Post #1: Literature Review/Horizon Scanning.
A research topic delivered as one of our class lectures that really struck my attention was the Anthropocene and Climate Change. “The word Anthropocene comes from the Greek terms for human ('anthropo') and new ('cene'), but its definition is controversial” (Pavid, n.d.). However, it is often described as the period of time where humans have intervened with the Earth’s natural order to allow for advancements in multiple fields including: technology, settlement, the sourcing of resources, and warfare. As a result, the Earth’s biodiversity, climate, and environment have greatly been impacted. The fact that we are still facing the devastating negative effects to this day is the main reason this subject matter piques my curiosity. It is interesting that the mid-1900’s seems to have been a time where humans managed to create a high level of devastation all while seemingly not thinking or valuing the flow on effects. The mushroom cloud is a poignant example of this (see Figure 1). Another example of how climate change is affecting the Earth and its atmosphere includes the Australian bushfires which occurred in the year 2019, that were triggered by temperature changes and lack of water and moisture in the air. Moreover, other factors such as the Industrial Revolution increased the risks of the exponential decay of our planet’s environment, “created [by] the world’s first fossil fuel economy” (Pavid, n.d.). As the world progresses and sea levels rise, instead of being vocal attempting to save our poor land, many of us are choosing to ignore all the warning signs. Due to humanity’s disinclination to action, we are failing to be motivated or to even admit that stopping the continual development of climate change is to a certain extent in our power. Speaking of taking action, I found Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson to be an extremely intriguing point from the lecture. It was made to offer us knowledge about the government’s lack of concern about nature and the effects of pesticides on the health of all human beings. The sole thought that a book was capable of creating a little systemic change in the use of pesticides is an incredible accomplishment that indicates that positive moments can actually be seen.
Figure 1
Mushroom Cloud
Note: From End Times Truth (2021).
Post #2: A review of a future scenario (this could be a film, a piece of fiction, an exhibition not shared in class).
In a world in which good design is increasingly used as a means of differentiating objects of mass production, creative design skills are highly desired in the labor force. As a result, entrance into a topnotch MFA program has now become more competitive than getting into Harvard Business School. Howard Gardner cites “the creating mind” as one of the five minds we’ll need in the future. To cultivate such a mind, he says, we need an education that features “exploration, challenging problems, and the tolerance, if not active encouragement, of productive mistakes.” Justin Roiland is the creator of an adult, science fiction animated sitcom called Rick & Morty (see Figure 2). Rick often works with sci-fi gadgets, some of which could cause danger. 'The Vat of Acid' is an episode that makes a statement for the bigger picture in the future. Roiland has claimed for years that time travel would not be utilized in Rick & Morty because he believed that every possible story that could be made out of the concept has been done already. But what if they broke their time travel rule for a reason because of what this episode sets up for the future? Rick & Morty is no stranger to giving Rick a victory only to reveal things are not as peachy for him as initially portrayed. This would be a great way for them to re-hatch this trope for the show on a large scale without it coming completely out of left field. Now, about the proposed scenario, Rick & Morty’s cynical, nihilistic take on time-loops explores the darkest of implications of that concept. Morty is shown falling in love, struggling in love and ending in a heartbreaking, deadly scenario. Morty makes it through and things seem great but a few external factors cause Morty’s sacrifices to be for nothing. Morty ends up sitting on the time button and dooming himself. In terms of technology, it is continuously evolving. Rick then reveals the whole experience was a cruel trick to make Morty hate the idea of time resets; he says “if ant-man and the wasp can do it, I’m not interested”. Rick shows that each reset forced the horrible murder of some other alternate universe Morty, and the only way to fix everything is to condense all of these realities so that this Morty has to live with all the horrible consequences of what he has done and the trouble he has caused. Morty now has to deal with haters asking him to pay and the only way to escape from that is by jumping into a vat filled with acid. However, there is dramatic irony here since it tricks the haters into refraining from judging Morty and feeling sympathy for his ‘suicide’ temporarily absolving him of his sins, but it requires no real contrition from the sinner. On a social and ecological level, it is very corrupted in a sense that it teaches us to accept immortal characters faking their suicides to make Supreme Court justices feel bad for them, giving viewers far less hope for humanity in the long run. Economically, people may actually fall into the trap of investing in such a device, ignoring both its sadistic and masochistic features. And finally, politicians may begin using it to their advantage in certain situations to gain popularity.
Figure 2
Rick & Morty still
Note: From Adult Swim (2020).