Retro-futurism and why it matters: a foray into alternative futures seen from the past
Step into the intriguing realm of retro-futurism, where past visions of the future offer a unique perspective on our present. Explore why these alternative futures matter, and how they shape our understanding of progress and innovation.
What is retrofuturism?
A blend of science, fiction, and art
- Retrofuturisticism can be summarized as the future seen from the past, though sometimes it also incorporates the notion of the past seen in the future
- Often leads to innovations and creative ideas that you see or hear about in daily life
The origin and cultural influence of retro-futurism
Although people have likely imagined what the future would look like since the dawn of time, the crystallized retrofuturisticism current is relatively recent
- According to many digital publications, the concept was first ever discussed in a late 1960s book by T. R. Hinchliffe
- In 1983, an ad about Bloomingdale’s jewelry got published in the New York Times which is the earliest recorded use of the term “retro-future”
- Filmmakers, designers, artists, and game developers have been using it as a theme for many years
Types of Retrofuturism
Cyberpunk
- A dark and dystopian retro-future with all the advanced technology that we can ever imagine but still the world is filled with misery, pain, and chaos because evil organizations control the future
- Atompunk
- Add more interesting elements to the retro-futuristic version of the 1950s including jet propellers, industries run on clean nuclear power, and city life is faster than ever with bullet trains
Steampunk
Steampunk refers to a future that is based in 19th-century settings with grand steam-powered machines (such as steam aircraft, steam cannons, etc) at play.
- Most popular depiction of atom punk is found in Fantastic Four comics, Sean Connery’s James Bond films, and famous cartoon shows such as Dexter’s Laboratory.
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