Contemporary visions of the future and the nostalgia and retro-futurism of tomorrow

[RainySky]

I was reading this thread on nostalgia for promised futures in the past, and how reality differed; Similarly this thread is talking about how the look 4chan of the 2000s is becoming a zoomer aesthetic. It seems we associate every era with a certain vision of the future: 1950s had flying cars and such, 90s seems to have a heavy focus on gadgets and tech, 2000s is obsessed with the internet, etc. In each time period the future was expected to look a certain way, have a certain feel, have a certain aesthetic. Note these aren't necessarily concrete predictions from the time that I'm talking about as much as visual styles, common themes and motifs.

This got me thinking: when people in a decade talk about the 2020s, what might they associate with it? What themes, colours, art styles will be considered the 'retrofuturism' of the 2020s? I dont think there is necessarily one answer to that question. But Id love to hear any things you might associate with current 'popular predictions' and the likes, or see any other futuristic images. Note I am NOT talking about your predictions for the future and what will actually happen - some of the pics later in this post of are what I think are arguably silly and unrealistic ideas - but rather what corporations, society, media, etc. depicts as 'tommorow'.




To start with, I tried searching the internet a bit by going through popular magazines and such, and poked through some art from people trying to imagine what the future might look like, here are some examples. Mostly corporate ones, but seeing as how much of vaporwave and such draws from old corporate stuff I think it makes sense to start with them.

A national geographic site on the 'city of the future': https://www.nationalgeographic.com/...le-future-city-designed-for-people-and-nature

Some pics from artists trying to imagine the future:

3d printing buildings is sometimes suggested to be a big futuristic thing:

Theres a whole movement surrounding building cities on the ocean too:

Or wooden skyscrapers:

Also not unrelated is the whole corporate simplified art style thats so popular in magazines and, well, corporations webpages. Heres pics from another magazine article and a screenshot from google's sustainability page:

I think a lot of the corporate-vision-of-the-future rn seems to be centered around sustainability, whereas I think older visions from 10-20 years ago mightve focused more on the internet. At this point I struggled to find anything about how the future might look that didnt include plants all over it and the word 'sustainable'. There also seems to be a big focus visually on 'natural' things. Whereas a lot of those old 'city of the future' images had white skyscrapers with green on them, that skyscraper will now be brown with green on it lol. Architecture seems to be imagined as having very flowy, organic shapes.

Wasnt sure if I should put this thread in the nostalgia section considering its about nostalgia for something that hasnt passed yet lol, first thread here so if it would better fit elsewhere please do move. If anyone has any ideas about what people in the future might get nostalgic about the current day, please say, its an interesting topic I think.

 

[Waninem]

I think it will depend on where you look. For the suits, retrofuturism of the 2020s is probably gonna be Agenda 21/2030 type stuff. 15 minute cities, sustainable living, wind and solar farms, false utopia where nature is preserved, etc. But outside of that... it's hard to say. Retrofuturism stems from popular takes in books, films, and other media on what the future will be like. Right now most of those are pretty cyclical, being sequels, soft reboots, or expanded universe entries so our future isn't currently in focus. As it stands now, the 2020s might be remembered as a continuation of the 2010s. Possibly even a rut decade, where most technologies had already hit their peak with the exception of AI, due to the pandemic.

Honestly, you've brought up something I haven't even thought of until now. The 70s, 80s, 90s... those decades were full of films and TV shows focused on our future, either several decades or several centuries ahead. Alien, Blade Runner, Star Trek, Babylon 5, Space 1999, SeaQuest DSV... Outside of stuff like maybe The Expanse or Black Mirror, I haven't really heard about modern future-oriented shows. Now granted, I live under a rock and I don't go looking for new media too often, so if there are any I don't know about, feel free to tell me. But most of the stuff being made now is an adaption of a story that takes place in a parallel version of our world, instead of being concretely in our world in an abstract amount of time in the future. Maybe people want their shows to not be dated, but it really obscures what our cultural view of the future is. Heck, do we, as in the majority of people, have one? Seems like our idea of the future is just the present day, but with war or dystopia. It's not like the 70s or 80s where we just assumed we'd have bases in outer space.

 

[SolidStateSurvivor]

Is eco-futurism still a prevailing attitude?

Other than that I can't think of anyone who is/any sentiments that are a positive outlook on the future. Everyone just feels this slow decline on account of every major US urban center getting progressively worse over the last decade. Seriously find me an American city that has actually seen some level of tangible improvement since the 2007 recession.

 

[RainySky]

Very good points, I hadn't really considered the idea that we might not even really look back on the now as a particularly distinct or notable time in this way. It does seem like there isnt a singular dominant narrative of what the future is going to be right now, unless one counts stuff like sustainability or the SDGs. I guess there are certain decades which I can associate with any specific vision off the top of my head (the 60s maybe?).

