Solarpunk

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Solarpunk is a relatively new eco-futurist speculative movement focused on envisioning a positive future beyond scarcity and hierarchy, where humanity is reintegrated with nature and technology is used for human-centric and ecocentric purposes.

The term solarpunk is a literary, aesthetic, and artistic subgenre[citation needed] created in the wake of cyberpunk and its other derivatives biopunk and steampunk.[1]

In contrast to the other "punk" science fiction genres that it derives from, solarpunk narratives have a distinctly positive and utopian foundation[2]- as opposed to what are often dystopian narratives found within contemporary science-fiction; to a large extent being a rebellion against widespread pessimism found in SF visions of the future. It is conceived as a collaborative social effort to imagine and design a world of post-scarcity abundance, peace, sustainability, social inclusiveness, and beauty- one which is seen as realistically achievable with current technology.[3] Aesthetically it also sits opposed to the often plain and sterile aesthetics of other futuristic subgenres, emphasising vibrancy and vitality in design, blending naturalistic elements with technological components, and mixing the diverse styles of several cultures.

Influences

Though as a literary subgenre solarpunk has not produced a large literature of its own yet, its major literary influences so far include Iain Banks, William Morris, Kim Stanley Robinson, Hayao Miyazaki, Octavia Butler, and Ursula K. Le Guin.[4][3]

As a response to current global problems such as Climate Change, solarpunk is heavily tied into eco-political activism. On the whole it predominantly concerns itself with subjects such as sustainability, renewable energy, green politics, and related ideologies and movements [3] which influence every aspect of solarpunk. It also draws significant inspiration from contemporary movements including transition towns, climate justice, and social ecology- as well as the broader fields of study surrounding Resilience and Ecological Economics.

While solarpunk is not tied to any particular political ideology, it leans in the direction of anti-authoritarian left-wing traditions, especially the values of social anarchism: direct democracy, cooperative economics, decentralism, opposition to hierarchy, and unity-in-diversity.

Likewise, its economic orientation entails looking beyond both market capitalism and state socialism in favour of a decentralised and egalitarian "economy of the commons"; based on democratically-run cooperative enterprises, local community stewardship of resources, automation of labour by decentralist eco-technologies, viewing the economy as subset of ecology, moving production closer to the point of consumption, and changing the goal of economics from profit and growth to increasing the bio-psycho-social well-being of people and planet.[citation needed]

Aesthetically, as a movement it places heavy influence on Natural Design, DIY, natural fibers, and more- particularly drawing inspiration from the soft, naturally inspired designs of Art Nouveau. Other influences also consist of Victorian and Edwardian fashion, Afrofuturism, and East Asian art, in particular with regard to solarpunk as a fashion subculture. Mostly, however, it places emphasis on the concepts of intentional living and Art as Utility, and this is shown heavily in its political, aesthetic, architectural, and other influences.[5]

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In this nascent stage, solarpunk appears as a loose collection of ideologies, manifestos, and desires for a sustainable, achievable future. It's elegant high-end technology powered by renewable energy. It's a shift away from geometric centralised infrastructure to a decentralised, organic, free-flowing design. It's microgrids instead of national grids. It's stained glass solar panels, and natural fabrics merged with solar cells. It's bespoke instead of mass-produced. It's permaculture and microbreweries. It's communal instead of corporate. It's radical sustainability: when hippies and hipsters meet, and techno-geeks crash the party.[5]

Etymology

The prefix "solar-" has been attributed to the idea of green energy- specifically to solar energy, photosynthesis, plants, and greenery. The prefix is also a commitment to an accessible, evenly distributed utopia for all humanity, as well as all other lifeforms, as sunlight is a universally accessible good that cannot be privatized and made into a commodity by corporations.[1]

The "-punk" suffix refers to counterculture elements, and the rebellion against the contemporary structure, corrupt governments and corporations who pollute and deny climate concerns.[5]

See also

References

External links