What is Solarpunk Writing & Art, anyway?
Feeling anxious or depressed about the future? You need Solarpunk.
Solarpunk, (called Hopepunk elsewhere), is a literature, art and social movement that envisions how the future might look if humanity really worked together to reverse our planet's direction of global warming. No more dystopias! A Solarpunk future will try to address the climate crisis, biodiversity, racism and social equity issues facing us now.
The writing and art could be set in the near future, perhaps 30 years ahead. Show us how people are working their way toward a green energy future, still struggling. As well, your creation could be set further in the future, perhaps 100- 200 years forward, when the Climate Crisis is basically under control-- show us how that has happened in your story, slip it in.
If not writing a story, use ART to show us your vision of a better future!
Solarpunk is not utopian writing or art. We will still be humans; therefore, there will still be problems.
**Solarpunk writing and art often showcase renewable energy and tech solutions in their setting; others might focus on nature-based solutions. There should really be a mix. There is no one simple solution; we need many, depending on the region.
These stories/art must be set on Earth, not on another planet. For our Youth Imagine the Future Festival , we encourage our youth to set their stories and art in our own region, or in a place where they have actually lived. Here, in Eastern Ontario, we now have more frequent and more extreme storms, tornadoes, power outages, heat waves, wildfires, smoke advisories, and floods.
This is not set in stone. If a youth really wants to set their art or story in British Columbia, PEI, or anywhere on Earth, we only insist that they research very well to understand what the region is like, and how the Climate Crisis is affecting that region. This would work better if the writer has lived there for some time. Then the youth could research and use believable solutions for that region.
We do not seek only "climate protest" work. We know there are problems. We seek solutions, and a better future we can aim toward.
Solarpunk usually includes a diversity of folx of different races, religions, cultures, abilities and gender identities mingling at work and at play without the issues we sadly see too often in today's world. (Be aware of respecting but not appropriating someone else's culture.)
Repeat: this will not be a utopia, a perfect world. Everyone will not be always happy, floating about in clouds, eating purple licorice. Humans will still be humans. There will be friction, misunderstandings, anger, struggle, mistakes. Lots of ideas for a story!
Suggestions for Reading Solarpunk:
1. "Glass and Gardens: Solarpunk Winters" (World Weaver Press) order from an independent bookstore or buy the ebook
2. "Solarpunk" (Flame Tree Press, UK) out Sept. 30/24. Order the hardcover or the ebook.
3. "Solarpunk Creatures" (World Weaver Press, 2024) . Order the print book or the ebook.
4. Watch a YouTube video of "Andrewism" about Solarpunk
5. "Multispecies Cities-- Solarpunk Urban Futures" (World Weaver Press) as above!