... most of the stuff being made now is an adaption of a story that takes place in a parallel version of our world, instead of being concretely in our world in an abstract amount of time in the future. Maybe people want their shows to not be dated, but it really obscures what our cultural view of the future is. Heck, do we, as in the majority of people, have one? Seems like our idea of the future is just the present day, but with war or dystopia. It's not like the 70s or 80s where we just assumed we'd have bases in outer space.

Hmm this is interesting. I think there are some counterexamples, like cyberpunk having same social dynamics with more tech. But for the most part it does seem there are fewer genuine attempts at thinking of a utopia, such as was kind of the case with star trek.

Other than that I can't think of anyone who is/any sentiments that are a positive outlook on the future. Everyone just feels this slow decline on account of every major US urban center getting progressively worse over the last decade. Seriously find me an American city that has actually seen some level of tangible improvement since the 2007 recession.

I actually had a pretty hard time finding the above images, few articles are optimistic. Maybe its it the case that there just isnt enough optimism right now that people arent willing to indulge in utopias? Even the 2000s kind of had an optimistic vision with how the internet could bring freedom and progress, but I get the impression that many people (at least in west) feel under economic and political pressure, also with climate change looming. I admit, when I posted the above images I was thinking to myself that cities on water and 3d printed houses sound pretty unfeasable and stupid, so im definitley too cynical to consider a utopia rn lol

 

[punisheddead]

I think those idolized views of the future are mostly long gone, I haven't seen them in a long time. It's all about going to space or sustainability now.

I've seen the term "15 minute city" being tossed around and it being the most likely archetype of the modern city. You'll have everything in it, no need for cars, it will be very green, everything will be interconnected and all that jazz. It's also being pushed by the elites and the media so you know there's some thought and more importantly serious money tossed in it. And that seems to be the only real push in the media nowadays, it isn't the optimistic time of the 90s or early 2000s, it's stone cold efficiency and sustainability with a dash of surveillance and removed freedoms.

I've seen some ok renders, on par with a suburb or a part of a small European city with crammed essentials in and big ass buildings with houses, can't forget the GREEN. Doesn't seem like the worst thing in the world.

But then there's Saudi Arabia's "the line":

A giant enclosed megacity in the desert, spanning the entire desert. The future of cities. A real project that's being worked on as we speak. Not sure what you even call this besides dystopian and dumb it's kinda reminiscent of those cities under a dome that everyone used to joke around with, but that's about it.

 

[RainySky]

I think those idolized views of the future are mostly long gone, I haven't seen them in a long time. It's all about going to space or sustainability now.

Cool images! I hadnt considered megaprojects like the line, severely doubt that stuff like that will get finished so will be interesting how the future looks back on it.

Space is interesting, beyond Musk's enthusiasm to colonise it I dont know much. I just looked at the spacex website and the art doesnt look overly interesting in terms of asthetics, just the usual cluster of white container things in a red desert. I dont think its caught the public imagination to a meaningful extent.

 

[urgentmeow]

I think today's culture and aesthetics are too empty and self-referential to inspire any nostalgia. The most interesting things going on seem to be people looking to the past to find some other point of inspiration. It feels like there's a general awareness that culture and society took a wrong turn somewhere, that we need to go back and try another path. All that said, I'm waiting to be surprised in 20 years when kids are nostalgic for ugly, soulless "minimalism"...or perhaps there's something happening right now that is good and iconic that I'm not aware of. I think that's another issue, culture is very fragmented, so it's getting harder and harder to put your finger on a "signature" look and feeling of the times, like you could in the 90s.

 

[urgentmeow]

Actually, what if culture turns around, becomes more human and "real", and then people get nostalgic for AI-generated garbage, clickbait, SEO, etc.? In an optimistic scenario, people could really start to think they missed such an artificial, curated world.

 

[RainySky]

Actually, what if culture turns around, becomes more human and "real", and then people get nostalgic for AI-generated garbage, clickbait, SEO, etc.? In an optimistic scenario, people could really start to think they missed such an artificial, curated world.

Right, good thought, people might remember the decade not for optimistic things but rather be nostalgic for negative stuff. In a way, conflict and hardship can kinda be romanticized.

In particular, covid perhaps? I already have heard some people say they miss the way it was, how everything shut down for a few years, etc. The idea of the world coming to a standstill certainly is cool. On the other hand, not something that really can be connected to a particular aesthetic look or any media, at least not yet. Wonder if they will ever have any films set during corona.

