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Protopia Manifesto (Bits and Bytes)

Talk (UAL CCI) 24.05.22 (12:00 – 13:40)
Monika Bielskyte about her futures research

Monika Bielskyte

Futures researcher, futurist, futures designer. Working at the intersection of science/tech-culture-politics. Clients include Google, Nike, Universal, Disney Marvel, BBC, Microsoft. 

As a futurist and futures designer, Monika consults on and prototypes culturally expansive, socially and environmentally engaged future world designs for the media industry, technology companies, and cities/countries. With expertise in the immersive media space (XR/AI/UX) and edutainment, her work consists in connecting bleeding edge technological innovation with some of the world's most original creative visions that explores the relationship between speculative science fiction narratives (Dystopias, Utopias, &, most specifically, Protopias) & the unfolding Global Futures.
My notes

“From fictional to real futures!

If we can´t see it we can´t do it!”

Who is deciding what the

future should look like?

Utopia and Dystopia​

Protopia

Research further

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  • Analyse what kind of future dreams / dreams of the future we are having

  • reflect on our thinking of what seems to be future worthy to us

  • there is a constant feedback loop between sience/technology and our cultural beliefs

  • Examine what kind of biases have been created by our current understanding of the future

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  • Those who control the fantasy, control the future (they are mostly inspired by science fiction of the 20th century including all its biases)

  • biological science does not match this sciensfictio

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  • Problem of only thinking in “Utopia” and “Dystopia” → limits our imagination because we believe in an innevitability of one or the other

  • Complex ways of being embodied → celebration of presence by prioritising the voices of the disabled

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  • Humanitarian Evolution + Technological Innovation = Protopian Futures

  • What makes a civilization? The act of caring for others and taking care of them

  • Life as Technology not the other way round → from human-centric to life-centric

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Inter:active Symposium 2021

Protopia Futures
Monika Bielskyte 

The Principles of Protopia

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  1. PLURALITY — BEYOND BINARIES
    We consider mere “tolerance” a failure and actively resist the violence of sexism, misogyny, racism, colorism, xenophobia, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, ageism, classism, and any other forms of exclusionary categorization and discrimination. Nothing embodies our approach as accurately as words by Alok Vaid-Menon: “Creativity reveals all categories to be artificial and unambitious.”
     

  2. COMMUNITY — BEYOND BORDERS
    Our narratives are narratives of communities coming together rather than glorifications of individual “hero journeys” of magical saviors. COMMUNITY is the hero of our futures.
     

  3. CELEBRATION OF PRESENCE
    Our futures are embodied and interdependent. We revel in expanded sensory experiences and consciously make vital space for neurodiverse and disability inclusive expressions of intimacy, care, and radical tenderness.
     

  4. REGENERATIVE ACTION & LIFE AS TECHNOLOGY
    With recognition of destructive feedback loops already in motion, we consider sustainability solutions entirely insufficient and aim for regenerative practices in every aspect of our civilizational construct. We prioritize biological over mechanical technologies as the only truly viable long-term strategy. We grow, not just build.
     

  5. SYMBIOTIC SPIRITUALITY
    We appreciate the importance of spiritual practices from the dawn of humanity and their role in human culture-making. We therefore quest for spiritual practices that acknowledge ancestral wisdom, whilst also expanding rather than stifling scientific inquiry.
     

  6. CREATIVITY & EMERGENT SUBCULTURES
    From the interwoven journeys of our Ancestors to the future living fabrics of our cities, we celebrate the role of creativity beyond the elitism of disciplines previously labeled as “artistic.”
     

  7. EVOLUTION OF VALUES — CULTURE OF CONTRIBUTION
    We must depart from colonial/neocolonial individualist cultures of exploitation and greed, and endeavor to nurture cultures of equity, contribution, and planetary mutuality. We envision the values of a material degrowth society.

References

Bielskyte, M (2021) Protopian Futures (Framework). Available at: https://medium.com/protopia-futures/protopia-futures-framework-f3c2a5d09a1e (Accessed: 24.05.22)

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danieljpr (2021) A Time for New Stories: Protopia (Part 2). Available at: https://www.pluralfutures.com/2021/07/23/a-time-for-new-stories-protopia-part-2/ (Accessed: 24.05.22)

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Videos

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(2021) Design Is [Protopian] (Google Design). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixg7e1fWdM0 (Accessed: 24.05.22)

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(2021) INTER:ACTIVE SYMPOSIUM 2021 / PROTOPIA FUTURES / MONIKA BIELSKYTE (CPH:DOX). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdXuMbE7ihA (Accessed: 24.05.22)

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Interaction Design Association (2021) Designing for Protopia. Available at: https://vimeo.com/512026000 (Accessed: 24.05.22)

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