FREMONTOPIA
Vol. 2 MAY 31, 2019
Fremont High School EMER MARTIN TEACHER
DYSTOPIAN STORIES
When Thomas More wrote his satirical fiction novel, Utopia, in the 16th Century about the creation of a perfect society, he unwittingly spawned a new genre. Dystopias are not entirely futuristic; they actually reflect the concerns of the times in which they are created. From Orwell’s 1984 to Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, the common thread in all dystopias is that human ideas should never be propagated at the expense of living beings, and mass surveillance and uniformity inevitably lead to totalitarianism.
This book was designed by the talented Fremont High School seniors as the culmination of their dystopian literature unit. Their task was to imagine their own dystopian world and create a storyboard that would represent the key plot points of a fictional narrative.
This material is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. Please contact the publisher for permission to copy, distribute or reprint for commercial use.
Pictures courtesy of Ashlyntear, MyCuteGraphics
Toward the Tears BY: SIDDHARTH KUMAR, JULIE LI, VINCENT TRUONG
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What was believed to be the end of the world came so suddenly. The overuse of resources and excessive burning of fossil fuels destroyed the world. The wealthy and powerful escaped the Earth and found sanctuary in space. As they lived luxuriously above the now polluted skies, those who were poor and unable to leave, fled into the mines. The world had entered a new age. Names no longer existed. The government assigned barcodes to newborns in this new age of destruction, stripping away their identity. With no name, she merely had the barcode, 10797109105, on her neck. That was until she met the Professor. However, there was a time when she had a family. Her father was Arabian and her mother was Thai. They lived and worked within the Thailand mines before that incident happened. An incident forever engraved in her mind. It was a week before her 8th birthday when the adults in the mines started to plan a revolt. She cried underneath the bed, while the loud explosions filled her room. The dust forced her eyes shut. The walls crumbled and the earth sunk down. She whimpered in pain as the shaking came to a stop. Pushing the mattress away, she saw the destruction of her world after climbing out. The mines were no more, the land was bare with rocks, and fires erupted from the ground. There were no complete bodies seen, just dismembered limbs. The rich people in space, called the Reichs, had attacked the mines to quell the revolt. As her vision started to blur, she saw the Professor approaching her. With a hasty breath, the seven-year-old whispered, “take me as well.” Then everything went black for her. Waking up with a startled breath, 10797109105, no, Adrestia, quietly whispered to herself, “Am I really that old to be having dreams of the past?” It had already been 15 years since that incident., she was now 22 and it was a week before her 23rd birthday. As her fingers slid over the scars on her neck, she recalled how she was taken in by that mysterious man that had appeared in front of her. With some kind of acid, the Professor erased the barcode on her neck that had imprisoned her and he gave her a new name, a real name, Adrestia. With that, she had found a new meaning to life.
That mysterious man was one of the few programmers that were on the team that programmed the A.I. System, Grandfather, that ruled over the Reichs. It was an absolute system, which meant it had no flaws and kept everything in order. Well, it kept whatever the Reichs believed was order. The Reichs were determined that to save the human population, it required that the children be saved above all. Children ate less, were more easily manipulated, and could still do work. After all, who cares about the ethical problems of giving children work when it was for the ¨good of the human race¨. And so, the Reichs gained an entire generation of nearly mindless, subordinate workers. After being taken in by the Professor, she moved in with him to his home in New Zealand. To the unfortunate living and working in the mines in other countries; New Zealand looked like a paradise because living above surface level was still possible and the mines there were the safest to work in as well. Heating up some toast, Adrestia turned around to feed Ham, her trained rat that the Professor gave her for her 15th birthday. Scarfing down her toast, Adrestia then started the day by rushing to work at the mines. After being exiled by the Reichs, the Professor ran a technical repair service company, Rising Phoenix, in New Zealand. During his free time, he locked himself in his room developing something. Adrestia never asked what he was doing, but she knew it was something important. Her time with the Professor was very precious to her. Growing up, Adrestia was trained by the Professor with knowledge of how to fix mechanical tools and electrical tools. After work was done, she decided to stop by the market to buy some genetically engineered food for dinner. Meanwhile, the Resistance tried to contact the professor to request assistance in defeating the Grandfather system. However, the Professor ignored them because he didn’t want anything to do with them. Little did they know that their attempt to contact the professor allowed the Reichs’ As Adrestia walked down the street with the groceries in her arms, she looked up at the sky, only to see smoke rising up in the air from the direction of the company. Rushing into the building, the bags of groceries fell on the floor as she saw the Reichs’ soldiers surrounding the professor who was lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Anger and fear enveloped her as she started to smash everyone in her way with her wrench. She picked him up and hugged him tightly. The professor slowly opened his eyes and smiled. With his final breath, he said: “Take this” and put a pocket watch in Adrestia hands before dying. Adrestia let her emotions take over. She ran out, smashing more heads with her wrench. With revenge in her mind, she located and boarded the soldier’s ship in order to hijack the ship. Being a repairs technician, she knew how to navigate the ship and fly the spacecraft all the way up to the space station where the Reichs lived. Forcing the gates open, she stormed into the halls, smashing the heads of other guards approached her.