 

[Some_porcupine]

Solarpunk

Solarpunk is a genre of speculative fiction that is also its own distinguished aesthetic, focusing mainly on renewable energy, living in harmony with nature, and the better future envisioned through both. Solarpunk also emphasizes handcrafted wares (as opposed to mass-produced products) and...

aesthetics.fandom.com

Afrofuturism
Art Nouveau
Biopunk
Cottagecore
Cyberparadism
Cyberprep
Cyberpunk (contrasts)

Abstract Tech​

Acid Design​

Afrofuturism​

Animecore​

Atompunk​

Biopunk​

Bronzepunk​

Cassette Futurism​

Atompunk​

Cyberpunk​

Dieselpunk​

Hexatron​

Laser Grid​

Raygun Gothic​

Retro-Futurism​

Acid Design​

Aeropittura​

Art Deco​

Atompunk​

Cyberpop​

Cyberpunk​

Decopunk​

Dieselpunk​

Futurism​

Frutiger Aero​

Hydrogen​

Nostalgiacore​

Raygun Gothic​

Rocketpunk​

Steampunk​

Synthwave​

Vaporwave​

Visual Pollution​

Y2K Futurism​

Space Cowboy​

Synthwave​

Vaporwave​

Vectorcore​

Vintage​

Clockpunk​

Corporate Gen-X Cyber​

Y2K Futurism​

Cyberdelic​

Cyberghetto​

Cybergoth​

Cybergrunge​

Cyber Grunge​

Cyberparadism​

Cyberpop​

Cyberprep​

Cyberspace Webrooms​

Cybervillain​

Decopunk​

Dieselpunk​

Early Cyber​

Flat Design​

Futurism​

Glowwave​

Hacker​

Hexatron​

Itasha​

Lunarpunk​

Motomami​

Mythpunk​

Nanopunk​

Neo-Tokyo​

Neo-Tribal​

Neon Noir​

New Romantic​

New Wave​

Post-Apocalyptic​

Punk​

Raver​

Raygun Gothic​

Retro-Futurism​

Solarpunk​

Steampunk​

Steelpunk​

Stonepunk​

Synthwave​

Technocore​

Techwear​

Terrorwave​

Tupinipunk​

Vaporwave​

Vectorheart​

Visual Pollution​

Webcore​

Frutiger Aero
Frutiger Eco
Green
Lunarpunk
Naturecore
Steampunk (contrasts)
Vaporwave (mostly in the Utopian Virtual subgenre)

DORFic

This article is part of a series on the Frutiger Family DORFic is an aesthetic featuring Abstract Tech-esque minimalist imagery that was popular from the Mid/Late-2000s to the Mid-2010s. DORFic is an acronym for Daylight, Orange, Red, Futurism, plus the last 4 letters of the word "graphic"...

aesthetics.fandom.com

★Abstract Tech​

Bright Tertiaries​

Corporate​

Cyberpunk​

Dark Aero​

★Frutiger Aero​

Frutiger Eco​

Frutiger Metro​

Hexatron​

Imaginarium​

Minimalism​

Renewable Corporate Futurism​

Skeuomorphism​

Solarpunk​

Technozen​

UrBling​

Vectorflourish​

Y2K Futurism​

 

[Nyx9572]

nothing really. the 2020s are not about nice aesthetics. the 2020s are the end of the line for the western world. It's fight or die. there's really no time for any real futurism because we're at the crossroads of history.

 

[Pluto]

This got me thinking: when people in a decade talk about the 2020s, what might they associate with it? What themes, colours, art styles will be considered the 'retrofuturism' of the 2020s?

It's too soon to say. For the longest time I thought the 2000s and 2010s have no distinct identities. In retrospective they do, but it was impossible to sense in the moment.
That said, the last two decades had no idea of the future. It's kinda part of what defines this entire era of western culture – the future is just the present, but 3D-rendered. Everything's slightly slicker and it's more about delivering on the unment promises of the present, e.g. technology that actually works as advertised.
There's been a lot of tech sector grift, so maybe people will associate the 'futurism' of the current decade with scams like NFTs, AI, web3.0, etc.?


Semi-related: It's not really about Aesthetics, but China's moon colonization program is progressing quite well.
(Yes, China has a serious moon colonization plan – building something like the ISS, only on the moon's south pole. They have the lander(s) under development and everything! What did you think the Artemis program is a response to?)
My guess is that, at least when it comes to futurism, things are gonna get jolted pretty hard in the West in 2027 (when China launch their first manned Chang'e mission) and in 2029 (current planned date for the first Chinese manned moon landing). I have no doubts it'll send people into the sort of frenzy that the original Sputnik launch did. The 2030s will be an interesting decade, if nothing else.

nothing really. the 2020s are not about nice aesthetics. the 2020s are the end of the line for the western world. It's fight or die. there's really no time for any real futurism because we're at the crossroads of history.

I hate this sentiment despite vaguely agreeing with it. "The West"/NATO/whatever is in relative decline, but not in absolute decline.
Thinking that, yes, we are the last generation! seems presumptuous and narcissistic.
Remember: Negative narcissism is a thing. Thinking "only I am [BAD THING] enough for [OTHER BAD THING] to happen to me" is as delusional as thinking you're exceptionally good and deserving of exceptionally good outcomes/treatment.

 

[Some_porcupine]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVlBmdvIC6s&ab_channel=DamiLee

i think it is gonna look same as in 70s-90s predictions - bubbly, plastic, glass, open and full of vines