Future dystopian concept

Centuries ago a legion of alien creatures landed upon the planet earth. These aliens, having lost their home planet by means of their own arrogance, sought refuge on other planets with a similar atmosphere with intentions to blend in and survive without disturbing local wildlife. For decades these aliens observed and lived peacefully on the Earth, releasing spores to reproduce only when necessary and using their parasitic abilities to increase the intelligence or physical abilities of creatures slowly when needed for the earth to develop. These aliens, that we foolishly coined as fungal plants, even helped with the growth of the human race due to their particular fascination with the creature. The alien peoples, humans, and creatures of all the earth lived in relative harmony for hundreds of years until the humans began to create their own developments beyond what the fungal aliens could provide for their hosts. The aliens, out of proud curiosity, allowed these developments to occur. However, before it could be stopped the humans innovated beyond what was thought possible. Every decade something new, every decade creating more and more, and using more and more. Every decade the human race took one more ignorant step towards destroying the planet. As this continued the fungal aliens began to become more and more cautious and worried about the state of their adopted home. In a blind panic to save the earth they tried to infect the minds of human scientists, knowing that they can only develop their beloved human creation in a slow manner. It was all in hopes that if they can momentarily increase the intelligence of the science community within the human race they could perhaps genetically splice multiple species and save as many creatures as possible from the impending, carcinogenic doom of the earth as technology takes over. The results of these botched experiments resulted in dire and ugly consequences.

Future Sci-Fi review paper

Noel Johnson

Paper Summary and Analysis

Predicting our downfall

            Within all of these papers the authors predict the downfall of man. All of which are also products of man’s own blind follies. Within the first reading, “The Machine Stops” it is detailed that man has migrated to underground cities run entirely by a technology referred to as “The Machine”. Within this society human beings have lost so many things that we currently associate with humanity itself. There is no longer human contact as all communication happens through screens and speakers. While means of in person communication is still available, it is societally considered an unnecessary waste of time and somewhat inappropriate. This leads to a lack of desire for physical contact as well. Due to an underground life humans have grown to hate and even fear the earth’s surface and the things it offers, like air and sunlight. The machine that they live within, despite being knowingly created by man, begins to be worshiped like a God and all who speak out against the “blessings” of the machine are disposed of. Permission of basic carnal human needs for reproduction even require permission from the Machine and its committee.

            It is referenced within this story as well that the reason for this underground civilization is that the surface of the earth has become inhabitable. This ties this story in with the other two as well: bringing all three around to the subject of climate change even though “The Machine Stops” is largely a criticism of our worship and use of technology. All three also criticize our out of control consumption of luxury items without any idea of repercussions that this consumption may have on our future. However, all also have slight tinges of hope. The idea that, hopefully, humanity will learn either well before or at least recover after its mistakes. In terms of writing, all stories provide enough information to piece together a narrative, but it also leaves enough information hidden that allows for the audiences’ imagination to complete the rest of the story. I hope to draw inspiration from this writing style and translate it into a visual narrative that allows a story to be built, but also allows for the audience to finish parts of the story on their own.  

Assemblage; The Forrest of Agonized Wanting

The Forrest of Agonized Wanting 

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Piece Description: 

Within this piece there is a desired focus on the effects of the consumption of media. On the surface level you see a conglomerate of hands, all of various size, reaching with a sense of painful necessity towards a treasure trove encased within a transparent skull. Here, it is insinuated that the desire for things that are purely luxury has devolved into a false sense of necessity for these items. This is because the hands reach towards the encased treasures in the same way you would imagine a starving hand reaches for food: with a sense of urgency, with a sense of need to relieve pain, out of pure necessity to survive. Still focusing on the hands, it can be noticed that these hands vary in size as well, pushing forth the narrative that this sense of need to consume effects those of all ages and class. The larger hands can represent either adults, or large corporations while the smaller hands can represent children or a citizen that is considered lower in class standing. The "treasure" that is being reached for also has layered meaning. It is a collection of things, but it is also a collection of symbolism. The nude female bust and the stereotypical sexual legs of a woman not only represents the medias use of women as a product, but also shows that the media would have the public consume sex as well. A similar case is present with the guns as well, not only do we buy the materialistic gun itself, but we also consume violence through media. The same goes for most of these items. It is also emphasized that we place great value on these objects by having them all painted with a gold toned color. It is also emphasized that we value these objects over our own earth due to their collective size overtaking and jutting out of the earth. Lastly, addressing the skull, a conclusion can be made that this overwhelming level of consumption and the perceived necessity of this lifestyle with ultimately lead to our downfall and the downfall of our planet, in time.