Hank GreenJan 24, 2023

It seems like, for the last 30 years of my life, we didn’t really need to spend much time struggling with what to do with the long-term future of humanity. The idea in my head has always been “what folks around me currently have, but for more people, and using less stuff.”

If fusion is ever going to be a thing, if energy production keeps getting cheaper, if AI is contributing significantly to the knowledge economy…that’s just not gonna be enough of a vision anymore.

Show threadJames HarrisJan 24, 2023
@hankgreen We do need a new vision. And 90+% of #scifi these days is "everything will be terrible forever". If we want a chance at our long-term future being a good one, we need writers to create compelling visions of what that might look like. Star Trek is one; we need more.
Show threadNiftyLinks

@DawnPaladin @hankgreen

Is it? I'm not sure how to measure a zeitgeist, and I'd have a similar leaning towards you by default. But thanks to historical perspective from people like @adapalmer and Cat Rambo, I think that the evidence is that #scifi is becoming more positive.

Case in point (with a̶p̶o̶l̶o̶g̶i̶e̶s compliments to @annaleen), the #hopepunk trend that has gained recognition over the last ten years: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopepunk

Hopepunk - Wikipedia

Jan 24, 2023 at 3:53pmWeb
Show threadJames HarrisJan 24, 2023
@NiftyLinks This is great! I'm gonna have to read some of these. Thanks for the link!
Show threadNiftyLinksJan 24, 2023

@DawnPaladin Glad to help :) I recently discovered it myself.

Also, on reading your profile: "Interested in building resilient systems and making complex things easier to understand."

Brilliantly stated goal. I may borrow it.

Show threadAnnalee Newitz 🍜Jan 24, 2023
@NiftyLinks @DawnPaladin @hankgreen @adapalmer I love hopepunk -- I'm not sure why I'm listed in this article as "disputing" it. I have said it's not really a genre -- more of a vibe -- but I still think it's great. We did an entire episode of @ouropinions about hopepunk.
Show threadNiftyLinksJan 24, 2023

@annaleen @DawnPaladin @hankgreen @adapalmer @ouropinions

Thanks for the clarification! So hopepunk is a more story feature, less a b̶u̶g̶ genre or genre or sub-genre? Makes sense to me. :)

Show threadAnnalee Newitz 🍜Jan 24, 2023
@NiftyLinks @DawnPaladin @hankgreen @adapalmer @ouropinions Yeah it's a feeling or vibe -- and it can exist in any genre! Not just scifi.
Show threadAda PalmerJan 24, 2023
@ouropinions @NiftyLinks @hankgreen @annaleen @DawnPaladin I wrote this essay about it which may help: https://beforewegoblog.com/purity-and-futures-of-hard-work-by-ada-palmer/
Hopepunk, Optimism, Purity, and Futures of Hard Work by Ada Palmer

Hopepunk, Optimism, Purity, and Futures of Hard Work by Ada Palmer - "Fiction does not give us many stories of continuing to slog on after an unsatisfying partial victory. That makes hopepunk powerful."

BEFOREWEGOBLOG
Show threadPaul KemnerJan 24, 2023

@annaleen @NiftyLinks @DawnPaladin @hankgreen @adapalmer @ouropinions

#hopepunk is largely a reaction to an excess of #grimdark stories, where everything is rotten and people do whatever benefits them, regardless of the consequences to anyone else.
The characters find unexpected solutions to improve the situation, which can be more interesting to read. And avoids unrealistic smarmy characters of #noblebright.
It can be used with almost any setting.

Show threadPaul KemnerJan 24, 2023

@annaleen @NiftyLinks @DawnPaladin @hankgreen @adapalmer @ouropinions

I'm thinking that Princess Mononoke might be an #anime example. It's a complex situation, and doesn't boil down to a good vs evil story, but the ending situation is better than a total loss for Eboshi, the Gods, or Ashitaka.

Show threadPaul KemnerJan 24, 2023
@annaleen @NiftyLinks @DawnPaladin @hankgreen @adapalmer @ouropinions
Another idea might be to explore story structures other than the conflict-based 3-act.
Something more like #kishotenketsu - built around a challenge or twist might be a better framework for a less-pessimistic story.
Early SF was often based around problem-solving, but the authors usually didn't put any effort into characters or other elements, so they don't resonate with modern readers.