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