A Solarpunk Manifesto: Turning Imaginary into Reality

In the last century, science fiction has become an incredibly powerful tool in depicting alternative social imaginaries, particularly those of the future. Extending beyond their fictious nature is a commentary on the stark realities of modern society. The ‘cyberpunk’ subgenre, for example, offers a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Philosophies (Basel) 2023-08, Vol.8 (4), p.73
Main Author: Gillam, William Joseph
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Anarchism
Climate change
Dystopias
Ecology
futures
imaginaries
Justice
Nihilism
Optimism
Popularity
Punk rock music
Renewable resources
Science fiction
Social change
Society
solarpunk
Utopias
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Summary:In the last century, science fiction has become an incredibly powerful tool in depicting alternative social imaginaries, particularly those of the future. Extending beyond their fictious nature is a commentary on the stark realities of modern society. The ‘cyberpunk’ subgenre, for example, offers a dystopian critique on the dangers of technological dependence and hypercapitalism. In studying science fiction, future imaginaries can be developed as utopian goals for governance systems to strive for. In contrast to cyberpunk, the subgenre of ‘solarpunk’ depicts a utopian society where humanity lives locally, sustainably, and in harmony with nature. This paper deconstructs solarpunk media to describe three guiding principles of solarpunk: anarchism, ecology, and justice. As an anarchist community, solarpunk strives for a post-scarcity, post-capitalist society devoid of hierarchy and domination. As an ecological community, solarpunk strives for local, self-sufficient, and sustainable living where both the human and non-human flourish. Finally, as a just community, solarpunk strives to rid society of marginalization and celebrate authenticity. These three principles can be used to guide humanity towards a utopian, solarpunk future.
ISSN:2409-9287
2409-9287
DOI:10.3390/philosophies8040073