Solarpunk

You’ve probably heard of Cyberpunk, the science fiction sub-genre that’s given us the likes of ‘The Matrix’, ‘Akira’, ‘Blade Runner’ and more. With a very dystopian view of the world, it paints a rather bleak world where technology overwhelms and controls humanity.

The Solarpunk aesthetic, however, depicts nature and technological advances living in harmony, and has resurfaced over the last decade. As the damaging effects of climate change continue to take their toll on many living species, Solar Punk is seen as a way to inspire a better future into existence by developing a new generation of ecologically minded creators.

Wakanda, as depicted in Black Panther, is a fictional example of a city espousing many of the values of Solar Punk. In the real world, Iceland’s other-worldly natural landscape, and innovations, are a great example. The island runs entirely on renewable geothermal energy and seeks to preserve a balance between efficiency and ecology.

We know that art can have a fundamental impact on how we think about our present, and future, existence. Solarpunk could lead us to a more optimistic one.

Permission to be Creative

“Human creativity is nature manifest in us”

Ethan Hawke has really evolved well from being a young actor with boyish charm, to a wiser ‘fatherly’ figure. In this brief monologue, he advocates for giving yourself permission to be creative and truly finding what it is that you love.