Exercises

How is space controlled in dystopias?

  • I have listed Enclosure, Standardisation, Regimentation and Surveillance as different forms of dystopian control of space.
    • Note down an example from We of each of these forms of control.
    • Could any of your chosen examples be used as examples of multiple different forms of control?
    • Could you add any additional forms of control to this list?
  • Think about how you would feel if you were constantly being watched by the secret police of OneState. Note down some of these feelings.
    • Now, think about how these feelings would change if you were being surveilled by:
      • The government of the country you live in
      • Facebook
      • Your parents
    • Can you think of any benevolent examples of ‘watching over someone’, and what distinguishes those kinds of surveillance from the dystopian kind depicted in We?
  • Have a look at this booklet – Home – which is part of a series on Architecture and Science Fiction and go through the exercises outlined which will encourage you to create an imaginary home [LINK].
    • While this booklet is focused on science fiction in general you can easily adapt it to a dystopian scenario. 
    • As you are using this booklet to create a dystopian space, keep focused on the specific methods of control that you are deploying.

What real life spaces inspire dystopias?

  • Make a list of real life examples of enclosure. These could be different types of enclosure or specific examples of enclosure.
    • Have you seen these examples referenced in the dystopias you have read/watched?
    • If not, why do you think that is? And could you imagine a dystopia that did include those examples?
  • I have argued that it is useful to compare the glass city of OneState, depicted in We, with a prison.
    • What are some of the similarities between the lives of the citizens of OneState and real life prisoners, and what are the differences?
    • Think about who is more likely to be imprisoned in real life and how poverty (which is not found in OneState) impacts prisoner’s lives.
  • Reflect on Angela Davis’ discussion of the racism of prisons.
    • Can you identify any moments of racism in Zamyatin’s writing?
    • How does his choice to depict a society where it appears that everyone is of the same race affect his dystopia?
    • Can you think of other books or films where prisons are dealt with more explicitly as a racist institution? And do you consider those texts to be dystopias?

Can dystopias help us to imagine better spaces?

  • Imagine that you are a contented citizen of OneState. Write a description of the experience of waking up in your glass room.
    • Are there any elements of this space that are genuinely appealing to you?
    • How could you combat the dystopian qualities of this space while keeping the more appealing elements?
  • Return to the Architecture and Science Fiction booklet you looked at above and think about how you would change your responses if you were designing a utopian space [LINK].
    • What is the smallest change you could make to significantly improve the dystopian home you created?
    • Do you think gradual small changes could be used to eventually create a utopian space or do you think you would be better off destroying your dystopian model and starting again?
    • There are booklets on the Street, City and World if you want to extend this exercise.