This week's topic in (one of the overlapping semesters of) the digital economy is 'imagining alternatives' - it's fun to put aside academic readings and find a bunch of podcasts, stories, and art that I hope will encourage students to think about what they want the future to look like.

@scroeser sounds great! do you have a syllabus (or even a partial list of the links)?

@thenexusofprivacy Here you go! (and thanks to kolektiva for their generous approach to character counts):

(Noting first that this is a little more US-centric, white, and male than the ideal final form might be...)

Ministry of Imagination Manifesto. (2024, April 16). Our Wonderful Green Future. https://owgf.org/2024/04/16/ministry-of-imagination-manifesto-released-as-the-world-goes-to-the-polls/

"The From What If to What Next podcast ran from May 2020 until March 2024, calling it a day with its 100th episode. Each one took a different ‘What If’ question and with two guests dived deep into what the world might be like had that change already been made.

... Here was a platform for the profound reimagining of society, policies that had emerged through the creation of a space where the imagination was cherished and nurtured. At a time when the policies being put forward by political parties seem to be becoming increasingly bereft of imagination and ambition, focused on small incremental steps rather than the bold steps our situation demands, perhaps a Ministry of Imagination Manifesto which pulled them all together in one place might be what the world needed? And so, here it is."

This manifesto brings together wide-ranging ideas for a radically-different future. You might want to dip into sections that seem especially relevant, such as 'Data & Information Technology', 'The Economy', and 'Media and Communication'. Podcast episodes will also give deeper discussion of these ideas.

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Olukotun, D., Cohn, C., and Kelley, J. (2023). The Right to Imagine Your Own Future. How to Fix the Internet, EFF Podcast. Available at: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/02/podcast-episode-right-imagine-your-own-future

"Too often we let the rich and powerful dictate what technology’s future will be, from Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse to Elon Musk’s neural implants. But what if we all were empowered to use our voices and perspectives to imagine a better world in which we all can thrive while creating and using technology as we choose?

That idea guides Deji Bryce Olukotun’s work both as a critically acclaimed author and as a tech company’s social impact chief. Instead of just envisioning the oligarch-dominated dystopia we fear, he believes speculative fiction can paint a picture of healthy, open societies in which all share in technology’s economic bounty. It can also help to free people’s imaginations to envision more competitive, level playing fields. Then we can use those diverse visions to guide policy solutions, from antitrust enforcement to knocking down the laws that stymie innovation."

How to Fix the Internet is a thought-proving podcast series exploring what a better digital future might look like. Episodes focus on a range of topics, including accessibility, music, right-to-repair, and better algorithms. If you don’t love this episode, see if you can find another one that explores an area you’re interested in.

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Larson, R. (2021, September 14). Tidings. Fix. https://grist.org/fix/arts-culture/imagine-2200-climate-fiction-tidings/

"Tiny robots eat plastic, tattoos livestream video, we all swim with dolphins, and more amazing vignettes from a better future."

This piece of fiction imagines possible futures that touch on many of the issues we discuss in the unit, including waste, social media platforms, and the ubiquity of connected technologies in our lives. If you enjoy this story, you might also want to explore others in the series.

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The Transition Network Team. (2016). The Essential Guide to Doing Transition. Transition Network. https://transitionnetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-Essential-Guide-to-Doing-Transition.pdf

"One of the simplest tools for visioning is just to invite people to close their eyes and imagine themselves walking down the street in 2030 and stopping to look around. Ask them what theycan see or hear. Invite them to record their impressions through drawing, painting, or writing poetry, stories, or perhaps small ad columns from a future local newspaper. Much of what we read in the popular press is based on conflict, so creative exercises that, for example, invitepeople to write newspaper articles from the future, can work really well for some people."

The Transition Towns network has been working for over a decade to shift local politics and economics towards a more resilient future. Even if you don't agree with their goals, reading about their 'visioning' process (p. 18 on) may be helpful in thinking about the Team Project. For more on this and other city-level economic alternatives, read Longhurst et al., 2016, Experimenting with alternative economies.

Story Seed Library, https://storyseedlibrary.org/art/

"Looking for visions of a better climate future, where our civilization lives in harmony with the ecosystems? Tired of the endless AI-generated pictures of skyscrapers with trees on top?

Below you’ll find a selection of works from several great artists - no AI, only human creativity and sweat. They’re all licensed under Creative Commons and can be used in your projects.

Please make sure to check the details of the license and credit the artist!"

Art is one powerful way to imagine different futures. The Story Seed Library is a work in progress, put together to help stretch people’s imaginations.