Retro-futurism

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

• A return to, and an enthusiasm for, the depictions of the future produced in the first half of the 20th century, which often were based on ideas that are now dated and a great deal of imagination and speculation.
• An ideology combining retrograde cultural and economic views with techno-utopianism.

This article focuses entirely on the first definition.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Literature 2.1 Notable Filmic Precursors 2.2 Retro-futuristic Films/Television 2.3 Notable Literary Precursors 2.4 Retro-Futuristic Literature 2.5 Retro-Futuristic Video and Computer Games 2.6 Retro-Futuristic Music Videos 3 Design and arts 3.1 Artists who have worked with a futuristic style admired by retro-future enthusiasts 3.2 Architecture 4 Books on retro-futurism 5 See also 6 External links

[edit] Etymology

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

[edit] Literature

The setting of retro-futuristic stories is sometimes a utopian society; its spirit of optimism and embracing of the status-quo is a complete contrast with cyberpunk.

Retro-futurism should not be confused with steampunk. While retrofuturism presents an antiquated vision of future, steampunk (which was written mostly near the end of the 20th century) presents a hyper-modern version of the past, in which newer paradigms like computing are carried out using victorian-era technology.

[edit] Notable Filmic Precursors

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

• Metropolis (1927)
• Buck Rogers (1939 & 1950)
• Commando Cody (1950's various)
• Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953)
• The Jetsons (1962)
• Astro Boy (1963)
• Alphaville, a Strange Adventure of Lemmy Caution (1965)
• Space Ghost (1966-1968)

[edit] Retro-futuristic Films/Television

• 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)
• The Iron Giant (1999)
• Futurama (1999-2003)
• The American Astronaut (2001)
• Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2001)
  • The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius (2002)
• Duck Dodgers (2003-2005)
• The Incredibles (2004)
• Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
• Zathura (2005)

[edit] Notable Literary Precursors

• Science fiction covers from pulp magazines

[edit] Retro-Futuristic Literature

• Fear Agent
• The Goon
• Tom Strong
• Zot

[edit] 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 (game)
• The Incredibles
  • The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer
• MDK2
• Stubbs the Zombie
• Zombies Ate My Neighbors

[edit] Retro-Futuristic Music Videos

• Express Yourself -- Future like Metropolis.
• One Word -- Future like Brazil.
• Keep A Lid On Things

[edit] 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.

[edit] Artists who have worked with a futuristic style admired by retro-future enthusiasts

• Richard Arbib (1917-1995) [1964 World's Fair, Newsweek ]
• 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]
• 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 ]
• Joss Whedon [ Firefly, Serenity ]

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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

[edit] See also

• Raygun Gothic

[edit] External links

• "Retro future" on Wiktionary
• Tales of Future Past
• Dreams of Space
• Modern Mechanix: Yesterday’s tomorrow, today.

Literary sci-fi punk genres
Cyberpunk — Postcyberpunk — Steampunk — Biopunk
Other themes
Retro-futurism — Cyberprep — Transrealism