Year 9 English 2023 – Unit One: Dystopian Worlds

Recognising Dystopian Conventions in Visual Texts

Learning Intention:
 To strengthen our understanding of how the conventions of the dystopian genre are used in texts by
applying these conventions to a Dystopian short film.
Success Criteria:
 I have strengthened my understanding of how the conventions of the dystopian genre are structured
within texts by annotating these conventions in a dystopian short story.
Activity ONE: Identifying Dystopian Conventions in Text
View the short film ‘Model Citizen’ and identify the conventions of the dystopian genre. For each
convention, you also need to explain how each convention enhances the text. You are to identify and
explain at least SIX (6) examples from the text. You may identify images from the text, quotes from the
text or events from the text.
Model Citizen – images/quotes/events from the text Dystopian conventions
1. Propoganda shown on the telivision Propoganda shown to control
citizens and conform them.

2. Everything is shown in a washed out black and white color. Shows a bleak world where
everything is the same

3. Robots regularly check houses to weed out any ‘bad’ citizens Shows that you have no control
and that those who go outside
of the norm are punished

4.”the perfect cycle never ends”

4. Model citizens are labelled as ‘ugly’ and are sent to die when Hidden dark secret underlying
their usefulness has finished. the outside appearances

6.

Activity TWO: Mapping the Conventions of Dystopian Fiction and their impact on Meaning
You are to use the annotations that you made on the short film to complete the below table. In
completing the table you are to fill in each of the column to expand on the meaning created and how this
shapes the composer’s warning for the possible future.
Convention of Example of the What techniques What effect does How does this
Dystopian conventions are used to show this technique have example relate to
Fiction identified within to the convention in showing the an aspect of
the text (quote) within the quote? convention and the today’s society?
meaning of the
text?
Under constant “greetings mr. Dialogue
surveillance Robinson, daily
check, how are we
doing tonight?”
Constant
propoganda
Dull and bleak
setting,
everything is in
the same shade
of black and
white.
Loss of
individuality,
everyone is the
same.
Dehumanization.
Hidden dark “And when the
secret time comes, and
underlying the you’re model child
seemingly is ready to start a
perfect outer model family, a
appearances model citizen
knows that his time
has come”

The people with

the higher power
have complete
control

Activity THREE: Propaganda Poster

a) After viewing ‘Model Citizen’ you are to consider the rules and regulations demonstrated or
implied in this film. Design a propaganda poster relevant for this world. You may draw your
poster, or use an online source eg Canva or another template to help you design your poster.
b) Write an explanation of how your poster is relevant and appropriate as propaganda within the
world created in ‘Model Citizen’.
 
Create your poster and write your explanation in the space provided below.
Activity FOUR (OPTIONAL): Short Critical Response
Using the annotations, you have made on the text, you are to respond to the below analytical question.
You should structure your response using the STAR paragraph structure. This has been provided for you
below.
Question: How does the composer use ordinary household life to create a Dystopian vision?

Type your response here:

The short film ‘model citizen’ takes the use of various dystopic conventions to display a dystopian world
through the life of a ‘model citizen’.