There are many aspects of Futurism that are intriguing and interesting. The first Futurist was probably (according to some archaeological research) a wandering, naked, dark-skinned humanoid in Africa who hoisted a jagged rock in one hand and dragged a heavy, thorny tree branch in the other hand to defend tribal offspring from a snarling, furry monster stalking in the tall grass. The hurled projectile smacked the hungry feline directly in the jaw. The beast howled in red, bloody rage. Simultaneous spear stabbing and the future of prey versus predator was altered, once again. This was supposed to be a leisurely brunch, like most meals over the many rotations of the bright orb shining overhead.
The Earth Goddess Gaia smiled, frowned, and sighed.
So, today, amidst our gleaming cities and crowded skyways, we ponder, “What exactly is Futurism?”
There are many factions of Futurism throughout the modern world. Expectations and goals are similar (yet there are always unpredictable variations). Social Evolution. Altering states of reality. The oppressed overpowering the oppressors. Honoring honest history. Forging a future. Stomping and shouting to the sounds of syncopation of senses.
These are some of the faces of Futurism. Select or create your own.
Italian Futurism
Origin: Early 20th-century Italy (founded by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909).
Definition: An avant-garde art and social movement that celebrated the “beauty of speed,” technology, youth, violence, and industry. It sought to destroy the past (museums, libraries) to modernize Italy.
Key Characteristics: Fascination with cars, airplanes, and industrial cities; often aligned with fascism and misogyny; rejection of tradition.
How It Differs: Unlike other “Futurisms”, this was considered to be a movement of power and aggression from within Europe, rather than a movement of resistance or decolonization. This belief may have been one of the causes of the destructive World Wars that decimated Europe.
Website: https://smarthistory.org/italian-futurism-an-introduction/
Afrofuturism
Origin: Coined by cultural critic Mark Dery in 1993 (Black to the Future), however, the theme existed earlier (e.g., Sun Ra, Octavia Butler, George Schuyler, Pauline Hopkins, and others).
Definition: A cultural philosophy that explores the intersection of African diaspora culture with technology. It combines science fiction, history, and fantasy to address topics of subjugation and Afrocentric futures.
Key Focus: The experience of the African Diaspora (specifically in the West/Americas). It often uses the metaphor of the “alien” to describe the experience of slavery and abduction.
Example: Marvel’s Black Panther (specifically the movie’s mix of tech and Oakland roots), the music of Janelle Monáe.
Website: http://www.afrocyberspace.org
Africanfuturism
Origin: Coined by Nigerian-American author Nnedi Okorafor (approx. 2019) to distinguish her work from Afrofuturism.
Definition: A sub-category of science fiction directly rooted in African culture, history, mythology, and point-of-view. It is centered on the continent of Africa rather than the diaspora in the West.
Key Distinction: Okorafor famously explained: “Afrofuturism: Wakanda builds its first outpost in Oakland, CA. Africanfuturism: Wakanda builds its first outpost in a neighboring African country.”
Goal: To center African narratives without the “white gaze” or the necessity of engaging with Western racial dynamics as the primary conflict.
Indigenous Futurism
Definition: Coined by Dr. Grace Dillon (Anishinaabe) to describe art and literature that expresses Indigenous perspectives of the future, past, and present.
Theme: It challenges the “vanishing native American Indian” trope. Instead of being victims of colonization, Indigenous people are survivors of an apocalypse who use traditional knowledge alongside technology to ensure their future survival.
Sinofuturism
Definition: A concept (popularized by artist Lawrence Lek) that proposes China is the future, specifically a form of Artificial Intelligence.
Theme: It embraces stereotypes about Chinese society (copying, gaming, computing, labor, collective consciousness) not as negatives, but as traits of a superior, post-human survival strategy.
Website: https://tripleampersand.org/arriving-future-sinofuturism-post-human-philosophy-nick-land-yuk-hui/
Gulf Futurism
Definition: Coined by Sophia Al-Maria and Fatima Al Qadiri. It refers to the aesthetic of the Arab Gulf states (Dubai, Qatar).
Theme: A critique of hyper-capitalism, oil wealth, and consumerism. It often depicts a dystopian mix of religious conservatism, screen culture, and shopping malls—a “desert of the real” where history is erased by glass and steel.
Contrast: Distinct from Arabfuturism, which is a broader, more optimistic movement (often linked to Palestinian narratives) focused on decolonizing history and imagining political agency.
Website: https://sailemagazine.com/2021/12/gulf-futurism-the-future-is-not-a-desert-mirage/
Chicanafuturism
Definition: Coined by Catherine S. RamÃrez. It explores the nexus of race, gender, and technology from a Mexican-American (Chicana) female perspective.
Theme: It blends indigenous “mestiza” history with sci-fi to challenge colonial and patriarchal narratives, often using the figure of the “cyborg” to represent the hybrid nature of Chicana identity.
Website: https://catherinesramirez.com/research/chicanafuturism/
Amazigh Futurism
Definition: A movement rooted in North African Amazigh (Berber) culture.
Theme: It reclaims Indigenous North African identity from Arab-centric narratives, projecting Amazigh language, symbols, and cosmology into a technological future.
Website: https://www.dazed.me/dazed-mena-100/elias-riadi-a-visionary-of-amazigh-futurism
sBattleFuturism
Origin: In development by Stafford L Battle, one of the original Black Geeks and co-author of the African American Resource Guide to the Internet (McGraw-Hill 1996).
Proposal: Encourage a unity of the best aspects of “Futurism” to enforce the human right to proper nourishment, shelter, education, and well-being for everyone, regardless of their situation or beliefs. Denounce the greed of the current economic and political systems. Expose the rituals of the ruling elite.
Key Focus: Use speculative literature as a guide for enlightenment and engagement.
Website: http://www.staffordbattle.org
We no longer wander barefoot through wild savannas, avoiding ferocious beasts (unless we are on a guided safari, wearing sturdy hiking boots). We have awesome weapons and defenses to protect our family and friends. Yet we are Futurists, similar to ancient humans foraging in Africa. We have to choose which future we want to live in. The predators we have today are just as dangerous as the ones our ancestors faced. Grab a stone and smash the oligarchy. Gaia will guide us.
Thank you for reading. Your opinions are welcome. Your thoughts inspire me.
sbattle@sbattle.com
Note: This narrative used Wikipedia and AI-generated resources.
