Why do certain futurist aesthetics appeal over others? What does art have to say about our political goals, or about the psychological landscape of our world today? Art can be speculative: posing questions and potential answers about how things could be, or should be, in the future. In this inaugurative episode of Solarpunk Now, I show how art and politics intertwine, and make the case for solarpunk as a speculative political project.

Sources:
Louis Snyder on the Brothers Grimm and German nationalism
Andrew Dana Hudson – On the Political Dimensions of Solarpunk
A Solarpunk Manifesto
Teen Vogue talks Eco-fascism w/ Naomi Klein

Further Reading:
Elvia Wilk – Is Ornamenting Solar Panels a Crime?
Neal Stephenson – Innovation Starvation
David Graeber – On Flying Cars and the Declining Rate of Profit
Appropedia entry on solarpunk

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Solarpunk Now! is hosted & produced by Luka Dowell. The solarpunk theme is by Red Keener, with additional music by Gabriel Rivas. You can follow the show on Instagram or Mastodon, and support my work at Buy Me a Coffee. Keep dreaming big, and keep up the good work!