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solarpunk thoughts | |
April 25th, 2019 | |
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cmccabe just posted [0] some thoughts on solarpunk as a cultural | |
phenomenon, as a set of aesthetics surrounding shared goals for | |
the future, and as a visual and literary style. It's worth the | |
quick read. Go check it out, I'll wait here. | |
[0] cmccabe - solarpunk optimism | |
As it so often happens on gopher, his phlog set off a chain of | |
thought in me that is tangential. It reminded me of a fantastic | |
book from last year's reading list [1]: | |
[1] Trekonomics: The Economics of Star Trek | |
In this surprisingly-great book, author Manu Saadia makes a case | |
for the true vision of Star Trek future through the lens of the | |
morals, values, and hard economics that underpin the series’ ideal | |
society. It's a substantial work that deserves serious attention. | |
The utopian future of Star Trek is optimistic and it manages to | |
challenge us in many unique ways. It questions our need for | |
financial incentives, the mores of competition vs honor, even the | |
idea of humanity itself. It also reminds me of that endless | |
conviction of Doctor Who that underpins everything [2]: | |
[2] Intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism! | |
Solarpunk is just this. Yes, there's an artistic aesthetic. | |
There's probably something to be claimed as original for | |
a literary style as well. Ultimately, though, it is a response to | |
the gritty, post-modern brutalism of cyberpunk. Instead of the | |
wastelands of Detroit overrun by cyber-drugs [3], we see green | |
pasture-lands infused with a shining beacon of optimism in the | |
form of solar arrays and wind turbines. | |
[3] NUKE | |
I can take or leave Earth Day. It's not a part of solarpunk as | |
much as a Delorian topped with a "Mr. Fusion", or as much as a guy | |
on gopher that powers his farm with a solar array and shares his | |
water conservation stories on his phlog [4]. | |
[4] melton | |
It all gives me hope. Star Trek, Doctor Who, gopher, | |
little-free-librarys [5], and all of you. Keep on being awesome. | |
[5] Little Free Library 1 | |
[5] Little Free Library 2 | |
[5] Little Free Library 3 | |