At once a vision of the future, a thoughtful provocation, and an achievable lifestyle.Īpart from the clear aesthetic differences, a key difference here between solarpunk and cyberpunk is the emphasis on solutions, not warnings. Solutions to live comfortably without fossil fuels, to equitably manage scarcity and share abundance, to be kinder to each other and to the planet we share. As our world roils with calamity, we need solutions, not warnings. Solarpunk can be utopian, just optimistic, or concerned with the struggles en route to a better world - but never dystopian. The following definition from this reference guide summarizes it well: Solarpunk is a movement in speculative fiction, art, fashion and activism that seeks to answer and embody the question “what does a sustainable civilization look like, and how can we get there?” The aesthetics of solarpunk merge the practical with the beautiful, the well-designed with the green and wild, the bright and colorful with the earthy and solid. I’ve recently come across a lesser-known genre of science fiction called “solarpunk.” Like cyberpunk, it is a genre of speculative fiction wrapped in a signature aesthetic that paints a vision of the future we could create.
And while I love the dystopian vibes of cyberpunk aesthetics as much as anyone, is there another world we can create that inspires us (and the next generation) to manifest a more sustainable, equitable, and free future for all? Enter Solarpunk The world needs this vision more than ever.
How many engineers got their start after seeing Star Wars? How many interface designers were inspired by Minority Report? The iPad looks a lot like the tablet device in 2001: A Space Odyssey. But there is another purpose, which is to inspire the next generation about what the human mind is capable of and to shape our future for generations to come. Through captivating characters, suspenseful plots, and philosophical musings, we use fiction above all else to tell great stories and entertain. What problems might we create for ourselves?Īnd wait … weren’t we promised flying cars? Science fiction has always asked the big questions, while simultaneously preparing us for what may be around the corner. And while the news might inform us, it’s our fiction that inspires us to imagine what is possible. Our worldview and idea of what is possible are largely shaped by the media we consume.
We are the heroes of our own journey right now. We have an opportunity in front of us to continue down this path, or use this crisis as a wake-up call to pivot our future toward a world that is more equitable, safe, and empowering for all. Recent events have put us at a bit of a crossroads. Still from “The Music Scene” by Blockhead Our favorite works of science fiction are now becoming realities that are impacting our daily lives.Īnd here we are, wrestling with the implications of our new reality staring into our screens and trapped inside our homes like the characters in Ready Player One. Suddenly, the megacorps, oppressive regimes, and looming global crises don’t seem so distant anymore. However, with a once-theoretical dystopia now apparently on our doorstep, we should be considering the trajectory of our civilization now more than ever. Considering that I’m both a graphic designer and work in cryptocurrency, it’s practically required that I pay homage to the neon-soaked aesthetics of Blade Runner 2049, have a secret crush on Ava from Ex Machina, and geek out over pretty much anything Neal Stephenson puts out. It should be no surprise that I’m obsessed with science fiction. You don’t need to be stoned in a dorm room to imagine a brighter future Illustration: Thomas Chamberlain-Keen