This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
So much of modern popular media is post-apocalyptic dystopia… including a lot of my favorite shows and movies!
Altered Carbon. The Expanse. Fallout. The Last of Us. Cyberpunk. And on and on.
These types of settings create gritty, visually interesting places with naturally emerging struggles that make for interesting stories.
But they also make the future seem hopeless bleak.
Why bother fighting for a better world if dystopia feels absolutely fucking inevitable?
That’s why my new favorite genre of media is solarpunk.
Solar punk is the optimistic counterpart to dystopian cyberpunk. It focuses on community, working with the environment, technology that works with you instead of steals all of your attention, inclusion and intersectionality, and a DIY resilience.
It’s not utopian. Struggle is a natural part of existence.
But the problems are more mundane. More human. Less existential. They’re about social relationships and tough choices and resource management rather than societal collapse.
Solarpunk is like a soothing cup of tea on a rainy day.
If you’re interested in exploring some media in this genre, I have a few recommendations!
- The Monk & Robot and Wayfarer book series’ by Becky Chambers
- Kipo & the Age of Wonderbeasts on Netflix
- Strangeworld by Disney
- Wanderhome, a TTRPG by Jay Dragon
In addition to being a genre of media, solarpunk is also a real-world movement to build a more kind, loving, sustainable world.
While one person can’t change the world, they can inspire others and help start a movement or push one forward.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also want to read Give Me a Future Worth Fighting For by Luke Plankett, which inspired a conversation I had about this topic on Bluesky.
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This content originally appeared on Go Make Things and was authored by Go Make Things
Go Make Things | Sciencx (2025-05-10T14:30:00+00:00) A future worth fighting for. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/05/10/a-future-worth-fighting-for/
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