Brilliant article. I made a lot of the same observations about Harajuku last time I was there. The alt fashion scene that created Harajuku's reputation has been replaced by endless tourist shops and candy stores.
Thx for the nod 🙂↕️ and I’ll never tire of this topic and how we can’t seem to imagine a new aesthetic for the “dark tech” future beyond 80s retrofuturism. Unfortunately, more and more I think it probably looks like an arid field of dust al la interstellar. Less sexy for sure.
I do think the genre always been about passive consumerism on some level just based on how so many of them feature “cheap pleasures” (prostitution, drugs)
that last bit is something I might've missed! so perhaps the *real* cyberpunk should be one where the lead is a rebel/renegade but instead a gooner or something
Excellent piece and love how you sprinkled in the visuals, Patrick!
I'm curious how the Neuromancer series for Apple TV will approach the underlying social commentary aspect of OG cyberpunk. It's set to drop this year, so your post couldn't have come at a better time.
Brilliant article. I made a lot of the same observations about Harajuku last time I was there. The alt fashion scene that created Harajuku's reputation has been replaced by endless tourist shops and candy stores.
Thx for the nod 🙂↕️ and I’ll never tire of this topic and how we can’t seem to imagine a new aesthetic for the “dark tech” future beyond 80s retrofuturism. Unfortunately, more and more I think it probably looks like an arid field of dust al la interstellar. Less sexy for sure.
I do think the genre always been about passive consumerism on some level just based on how so many of them feature “cheap pleasures” (prostitution, drugs)
that last bit is something I might've missed! so perhaps the *real* cyberpunk should be one where the lead is a rebel/renegade but instead a gooner or something
Excellent piece and love how you sprinkled in the visuals, Patrick!
I'm curious how the Neuromancer series for Apple TV will approach the underlying social commentary aspect of OG cyberpunk. It's set to drop this year, so your post couldn't have come at a better time.
I wrote a lil something myself about our "dystopia as aesthetics" era. Would love to get your eyes on it: https://mutantfutures.substack.com/p/006
and I'm keeping my eyes peeled for the neuromancer series...
i liked that you gave a nod to soft dystopias... i think our world (and the world my essay describes) feels more Huxleyian than cyberpunk-y
thank you!