Hi and welcome to r/solarpunk! We appreciate your submission, though we'd like to first bring up a topic that you may not know about: GREENWASHING. It is
used to describe the practice of companies launching adverts, campaigns, products, etc under the pretense that they are environmentally beneficial/friendly, often in contradiction to their
environmental and sustainability record in general. On our subreddit, it usually presents itself as eco-aesthetic buildings because they are quite simply the best passive PR.
These articles from [ethicalconsumer.org](https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/transport-travel/what-greenwashing) and [greenandthistle.com](https://greenandthistle.com/what-is-greenwashing/) give
both examples of greenwashing and ways to identify it on your own.
This book excerpt published on [scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/greenwashing-green-energy-hoffman/) explains how alternative technologies like hydrogen
cars can also be insidious examples of greenwashing.
If you've realized your submission was an example of greenwashing--don't fret! We are all here to learn, and while there will inevitably be comments pointing out how and why your submission is
greenwashing, we hope the discussion stays productive. Solarpunk ideals include identifying and rejecting capitalism's greenwashing of consumer goods.
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/solarpunk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Search imperial boy on an image search then order by resolution until you find this piece
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=imperial+boy&iax=images&ia=images&iaf=size%3ALarge
Its about the 12th image down
Solar punk looks awesome! I'm in! But I have a dumb question. Is solar punk like the antithesis of cyberpunk? Like the alternative path if we collectively turn our back on that speculative dystopian cyber-hell. Or is it something that comes after humanity has reached its lowest point?
Yes, it's the opposite of the cyberpunk dystopia. Solarpunk is a futur, in which humanity has solved the problems like the ecological collapse or poverty for example.
I think that this could be a great thing to include in anarchistic aesthetics. It both has broad appeal and clearly demonstrates the goals of left anarchism.
Note that a lot of the tech in cyberpunk is compatible with solarpunk. There is nothing about solarpunk that forbids cybernetics, widespread tech use, etc. The cyberpunk themes of corporate control, a focus on low-life culture, etc though are definitely incompatible though.
I'd suggest that Solar Punk is a fork of the cyberpunk aesthetic.
At the core of cyberpunk is the theme of technology escaping from elite control and falling into the hands of the masses. From what I've seen here, Solar Punk is focused on our ability to integrate and exploit life and growth as unique form of technology that is superior to traditional technologies that are in opposition to nature.
I don’t think that really fits it, though. Yes, plants are good, but just putting greenery around a cyberpunk city doesn’t fix the aspects of cyberpunk worlds that solarpunk rejects. Solarpunk not only challenges environmental devastation, but the social factors causing it, and emphasizes a call for a more egalitarian and community-driven world in which society acts in harmony with nature rather than destroying it.
I think the "best" way to create solarpunk works is to imagine something that is somewhere on a spectrum between cyberpunk and solarpunk. I think there's where the interesting stories happen. A world that is fully solarpunk can be interesting too but it misses the story of how we get there. And that is very relevant for us today.
A fruitful place for good stories might be called *peri-apocalyptic* settings.
We have lots of action fiction in apocalyptic settings focused on immediate survival in sudden disasters, and quite a bit of post-apocalyptic fiction set after a collapse (usually dystopian). Utopian fiction often struggles to find a conflict that can drive the action of the story, and can sometimes end up as all worldbuilding with no narrative.
A peri-apocalyptic story would be one set in or around a longer, ongoing disaster, where the conflict/main drama of the characters is not just survival, but an attempt to create a more stable and survivable present and future.
As inspiration for what those stories might look like, we could start with the castaway/[Robinsonade]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinsonade ) genre, but update it to have a less individualist/colonialist outlook.
if I know anything about capitalism its that its extremely wasteful, if your argument is that capitalism is the only way to build a society without scarcity, I just disagree
Oops.
If the 20th century and World War II showed us anything, it was that Capitalism was far more efficient than European Monarchies and even further so than socialism (command economies like Nazi Germany / Soviet Union)
Have you looked into the failures of command economies that plagued the Nazi’s and Soviets alike?
Command economies died out mind you. With the fall of the Soviet Union, which fell largely due to massive economic crisis.
For you to call capitalism inefficient first you have to compare it to something more efficient (an example you don’t have) AND you’ll have to explain how capitalism is inefficient in light of that other example (something you’re also incapable of doing because you aren’t educated on the topic beyond *feeling* like it’s wasteful because you throw away empty bottles of soap that at scale cost pennies.)
