounddevotiontotheancientsagesbecauseoftheapparentconflictbetweenpaganclassicismandChristiandoctrine.ItbecameamatterofdeepestconcernforallRenaissancethinkerstofindanaccommodationofthetwodoctrines—thephilosophyofPlatoandtheteachingsofChrist.Asaresultoftheirdualallegiance,wegetthetermwhichdescribesthemovement,"Christianhumanism."ThesuccessfuladaptationofdoubledevotionisseldombetterillustratedthanintheworksofThomasMore,especiallyinUtopia.

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Referenceshttp://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Utopiahttp://www.sacred‐texts.com/cla/pcc/pcc10.htmhttp://www.readwritethink.org/classroom‐resources/lesson‐plans/decoding‐dystopian‐characteristics‐macintosh‐933.html?tab=3#tabshttp://books.google.com.au/books?id=xku_Ik6E96MC&pg=PA1227&lpg=PA1227&dq=%22utopia+means+nowhere+or+no+place%22&source=bl&ots=TSO9qCnTjX&sig=ffzEQ0Y2qHpjeJfIRktfcQ_OL_E&hl=en&ei=DVtWS9OAH8GIkAWguqHlBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CAsQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=&f=falsehttp://www.buzzle.com/articles/creation‐stories‐for‐different‐religions.htmlhttp://therumpus.net/2010/01/conversations‐about‐the‐internet‐5‐anonymous‐facebook‐employee/?full=yes