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Retrofuturism

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51–60 of 82 posts

Re: Retrofuturism

#51
post #49

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for this, I did not know about Syd Mead, but just flipping through the images on that page it's clear how influential he was. Wikipedia lists pretty much exactly the associations I made: > Mead worked with major studios on the feature films: Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Blade Runner, Tron, 2010, Short Circuit, Aliens, The Spirit of '76, Timecop, Johnny Mnemonic, Mission: Impossible III, Elysium, Tomorrowl…

> That is, he almost exclusively addresses the technological advancement, while keeping the societal structures largely intact. Looks like it to me too. Which is probably far more realistic than all the "society will radically change thanks to technology" takes. In the last 70 years we've seen technological advances we couldn't have dreamed off yet society is in most parts still the same as it was back then. Sure, pr…

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Re: Retrofuturism

#53
post #29
post #13

Not sure there’s a finer visual artist to produce in the medium of retrofuturism than Syd Mead - passed away late last year unfortunately but left an inspiring catalog and vision of the future that I imagine will endure a very long time -> https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-syd-mead/

Simon Stålenhag does really great work that if not considered retro-futurism proper is something else that doesn't seem to have a name but certainly is at least in a space adjacent to retro-futurism. http://www.simonstalenhag.se/

There is a full story behind that art. I love it. Thanks.

Re: Retrofuturism

#54
post #34

Fallout is probably my favorite example of that.

Came here to say this. Not a video game fan but the series has a charm that I found very hard to explain to friends.

The genesis of that world is interesting enough too: a post-apocalyptic world which mixes the old and the new out of necessity, rather than a deliberate desire to model things on the past.

Re: Retrofuturism

#55

this remembering of the past and what they thought about us can mostly only mean one thing: we ourselves can't and haven't been able to think of the future.

That's one possible way to look at it. The art of the present and the past is strongly influenced by the technological innovations that society has access to. However, there isn't any reason why the art of yesterday can't be used with the technology of present.

e.g. rotary telephones were designed because that was the only option to dial numbers; but someone might find that kind of telephone to be nice today because of the user experience (just a wild example) and they could be made today but with IC's etc.

Re: Retrofuturism

#56

What then is the converse of retrofuturism where the present or future is represented with a mix of obsolete technologies along with contemporary and/or hypothetical future ones?

A post-apocalypic present with ancient and highly advanced technologies unearthed from ruins that humanity no longer has the skill to remake. Miyazaki's Nausicaa comes to mind. Or maybe a world where technology is futuristic but the societal structure is from the past. Warhammer 40k, the Roman empire but in space.

Fallout series.

Re: Retrofuturism

#58

What then is the converse of retrofuturism where the present or future is represented with a mix of obsolete technologies along with contemporary and/or hypothetical future ones?

A post-apocalypic present with ancient and highly advanced technologies unearthed from ruins that humanity no longer has the skill to remake. Miyazaki's Nausicaa comes to mind. Or maybe a world where technology is futuristic but the societal structure is from the past. Warhammer 40k, the Roman empire but in space.

Dune, perhaps?

Re: Retrofuturism

#59
post #29
post #13

Not sure there’s a finer visual artist to produce in the medium of retrofuturism than Syd Mead - passed away late last year unfortunately but left an inspiring catalog and vision of the future that I imagine will endure a very long time -> https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-syd-mead/

Simon Stålenhag does really great work that if not considered retro-futurism proper is something else that doesn't seem to have a name but certainly is at least in a space adjacent to retro-futurism. http://www.simonstalenhag.se/

Dystopian sci fi, maybe

Re: Retrofuturism

#60
post #43
post #13

Not sure there’s a finer visual artist to produce in the medium of retrofuturism than Syd Mead - passed away late last year unfortunately but left an inspiring catalog and vision of the future that I imagine will endure a very long time -> https://www.iamag.co/the-art-of-syd-mead/

If you like Syd Mead check out Klaus Bürgle. To me he nails the Futurism genre like nobody else. Here[1] are some "Space" pictures starting as early as the late 1940s. 1.: http://klausbuergle.de/buergle_weltraum1.htm

HYPERLOOP! http://klausbuergle.de/images/buergle/750/Personenrohrpost_d...

edit: Personenrohrpost How fitting.

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