Adrestia let her emotions take over. She ran out, smashing more heads with her wrench. With revenge in her mind, she located and boarded the soldier’s ship in order to hijack the ship. Being a repairs technician, she knew how to navigate the ship and fly the spacecraft all the way up to the space station where the Reichs lived. Forcing the gates open, she stormed into the halls, smashing the heads of other guards approached her. She got a glimpse of the soldiers she smashed and she recognized them as the children who disappeared when she was still a child. “So the Reichs turned them into mindless slaves,” she thought as she continued to storm the place, she started to feel lightheaded. Looking down, she saw that someone had shot her with a tranquilizer. As her vision faded, she could hear the soldier who shot the tranquilizer say, “it’s just a little brown girl, there’s no way we men can’t handle her.” Then everything turned black. When Adrestia woke up, she saw that she was in some type of cell. Unable to open the door, she sat down on the ground and felt something in her pocket: the pocket watch that the Professor had given her. As she started to inspect it, she wondered why the professor would give her such a thing. Startled after hearing scratching sounds behind her, she dropped the watch. Looking down, she saw Ham crawling through the laser bars with a keycard in his mouth. Ham had stayed in her pockets throughout all the commotion and escaped when she was knocked out with the tranquilizer. Remembering the pocket watch, she looked down to see that it had broken open. Among the broken parts, there was a small microchip. At first sight, she knew that the reason why the Professor was killed was most likely due to this tiny chip. A myriad of thoughts filled her head. The reason why the Professor locked himself in the room developing something. The reason why he was killed. The reason why he gave her the pocket watch. The answer was obvious, Adrestia knew that this microchip was the key to defeating the Grandfather system. However, as she thought of the gigantic army which impeded her path, fear clouded her mind. She was alone in what was basically enemy territory with no tools, no equipment, no map, and no Professor to tell her what to do. As such, it was probably best for her to escape and try to shut down the system another day. However, as the thought crossed her mind, she remembered the Professor, his bloody visage filling her with the anger and sorrow. Would she just let this golden opportunity pass? And if she did leave, would she be content with working in a shitty run-down electronics shop or working in some mine somewhere, hiding from the eyes of the law, while waiting for that golden opportunity, a day where she could exact her vengeance on the Reichs for all the suffering they had caused, ruining her own life in the process? Nay, she would never let this opportunity go. But the facts still remained, she was overwhelmingly outnumbered. If she truly wished to take down the Reichs, she would require assistance. Unlocking the cell and stuffing Ham into her pocket despite his squeals of complaint, she crept along the wall all the way till she felt another door. She looked down both sides of the hallway before checking the name of the room. It read, “Communications Central”.
