"I Blame Science Fiction Dystopias," or, How to Outguess Bad Times
It's easy to "be futuristic" when there's a lot to look forward to, but how can you "be futuristic" in times of plague, war and financial shock, when the trends of your stricken civilization are clearly getting worse?
Well, it's not like times are never bad. On the contrary, the afflictions of the tragic human condition are always hitting somebody somewhere. However, that never feels "dystopia" until it's hitting yourself or somebody you know.
In a lecture and in these encounters, we'll study some creative people who have been very future-minded in dark conditions, and have successfully outguessed events, preserved their equanimity, and even been funny. Vaclav Havel, HG Wells, Albert Robida, what inspiration can they offer us, and how might you do what they did, now, but better?
Short bio
Bruce Sterling is a science fiction novelist, technology journalist and futurist who has somehow survived for seven decades despite his unheathy fondness for all things "cyberpunk." He's also the Art Director for Share Festival in Turin Italy, where he spots trends in technology art for the "Share Festival Artmaker Blog." His most recent book is a science fiction collection, "Robot Artists and Black Swans, the Italian Fantascienza Stories.”
