Retro-futurism

Retro-futurism, retrofuturism or retro-future (terms combining "retro" and "futurism" or "future") can refer to two distinct concepts:

• A return to, and an enthusiasm for, the depictions of the future produced in the past (most often the early through mid 20th century), both in science fiction and in nonfiction futurism of the time, which often seem dated by modern standards.

• An ideology combining retrograde social and economic views with techno-utopianism.^[1]

This article focuses entirely on the first definition.

Etymology

The word retrofuturism was coined by Lloyd Dunn in 1983, according to a fringe art magazine published from 1989-1993. [1]

Characteristics and examples

The setting of retro-futuristic stories is sometimes a utopian society; its spirit of optimism and embracing of the status-quo is a contrast with cyberpunk, although in many cases the utopianism is presented in an intentionally ironic or campy light.

Retro-futuristic stories need not always be set in the future; in some cases they may be set in alternate versions of the past in which the dreams of science fiction writers and illustrators were a reality, as with the movie Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, set in an alternate 1939. Some also use "retro-futurism" to describe stories set in a largely recognizable past or present, but in which during the course of the story some "futuristic" technology reminiscent of older science fiction stories is introduced by a brilliant inventor or alien species, as in The Rocketeer or The Iron Giant.

Some steampunk works can be seen as retro-futurism, based on a 19th-century vision of futuristic technology. However, in many cases steampunk involves steam-powered versions of more advanced technologies that we know about today but which did not figure in 19th-century visions of the future, such as the mechanical computers of The Difference Engine, whereas retro-futurism typically is based on the visions of actual science fiction of the time.

There are also many works which take styles and genres of past eras and place them in a futuristic setting, such as the Old West elements in Firefly or the 1940s film noir elements in Blade Runner, but these would not generally be seen as retro-futuristic because they are not based on a specific past era's vision of the future.

Notable filmic precursors

These films and cartoons have heavily influenced the visual styles of retro-futurism.

• Metropolis (1927)
• Just Imagine (1930)
• Things to Come (1936)
• Flash Gordon serials (1936, 1938 & 1940)
• Buck Rogers (1939 & 1950)
• Fleischer Superman cartoons (1941-1943)
• Commando Cody (1950s various)
• Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
• The Jetsons (1962)
• Astro Boy (1963)
• Space Ghost (1966-1968)

Retro-futuristic films/television

• Flash Gordon (1980)
• 1984 (1984)
• Brazil (1985)
• Wallace and Gromit (1989, 1993, 1995 short films, and 2005 movie)
• The Ren and Stimpy Show (1991) -- The Space Cadet episodes
• The Rocketeer (1991)
• Mars Attacks! (1996)
• Bride of Chaotica! (1999) -- episode of Star Trek: Voyager
• The Iron Giant (1999)
• Futurama (1999-2003)
• The American Astronaut (2001)
• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
• Metropolis (2001)
• The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002)
• Duck Dodgers (2003-2005)
• Casshern (2004)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
• Zathura (2005)
• Monarch of the Moon (2005)
• Meet the Robinsons (2007)

Notable literary precursors

• Science fiction pulp magazines such as Amazing Stories, Astounding Stories and Startling Stories.

Retro-futuristic literature

• The Gernsback Continuum
• The Rocketeer
• Fear Agent
• The Goon
• Tom Strong
• Zot!
• Planetary
• Mister X
• Terminal City

Retro-futuristic video and computer games

• Bioshock
• Crimson Skies (Both the Pen-and-paper and Video game versions)
• Destroy All Humans!
  • Destroy All Humans! 2
• Fallout series
• Futurama
• The Incredibles
  • The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
• MDK2
• Mega Man (original series)
• Stubbs the Zombie
• Zombies Ate My Neighbors

Retro-futurism in role-playing games

• Gernsback from GURPS Alternate Earths
• Sons of Ether from Mage: The Ascension
• Pulp Hero from the Hero System (review)
• GURPS Atomic Horror
• Spaceship Zero
• Danger Quest (review)

Retro-futuristic music videos

• Express Yourself -- Future like Metropolis.
• One Word -- Future like Brazil.
• Keep A Lid On Things
• 311's Prisoner
• Orgy's cover of Blue Monday

Design and arts

A great deal of attention is drawn to fantastic machines, buildings, cities, and transportation systems. The futuristic design ethic of the early 20th century tends to solid colors, streamlined shapes, and mammoth scales. It might be said that 20th century futuristic vision found its ultimate expression in the development of googie or populuxe design.

Notable Artists

• Richard Arbib (1917-1995) [1964 World's Fair, Newsweek ]
• Norman Bel Geddes (1893-1958) [designed Futurama pavilion for the 1939 New York World's Fair]
• Chesley Bonestell (1888-1986) [Mechanix Illustrated]
• Jack Coggins (1911-2006) [ Spaceship to the Moon ]
• Gene Colan [ Guardians of the Galaxy ]
• Lee Conrey (1883-?) [ American Weekly ]
• Howard M. Duffin [ Amazing Stories ]
• Kenneth Fagg [If]
• Hugh Ferriss (1889-1962)
• Frederic W. Freeman (1906-1988)
• Russ Heath (1926-) [Humbug]
• Matt Jefferies [ Classic Star Trek ]
• Alexander Leydenfrost (1889-1961)
• J Mays (October 15, 1954) [ Automotive design at VW and Ford ]
• Arthur Radebaugh The Future We Were Promised
• Frank Rudolph Paul (1884-1963) [ Amazing Stories, Science Wonder Stories ]
• Leo Rackow (1901-1988)
• Stewart Rouse [Modern Mechanics]
• Norman Saunders (1907-1988) [Modern Mechanix]
• Bradley W. Schenck (1958-) Long Playing Computer Graphics
• Alex Schomburg (1905-1998) [Satellite Science Fiction]
• James B. Settles [ Amazing Stories ]
• Malcolm Smith (1910-1966)
• Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) [ Astro Boy ]
• Edgar Franklin Wittmack [ Popular Science ]

Architecture

Retro-futurism has appeared in some examples of postmodern architecture. In the example seen at right, the upper portion of the building is not intended to be integrated with the building but rather to appear as a separate object - a huge flying saucer-like space ship only incidentally attached to a conventional building. This appears intended not to evoke an even remotely possible future, but rather a past imagination of that future, or a reembracing of the futuristic vision of googie architecture.

Hoaxing

The familiarity of genuine retro-futuristic depictions of the present era from past decades lends a measure of credibility to the retro-futuristic hoax. Such a hoax may involve photoshopping elements from genuine period images into combinations which did not exist at the time, together with a fictional caption adjusted to give the appearance of aged newsprint. A notable example by the user Lukket of Fark.com fooled a number of news outlets.^[2]

Books on retro-futurism

• Astrofuturism: Science, Race, and Visions of Utopia in Space ISBN 0-8122-1847-7
• Future Perfect ISBN 3-8228-1566-7
• Out of Time: Designs for the Twentieth Century Future ISBN 0-8109-2939-2
• Yesterday's Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future ISBN 0-8018-5399-0
• The History of the Future: Images of the 21st Century ISBN 2-08-013544-9
• Futuropolis: Impossible Cities of Science Fiction and Fantasy ISBN 0-903767-22-8
• Retrofuturism: The Car Design of J Mays ISBN 0-7893-0822-3

References

Wikipedia information about Retro-futurism This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Retro-futurism". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.