She went to the keypad and opened the door. Inside were two white soldiers. They both looked back and one of them asked the other, “Isn’t that the little brown girl you knocked out?” Hearing that, Adrestia felt the anger rise. She grabbed the nearest object, a steel pole, and yelled, “Well this little brown girl is going to fuck you up!” before running and smashing it on the soldier, knocking him out. Adrestia turned to the other soldier who had his gun facing her. “Now who’s scared of this little brown girl? Hmm? You scared Tim?”, Adrestia mocked as she took a step toward the soldier. “H-h-how do you know my name?” he gasped. His grip on the gun started to lessen and Adrestia took this chance to kick it out of his hands. Tim fell back and stared at Adrestia. Adrestia slowly walked up to him while saying, “ Back then there was a group of refugees who made their way to New Zealand and everybody kept the children together to keep a close eye on them. After reaching Australia, the group split into two groups to travel separately. Sadly, one of them was attacked by the Reichs and all the children were abducted. Tim, we used to talked to each other, however I followed the Professor to the second group while you were kidnapped by the Reichs and made into their puppets”. Shocked, Tim stared at her blankly. Adrestia took advantage of Tim who was frozen and took a roll of tape she saw on the table and pushed him down and taped his hands and feet together. “Hey! What are y-,” Tim started but Adrestia taped his mouth as well. “Consider it a blessing that you knew me,” Adrestia said. She turned to the computers in the room and started to press some buttons. Using technological expertise, she found the signal that the Reichs used to trace to find the Professor. Using that same signal, she was able to locate the Rebels’ base. “Hello, who is this?”, the receiver tried to say but the connection wasn’t strong enough. “This is Adrestia, the Professor’s daughter.” “Ah, Adrestia, I’ve heard about you from your father. How is he?” Adrestia yelled into the screen “He’s fucking dead!” After that, silence filled the air for a few moments until a voice rang out asking “How did he die?” Adrestia quickly replied, “They tracked him down using the signal you people used to contact him. I was captured by the Reichs’ soldiers after they killed him”. “...I see, then, we’ll come get you out of the-” Adrestia then quickly replied, “No, I have a better plan. I’m in the enemy’s base and have the microchip needed to take down Grandfather in my possession. The Reichs have no idea that I’m here, I can take down the system with your help.” “Ok, I’ll tell you where to find the CCC room. In the meantime, we’ll create a distraction so you can shutdown the Grandfather system as security is decreased. Good luck. Adrestia we’re sorry about your dad.” Looking back at Tim, she sighed, “Maybe it wasn’t a blessing knowing me”, and she brought her pipe down on his neck, knocking him out. After he fell unconscious, she found a closet and stuffed him in it. She waited in the Communications Central Room until she heard an explosion and shouting in the distance. Looks like the rebels arrived. She waited a few more minutes before running out of the Communication Central and down the hall. The shouting became louder and gunshots can be heard. Looking down at the microchip in her hand, she knew exactly what to do. All she needed to do was to reach the Central Control Computer Room where the Grandfather system was located. She made her way around the gunshots, running down the halls without a sense of direction. All she knew was that the CCC Room was at the center of the space shuttle. She looked up and saw signs signaling to the center of the shuttle. “How lucky”, she thought to herself as she followed the signs until she reached a large door with the letters “CCC” on them. She took her pole and smashed the keypad and the door slid open. Entering the CCC Room, she saw an endless wall of screens. Locating the microchip port, she inserted the microchip. The Grandfather started the security system but it was all in vain, the virus that was in the microchip was in. As the virus began to infect and destroy Grandfather, the walls of the ships started to collapse. The ship was going to explode with Grandfather no longer controlling it. She remembered the Professor’s face. With a smile on her face, the ship exploded in a supernova.
Many Decades Later... The wind blew through the pile of leaves, flowers scattering in the blue sky, the fleeting cloud hiding behind the green mountains. The oceans welcome the spring tides once again. A free-spirited child runs through the grass, arms out, with not a care in the world. Through a thousand storms, the chaos had finally subsided. From the bitter moments, a smile forms.
saving priva The world was overrun by media advertisements, online censorship, and violation of privacy. In response to citizens’ outrage, the Data Laws were passed. Any media surveillance or data tracking by the government, companies, or organizations was now forbidden. The intent was to crack down on the companies that profited from collecting people’s data. This is a Marxist concept, since the wealthy benefitted from controlling peoples’ lives. In the post-surveillance world, people relished in their newly found online freedom.
Establishing shot
Finally, they could use the internet without their data being collected. Online advertisers crumbled, no longer able to appeal to their intended audiences. However, interactions once constrained to the Dark Web were now moved to the general internet, making illegal transactions and forums easily available to the public. The government had no power to stop the criminal activities online. As a result, people begin to distance themselves not only from the internet but also from society in fear of being involved with the crimes.
By: Emarie, Lau
ate internet POV shot
POV shot: Fritzi is researching her country’s history of gang violence, and comes across a forum in which people are scheming illegal activity on the internet. This is not the only site as many more are easily accesssible to internet users.
High angle shot: Upon further investigation, she realizes the forum is run by a gang: The Black Hand. They’re funded by Melon Husk, a multimillionaire planning a crime in Fritzi’s neighborhood. One of the schemes she notices later happens in real life. From hereon she is terrified and very confused about what to do next. She cannot simply ignore this.
ura, Sharon, amd Meeta
Low angle shot: She decides to do something about it, and reports the online activity to the police to prevent any further crimes from happening.