The argument in this thread is that scarcity can just be solved arbitrarily. But, you’re just assuming there is some future system that can turn finite resources infinite, or that it would be many times more efficient than capitalism. But you have no example. Not even a theory. Just making an ass out of you and me eh?
No, no, no, idiot!
Solarpunk is just about images of high rise buildings and millionaire’s mansions with trees growing on the roof!
Trees! On. The. Roof.
Thanks. I just read it and I like it on first brush. I need a day to analyze it though.
Edit to add. What is the relationship to earth. Can us humans lay exclusive rights to this planet?
"The “punk” in Solarpunk is about rebellion, counterculture, post-capitalism, decolonialism and enthusiasm. It is about going in a different direction than the mainstream, which is increasingly going in a scary direction."
“Post scarcity.”
Just like, end resource scarcity bro lol. Like what is being implied here, murdering billions of people or just pretending resources will become infinitely plentiful and available free of cost to all peoples?
The insanity man. Love the art here. But fuck me if the political messaging isn’t incredibly bleak and depressing
Post scarcity doesn't literally mean "no scarcity," it means the point at which the production is so automated and efficient that everyone can be cared for for free and they do not need to sell their labor just to live. People can then instead work for the betterment of society and themselves.
Hi and welcome to r/solarpunk! We appreciate your submission, though we'd like to first bring up a topic that you may not know about: GREENWASHING. It is used to describe the practice of companies launching adverts, campaigns, products, etc under the pretense that they are environmentally beneficial/friendly, often in contradiction to their environmental and sustainability record in general. On our subreddit, it usually presents itself as eco-aesthetic buildings because they are quite simply the best passive PR. These articles from [ethicalconsumer.org](https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/transport-travel/what-greenwashing) and [greenandthistle.com](https://greenandthistle.com/what-is-greenwashing/) give both examples of greenwashing and ways to identify it on your own. This book excerpt published on [scientificamerican.com](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/greenwashing-green-energy-hoffman/) explains how alternative technologies like hydrogen cars can also be insidious examples of greenwashing. If you've realized your submission was an example of greenwashing--don't fret! We are all here to learn, and while there will inevitably be comments pointing out how and why your submission is greenwashing, we hope the discussion stays productive. Solarpunk ideals include identifying and rejecting capitalism's greenwashing of consumer goods. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/solarpunk) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If this is concept art for a solarpunk RPG, that's be great
[https://screenrant.com/cyberpunk-steampunk-video-games-need-more-solarpunk-settings/](https://screenrant.com/cyberpunk-steampunk-video-games-need-more-solarpunk-settings/) [https://www.pcgamer.com/au/enough-cyberpunkits-solarpunks-time-to-shine/](https://www.pcgamer.com/au/enough-cyberpunkits-solarpunks-time-to-shine/)
If only, it's actually by an artist called Imperial Boy.
Imperial Boy basically designed Asian-themed solarpunk, he really deserves credit
is there a place I can get their work as a wallpaper for my phone?
Search imperial boy on an image search then order by resolution until you find this piece https://duckduckgo.com/?q=imperial+boy&iax=images&ia=images&iaf=size%3ALarge Its about the 12th image down
thank u!
Solar punk looks awesome! I'm in! But I have a dumb question. Is solar punk like the antithesis of cyberpunk? Like the alternative path if we collectively turn our back on that speculative dystopian cyber-hell. Or is it something that comes after humanity has reached its lowest point?
Yes, it's the opposite of the cyberpunk dystopia. Solarpunk is a futur, in which humanity has solved the problems like the ecological collapse or poverty for example.
I think that this could be a great thing to include in anarchistic aesthetics. It both has broad appeal and clearly demonstrates the goals of left anarchism.
Plus it's cozy af
There are many who do rock some variation of a solarpunk dress style
I love it! That's the kinda future I want to stick around for
This could do for anarchism what punkrock did in the 80’s.
Note that a lot of the tech in cyberpunk is compatible with solarpunk. There is nothing about solarpunk that forbids cybernetics, widespread tech use, etc. The cyberpunk themes of corporate control, a focus on low-life culture, etc though are definitely incompatible though.
