The dutch sociologist Fred Polak coined the term “Image of the Future”. He argued that the images of the future that we hold are actively driving us towards a certain future.
When the dominant images of a culture are anticipatory, they “lead” social development and provide direction for social change.
In the post-modern era there has been a decline in utopian images of the future. The result is a society in decline.
In Polak’s reading of history, optimism about reality combined with a utopian sense of human empowerment set in motion a powerful dynamic. Utopian optimism has characterized the Western worldview of recent centuries - but not of the last few decades.
In eras when pessimism combines with a sense of cosmic helplessness, the quality of human intentionality declines and, with it, the quality of imagery of the not-yet. Societies in that condition live bounded by the present, with no social dynamic for change available to them.
– Elise Boulding (Why Imagine The Future?)
Solarpunk is about finding new images of the future - to break free from the dominant cultural narratives of dystopia.