A Better Futurism: Turning Fiction into Fact
The job title “futurist” is 2020’s equivalent to 2018’s “storyteller”—but instead of rolling your eyes, can you combine the two to effect real change? ‘Futurism’ is a devilish topic: its very nature demands you ignore existing problems around you and live in a forthcoming fiction. So how do we talk about the future in a responsible way, keeping it focused on outcomes rather than outputs? Join two preeminent thinkers from argodesign and (formerly of) Quartz on this subject in a lively, interactive discussion to hear their very different takes on how to talk about the future. What role does storytelling play in futurism? Are there collective fictions we can use to unify people and set them on a path toward a common good? What does it look like when we try to make these fictions a reality?
Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.
Jared Ficklin
argodesign
Georgia Frances King
Quartz