Dystopian Diaries: Creative Writing, Art, & Debate Club for Global Thinkers

What happens when a society goes too far in its quest for control, safety, or perfection?

In this weekly drop-in critical and creative thinking club, we will explore powerful What if? scenarios through dystopian fiction, cultural reflection, and expressive storytelling. Learners will step into the shoes of rebels, survivors, or hidden voices in speculative societies and consider how diverse cultures might interpret and respond to similar dilemmas. 

This enrichment club is perfect for fans of The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Marrow Thieves, Scythe, or students who enjoy exploring themes like justice, power, identity, resilience, surveillance, rebellion, scarcity, memory, and truth through writing and art.

Upcoming topics for the weeks beginning (subject to change per demand):

- April 14: The Algorithm Decides (Technology vs. Freedom); excerpts from “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin, “The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster, Wall-E (2008) and The Giver (2014).

- April 21: The Rule of Silence (Censorship and Control); excerpts from Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, Equilibrium (2002) and The Hunger Games (2012).

- April 28: Memory Erased (History and Identity); excerpts from 1984 by George Orwell, The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Maze Runner (2014) and Inside Out (2015).

- May 5: The Chosen Few (Scarcity and Survival); excerpts from “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson, Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler, Snowpiercer (2013) and City of Ember (2008).

- May 12: Surveillance State (Privacy vs. Security); excerpts from Little Brother by Cory Doctorow, We by Yevgeny Zamyatin, Minority Report (2002) and The Truman Show (1998).

- May 19: The Price of Peace (Sacrifice for Stability); excerpts from Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin, Divergent (2014) and The Giver (2014).

- May 26: The Outcasts’ Society (Inclusion and Identity); excerpts from The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline, Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, Encanto (2021) and Zootopia (2016).

- June 2: Who Controls the Story? (Propaganda and Power); excerpts from V for Vendetta by Alan Moore, Animal Farm by George Orwell, V for Vendetta (2005) and The Lego Movie (2014).


🧭 How is your class structured?

Each 50-minute session is fully self-contained—no previous attendance or homework required—and offers a fresh new theme each week. In every class, learners will:

- warm up with an imaginative prompt;

- dive into a short dystopian excerpt or media clip;

- engage in ethical debates or worldbuilding discussions; and

- create expressive work through writing, visual storytelling, or design.


🎬 How will I teach?

Learners will interact with me throughout class during group brainstorming, small debates, real-time writing feedback, and optional creative showcases. Every student’s voice matters, and I guide each activity to help learners build both skill and confidence. Ultimately, my goal is to support and encourage curiosity, self-expression, and collaboration.

💬 Have Questions?
Feel free to message me with any questions about the course!