Tilted shot: The police can’t do anything as they cannot use or obtain any online evidence against the gang due to the data laws. So now she needs to find a way to catch them for good.
Wide angle shot: Unfortunately, the gang finds out that she reported them to the police, and comes after her. She has to go into hiding to escape from the gang members.
Close up Shot: Fritzi finds an online counter revolution that tries to abolish the anti data laws, as complete privacy was threatening the well being of the people. She joins this resistance, of which she becomes the leader and gives the movement pace.
Establishing Shot: The resistance campaigns for some surveillance online and finally they achieve their aims. The Black Hand is caught, and peace is restored. However, Melon Husk escapes without punishment, showing the Marxist lens as influential people are above the law due to their wealth (and therefore, their power).
until next time...
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Special Feature 6
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Sept 23, 2016
Special Feature 7
Glasstopia Glasstopia by anubha gupta, ashley ma, and neta ziv
The year is 4019. Fire breathing zombie dinosaurs have taken over a now barren Earth, and are hungry for human flesh. Human population has boiled down to 30,000 people who live within concrete walls that protect them from the terrors of the outside world. A majority, 20,000 to be exact, reside in the outermost rung of what citizens call Glasstopia. This class, the lower class, is the most vulnerable to common attacks of dinosaurs breaking through their one wall. They have little medical care and amenities, and are plagued by economic depression. Above this class are 8,000 people who constitute the middle class, and are given an additional layer of protection. The remaining 2,000 people have it the best, living in a sturdy double paned glass dome, with the maximum protection of 3 barriers as well as 28,000 bodies. The 3 classes are very distinct, and jumping class is forbidden. Violators are punished severely by being thrown outside Glasstopia to be ripped apart by the dinosaurs. The higher class treat those below them with scorn. They share none of their resources.
Middle Class safe, moderate
Lower Class least safe, little protection
protection
Upper Class safest, highest protection
Elizabeth is a poor girl living in the lowest class with her mother. One day when Elizabeth returns home from school, she finds her village charred and destroyed. It is clear that dinosaurs had attacked. Her heart sinks when she finds her mother badly injured. Her mom would die without antidote from the Dome. Although crossing between rungs in Glasstopia is extremely dangerous and illegal, Elizabeth knows she has to take the risk no matter what. Her mom is the only person she has in her life and would do anything for her.
The dome is made of sturdy double paned glass and is surrounded by an additional wall with heavy security all around. She ventures out in the middle of the night to vault the wall and sneaks her way through one of the gates. She gathers any rope she can find and puts on a black mask to hide her identity and bravely sets out to find the antidote.
Within 4 hours she has climbed the wall between the lower and middle class, and successfully broken into the Dome. In the Dome’s center there is a glamorous party in full swing. Security is tight because the labs are also there. This was her only chance to sneak in to get a vial of antidote for her mother. She knew she had to be extremely careful, as if she were to be caught, she would ultimately be thrown out to the fire breathing zombie dinosaurs. There was a pit in her stomach and her palms were sweaty.
Things take a turn for the worse and security officers patrolling the party catch Elizabeth. She is thrown into jail, awaiting her death. She tries to explain herself and her terrible situation, but her dilemma falls on deaf ears, and the guards tell her she will never see her mother again. Elizabeth is terrified and feels like giving up.
On the verge of losing hope, Elizabeth catches a guard dozing off. She slides her arm through the iron bars and swipes the prison keys from his belt. In the wee hours of the morning, she makes a run for it, escaping from prison. She runs towards the lab, this time being even more careful to not get caught. Her veins are rushing with adrenaline and she runs faster than she ever has before.
She sneaks her way into the lab following the signs on the building walls, finding an absurdly large quantity of antidote to cure victims who have been attacked by the fire breathing zombie dinosaurs. At first, she only swipes a small quantity enough to cure her mother, but then decides to take the lab’s entire stock of antidote as well as other medicines in hopes to distribute it throughout the lower class where she lives.
She is able to exit the glass dome and climb the wall in the middle of the night and return to her mother safely and give her the antidote to cure her. She proceeds to give the remaining antidote to victims like her mother to save their lives. Going against her society’s classist system was a huge risk to her life but proved to be worthwhile in the end, as she was able to cure people plagued by disease.