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Solarpunk basics

Solarpunk is a subgenre of science fiction and speculative fiction that focuses on positive future outcomes, emphasizing sustainability, community, and environmentalism, while depicting technological advances and innovations powered by renewable energy sources.

Dominant themes in Solarpunk

The most prevalent themes in solarpunk include:

  • Sustainability and renewable energy
  • Ecological preservation and restoration
  • Community and cooperation
  • Technological innovation for the betterment of society and the environment
  • A hopeful and optimistic outlook for the future
  • A rejection of corporate greed and environmental degradation.

Literature

Some well-known examples of solarpunk science fiction include:

  • The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi1
  • The Water Will Come: Rising Seas, Sinking Cities, and the Remaking of the Civilized World by Jeff Goodell
  • The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk
  • Greenworld by Kim Stanley Robinson
  • The Dispossessed by Ursula K. Le Guin
  • Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler
  • The Overstory by Richard Powers

Movies

Some well-known examples of solarpunk science fiction movies include:

  • Wall-E (2008)
  • Her (2013)
  • Snowpiercer (2013)
  • Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
  • The Martian (2015)
  • Okja (2017)
  • The Age of Adaline (2015)

Music

As solarpunk is a subgenre of science fiction and speculative fiction, there's not a specific musical genre associated with it. However, some musicians who align with solarpunk values and themes in their music include:

  • Radiohead
  • Fleet Foxes
  • Arcade Fire
  • The National
  • Bon Iver
  • Sufjan Stevens
  • Animal Collective

Groups and communities

Some of the most well-known online solarpunk groups and communities include:

  • Solarpunk Manifesto on Tumblr
  • Solarpunk on Reddit
  • Solarpunk Futurism on Facebook
  • The Solarpunks on MeWe
  • Solarpunk Movement on Twitter
  • The Solarpunk Network on Discord.

Solarpunk inspired art

Solarpunk art often features lush, green landscapes and thriving, interconnected communities, as well as showcasing sustainable technologies and innovations. It often has a hand-drawn or organic aesthetic and incorporates natural elements such as plants and animals. The art is characterized by bright, optimistic colors and a futuristic yet grounded feel. It may also feature elements of urban planning, such as green roofs and community gardens, and depict a harmonious relationship between technology and nature.

  1. Paolo Bacigalupi ↩

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