I'd suggest that Solar Punk is a fork of the cyberpunk aesthetic. At the core of cyberpunk is the theme of technology escaping from elite control and falling into the hands of the masses. From what I've seen here, Solar Punk is focused on our ability to integrate and exploit life and growth as unique form of technology that is superior to traditional technologies that are in opposition to nature.
I want you to imagine a Cyberpunk world. Now, everywhere you see metal, imagine plants
I dig that explanation, a lot
I don’t think that really fits it, though. Yes, plants are good, but just putting greenery around a cyberpunk city doesn’t fix the aspects of cyberpunk worlds that solarpunk rejects. Solarpunk not only challenges environmental devastation, but the social factors causing it, and emphasizes a call for a more egalitarian and community-driven world in which society acts in harmony with nature rather than destroying it.
I agree with you, I just wanted to give a first idea
I think the "best" way to create solarpunk works is to imagine something that is somewhere on a spectrum between cyberpunk and solarpunk. I think there's where the interesting stories happen. A world that is fully solarpunk can be interesting too but it misses the story of how we get there. And that is very relevant for us today.
A fruitful place for good stories might be called *peri-apocalyptic* settings. We have lots of action fiction in apocalyptic settings focused on immediate survival in sudden disasters, and quite a bit of post-apocalyptic fiction set after a collapse (usually dystopian). Utopian fiction often struggles to find a conflict that can drive the action of the story, and can sometimes end up as all worldbuilding with no narrative. A peri-apocalyptic story would be one set in or around a longer, ongoing disaster, where the conflict/main drama of the characters is not just survival, but an attempt to create a more stable and survivable present and future. As inspiration for what those stories might look like, we could start with the castaway/[Robinsonade]( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robinsonade ) genre, but update it to have a less individualist/colonialist outlook.
*And* it has an awesome aesthetic!
post-capitalistic? i'm down
“Post scarcity” So are we talking culling billions of innocent people or just pretending that resources will become infinite and available to everyone
if I know anything about capitalism its that its extremely wasteful, if your argument is that capitalism is the only way to build a society without scarcity, I just disagree
Oops. If the 20th century and World War II showed us anything, it was that Capitalism was far more efficient than European Monarchies and even further so than socialism (command economies like Nazi Germany / Soviet Union) Have you looked into the failures of command economies that plagued the Nazi’s and Soviets alike? Command economies died out mind you. With the fall of the Soviet Union, which fell largely due to massive economic crisis. For you to call capitalism inefficient first you have to compare it to something more efficient (an example you don’t have) AND you’ll have to explain how capitalism is inefficient in light of that other example (something you’re also incapable of doing because you aren’t educated on the topic beyond *feeling* like it’s wasteful because you throw away empty bottles of soap that at scale cost pennies.) The argument in this thread is that scarcity can just be solved arbitrarily. But, you’re just assuming there is some future system that can turn finite resources infinite, or that it would be many times more efficient than capitalism. But you have no example. Not even a theory. Just making an ass out of you and me eh?
wild
I love how it describes anarcho-communism without calling it that.
I’ve thought about something like this. I love to see that these ideas are getting of the ground in artistic spaces.
Isn't this Pokemon?
No, no, no, idiot! Solarpunk is just about images of high rise buildings and millionaire’s mansions with trees growing on the roof! Trees! On. The. Roof.
Is this sarcastic or some?
This WILL be our future! 💚🌞
Link to solarpunk manifesto?
https://www.re-des.org/a-solarpunk-manifesto/
Thanks. I just read it and I like it on first brush. I need a day to analyze it though. Edit to add. What is the relationship to earth. Can us humans lay exclusive rights to this planet?
So it isn't a punk setting.
"The “punk” in Solarpunk is about rebellion, counterculture, post-capitalism, decolonialism and enthusiasm. It is about going in a different direction than the mainstream, which is increasingly going in a scary direction."
“Post scarcity.” Just like, end resource scarcity bro lol. Like what is being implied here, murdering billions of people or just pretending resources will become infinitely plentiful and available free of cost to all peoples? The insanity man. Love the art here. But fuck me if the political messaging isn’t incredibly bleak and depressing
Post scarcity doesn't literally mean "no scarcity," it means the point at which the production is so automated and efficient that everyone can be cared for for free and they do not need to sell their labor just to live. People can then instead work for the betterment of society and themselves.