Forget Cyberpunk, Solarpunk is the New In-thing

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AIs going rogue, and protagonists living a tech-free life in a technology-reliant society. All of these have become alarmingly common and unless done well, often results in a piece of work disappearing into the sea of cyberpunk related science-fiction.</p><h1 id="1296">And in comes solarpunk</h1><p id="825f">Just like cyberpunk, solarpunk is a subgenre of science-fiction that attempts to paint a possible image of our future.</p><p id="a541">However, unlike the often dark and grimy cyberpunk, solarpunk has the potential to be bright and fresh. While cyberpunk focuses on dystopian futures, solarpunk focuses instead on the possible utopian futures.</p><p id="12c6">With eco-cities filled with green plants, sustainable energy sources, smart cities, and efficient vehicles (among many other green technologies), solarpunk’s aesthetic relies on vibrant and sustainable cosmopolitan living. Here, instead of focusing only on improving technology, society improves in tandem and creates a world where we can live sustainably.</p><p id="ec13">Sustainable, sustainably, sustainability. That is the key distinction solarpunk makes for itself. Technology is no longer exploitive here. Development does not come at a cost to either society or the environment.</p><h1 id="e182">Solarpunk is the breath of fresh air we need</h1><p id="c6bd">As solarpunk revolves around a better and improved world, solarpunk provides a fresh optimistic take on the future. And in a genre full of dystopian and fearful futures, solarpunk provides an alternative that we can embrace. A sort of a better world.</p><p id="af12">Instead of telling us what we have to avoid (like in cyberpunk), solarpunk takes the opposite approach. A better world full of cautious hopefulness, solarpunk serves as a platform for creators to imagine a future we want to live in. Aworld where technology, the environment, and humanity live together.</p><p id="44

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50">And unlike cyberpunk, the world of solarpunk has barely been explored. This means you, as the creator, get to explore uncharted territories. Take the idea and go wild. Here, you can tread unafraid of overused clichés and tropes.</p><p id="bfe5">Yes, pessimism and nihilism are concepts that have been proven to work. But as we challenge ourselves as creators, solarpunk is a genre that allows us to provide a positive take on our future. And amidst all the bad news, this might just be something everyone needs.</p><p id="c1ac">You may also be interested in reading:</p><div id="9e71" class="link-block"> <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/a-quick-reexamination-of-george-orwells-6-writing-tips-a04d60869617"> <div> <div> <h2>A Quick Reexamination of George Orwell’s 6 Writing Tips</h2> <div><h3>What George Orwell can teach us about writing today</h3></div> <div><p>writingcooperative.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*w--UE3H-9TX389LSgrrrBw.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="a2ae" class="link-block"> <a href="https://writingcooperative.com/5-ways-to-improve-your-writing-while-watching-netflix-ab95836a34fa"> <div> <div> <h2>5 Ways to Improve Your Writing While Watching Netflix</h2> <div><h3>How to work on your writing skills even when you’re not writing</h3></div> <div><p>writingcooperative.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*Ud97Ph9Yt9_8R6tG)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Why it’s time to move on from cyberpunk into solarpunk

For anyone who is familiar with science-fiction, cyberpunk is an entire subgenre that many writers (and creators) rely on.

With a combination of urban city elements and high-tech advanced technology, cyberpunk is often used within a dystopian setting. Amidst the bright neon lights and screens lies a dark truth for the reader to explore.

And even amidst our very own real-life developments, cyberpunk is still admittedly very attractive. Fully automated artificial intelligence, cybernetic organisms, and full-blown virtual realities remain interesting both for the creators and intended audience. After all, futuristic scientific and technological developments remain the foundations of science-fiction.

Yet, as the real-life developments begin to catch up, the attractive elements of cyberpunk have started to shrink. No longer are small portable computers that fit in one’s pockets attractive. Advertising and multicultural architecture are beginning to pop up everywhere in reality as well. And with more and more buildings being built with a height above 350 meters yearly, the image of a city stretching to the sky is quickly becoming a reality too.

Furthermore, many of the influential cyberpunk elements are bordering overused and cliched. Corrupt police armed with sophisticated weaponry, a mega-corporation building and planning everything, AIs going rogue, and protagonists living a tech-free life in a technology-reliant society. All of these have become alarmingly common and unless done well, often results in a piece of work disappearing into the sea of cyberpunk related science-fiction.

And in comes solarpunk

Just like cyberpunk, solarpunk is a subgenre of science-fiction that attempts to paint a possible image of our future.

However, unlike the often dark and grimy cyberpunk, solarpunk has the potential to be bright and fresh. While cyberpunk focuses on dystopian futures, solarpunk focuses instead on the possible utopian futures.

With eco-cities filled with green plants, sustainable energy sources, smart cities, and efficient vehicles (among many other green technologies), solarpunk’s aesthetic relies on vibrant and sustainable cosmopolitan living. Here, instead of focusing only on improving technology, society improves in tandem and creates a world where we can live sustainably.

Sustainable, sustainably, sustainability. That is the key distinction solarpunk makes for itself. Technology is no longer exploitive here. Development does not come at a cost to either society or the environment.

Solarpunk is the breath of fresh air we need

As solarpunk revolves around a better and improved world, solarpunk provides a fresh optimistic take on the future. And in a genre full of dystopian and fearful futures, solarpunk provides an alternative that we can embrace. A sort of a better world.

Instead of telling us what we have to avoid (like in cyberpunk), solarpunk takes the opposite approach. A better world full of cautious hopefulness, solarpunk serves as a platform for creators to imagine a future we want to live in. Aworld where technology, the environment, and humanity live together.

And unlike cyberpunk, the world of solarpunk has barely been explored. This means you, as the creator, get to explore uncharted territories. Take the idea and go wild. Here, you can tread unafraid of overused clichés and tropes.

Yes, pessimism and nihilism are concepts that have been proven to work. But as we challenge ourselves as creators, solarpunk is a genre that allows us to provide a positive take on our future. And amidst all the bad news, this might just be something everyone needs.