Post-Futurism

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Post-Futurism (alternatively Postfuturism) describes a genre of science fiction, an artistic movement, an architectural movement, and a philosophy. The term is used loosely and possibly has different meanings for each of these groups.

In science fiction, Post-Futurism refers to a group of "Futurist" hard science fiction writers who were known as futurists, and to "Post-Futurist" writers who have subsequently challenged the authority of these writers in the genre. The author Jeff Noon uses the term to describe a new style of novel which incorporates mixed media and overlapping storylines, though this could be more accurately described as post-modern writing.

In art, the term is used by a small collective of artists and academics to describe a project of computer based art, poetry and writing. The term is also claimed by the Central European art collective NSK (best known for the music of Laibach). In this sense, it refers to art which emphasises collectivity and de-emphasises traditional authorship of art.

In all of the above cases, the link to the Italian Futurist movement is unclear at best.

A third, philosophical definition of Post-Futurism exists. This is the belief that the concept of human beings as separate entities is socially constructed, that we exist as a "tenuous web" of interconnected ideas, given form and meaning by those who perceive us. While futurism attempted to portray a humanity made machine-like and hard, Postfuturist humans are permeable, interconnected with the objects they use and with other people. Futurists claimed that the purpose of humankind was to travel faster, while Postfuturists believe that the purpose of humankind is to expand the meaning of being human.

The Futurist movement(Futurism (art)) of the early 1900's was a branch of the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution gave rise to vehicles that allowed for faster bodily movement. We, the Post-Futurists, live in post-industrial cities that are in the midst of the Microprocessor Revolution. The microprocessor allows us to transmit information and explore ideas faster, with degrees of precision previously unimaginable, allowing for faster neurological movement. The Post-Futurist is one that lives in the Future, because the Future is currently upon us. The Future is not always manifest because life on this planet is overwhelmingly organic, not mechanical. To the Post-Futurist, the Future is not "what may be", but is in fact what's "currently available".