What is Solarpunk?

What is Solarpunk?

Author: Damien Walter January 16, 2022 Duration: 43:32
Solarpunk is the newest genre of science fiction, a joyous and optimistic vision of a future where humans and our technology live in balance with nature. Solarpunk is an artistic, cultural and political movement that encompasses the arts, architecture, fashion and technology. But optimistic visions of the future are never all that they seem. From HG Wells' The Shape of Things to Come, to Ursula Le Guin's Always Coming Home, one science fiction author's vision of a bright utopia is another's grim dystopia. Can Solarpunk envision a utopia for all? 00:00 Two quotes from Brave New World 01:02 Welcome to the Science Fiction podcast 02:33 Am I trolling the scifi community? 03:49 The pre-history of ****punk 09:33 There is no such thing as Solarpunk 12:15 What is Solarpunk? 20:14 A Solarpunk Manifesto 23:17 Solarpunk is a genre without a story 25:12 Ursula Le Guin : patron saint of Solarpunk 33:13 The moral absolutism of Those Who Walk Away From Omelas 35:53 Science Fiction and the shadow of Utopianism 39:33 Can we ever achieve a utopia? Follow the Science Fiction podcast: https://damiengwalter.com/podcast Join the Science Fiction community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/324897304599197 Follow the full course in Writing the 21st Century Myth : https://damiengwalter.com/advanced-scifi-and-fantasy/ Enroll on Udemy: https://www.udemy.com/course/advanced-science-fiction-fantasy/?referralCode=B7B13C5C3D413999ED95 Subscribe monthly via Skillshare: https://skl.sh/3pO6pPV Read Always Coming Home by Ursula Le Guin: https://amzn.to/3nxHQqS Solarpunk's political manifesto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHI61GHNGJM

Damien Walter has spent years thinking about how the future shapes our present, and in his Science Fiction podcast, he shares those conversations. Rather than just reviewing books or films, this series digs into the ideas that make the genre so vital, using it as a unique lens to examine everything from current technology and social change to ancient myths and human psychology. Each episode feels like a thoughtful discussion with a well-read friend, one who can draw a line from classic novels to the latest TV series with ease. You’ll hear analysis of stories that predicted our world, explorations of how fictional futures reflect our deepest anxieties and hopes, and considerations of why certain narratives endure. Walter’s background as a writer and storyteller informs a approach that is both accessible and deeply insightful, making connections across the arts, science, and popular culture. This isn't about escapism; it's about using the imaginative tools of science fiction to better understand the reality we're all living in. For anyone who finds themselves wondering about the world that's coming next, this podcast offers a compelling and regular dose of perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 88

Science Fiction
Podcast Episodes
Prof. Elana Gomel on Stanislaw Lem [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:18:26
00:00:57 Introduction 00:03:39 Professor Elana Gomel 00:09:55 Charles Dickens as scifi writer 00:14:17 Stanislaw Lem and The Other 00:18:59 Anti-Humanism 00:22:46 Lem vs the SFWA 00:26:27 Beyond Humanism 00:28:12 LEM and…
Iain McGilchrist interview [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:11
00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:50 Is Iain McGilchrist a scifi fan? 00:07:05 Iain McGilchrist's work and philosophy 00:17:34 Reason vs Rationalisation 00:22:30 Kubrick's 2001 and the hemispheres 00:27:14 Why do we take every…
The Verhoeven Paradox with Olga Yakimenko [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:14:17
Olga Yakimenko is a filmmaker who sometimes answers questions in the Science Fiction community https://www.facebook.com/groups/324897304599197/ Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion…
The Age of the Rockstar Critic [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:10
BUY MERCH https://my-store-ef7a8e.creator-spring.com Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion Website - https://damiengwalter.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/DamienWalter/member…
J G Ballard vs Andreessen Horowitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:11
Watch J G Ballard's Towering Inferno https://youtu.be/XYjjaalZHlY Music 'Sensula' by Ralph Cree https://soundcloud.com/ralphcree/sensula The Techno-Optimist Manifesto https://a16z.com/the-techno-optimist-manifesto/ Becom…
Loki Who? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:46
PS - man with midlands accent is Alan Moore There is an ancient English ritual, performed in the grey and rainy times (which is the entire year save 2 weeks in July), when the tribes people gather around a glowing screen…
Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Hegelian history [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04:34
Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion Website - https://damiengwalter.com/members/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/DamienWalter/membership Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/Damie…
The dangerous philosophy of Ursula Le Guin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:28
Listen to the full podcast episode by becoming a member and adding the members RSS feed to your app Become a member of the Science Fiction community to continue the discussion Website - https://damiengwalter.com Patreon…