Retro Futurism in film and gaming. A vision of the future, from the past.
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- Опубліковано 25 сер 2024
- In this video, let's have a look at #retrofuturism through the lens of late 1960s to late 1980s cinema, and how the films 2001 A Space Odyssey, Alien and Akira set the mark for the depiction of Sci-Fi user interfaces. Let's also have a look at how video games have capitalised on a similar aesthetic, specifically, games such as Alien Isolation, We Went Back and the unlikely to see the light of day, Routine.
Links:
Ron Cobb - roncobb.net/ind...
Semiotic Standard - alienanthology...
PT - en.wikipedia.o...)
Routine - www.lunar-soft...
Music By: TrackTribe, ELPHNT and Yung Kartz
Produced by: Chris Kernaghan
Support: Discombobulate
Do you ever wonder what the future holds? What could your day-to-day life theoretically look like in 10, 50 or even 100 years? The further out the future, the harder it is to predict what normal life will look like, but that doesn't stop futurists trying to predict transport, fashion, technology or general aesthetic styling.
#Retrofuturism is a vision of the future, from the past. The film and gaming industry has a long history of showcasing their depictions of the future, and that's what we're going to take a look at today. What I'm particularly interested in, for this short video at least, are visions of the future beginning from the late 60s, right up until the late 80s as depicted in cinema. Then, let's have a look at how various video games share their versions of the future - with some examples notably taking inspiration from the film's discussed prior, and one game, unfortunately unlikely to see the light of day.
Alien is synonymous with #retrofuturism, particularly, cassette futurism. In this universe, humans are a spacefaring species, capable of travelling many light years to other stars, yet the user interfaces used throughout feel very much like a strange mix of digital and analogue, crews seemingly dependent on physical storage mediums, like cassettes, with feedback served though monochrome, vector style graphics on CRT displays.
Using CRT displays, with all their limitations and curves, wasn't a choice out of limitation but rather an aesthetic choice made to coincide with the industrial setting of the mining-ship Nostromo. It's worth pointing out that Kubrick's 2001 came out 11 years earlier, and imagines that individuals in the future will have access to completely flat, high resolution panels. But we'll move on to that shortly.
Finally, let's talk about the use of iconography throughout Alien - influential iconography, designed by the legendary set designer, Ron Cobb. Cobb would design what's known as the semiotic standard - a series of icons specifically for the film, referring to features such as pressurised area, bulk-head, laser and my favourite, coffee.
Honestly, I could easily spend a whole 10-minute video talking about how cool these icons are.
Did you know science fiction writer, and futurist, Arthur C Clarke predicted that geostationary satellites would become an integral part of telecommunications? Or that he predicted the internet in 1964? Of course, there are many predictions that he made that didn't see the light of day, but those that he did get correct, are hugely important to the continued technological progress of our species.
Clarke co-wrote the screenplay for the classic film, 2001 A Space Odyssey, which he concurrently wrote the novel as well.
The film is noted for its depiction of space travel in the future, as well as the design language used throughout and unique, certainly in 1968, dedication to minimalist aesthetics. A fine introduction to #retrofuturism, courtesy of Clark and Kubrick's unrelenting dedication to visual superiority.
Focus on UI etc, IBM displays. What did typical displays, computers look like at the time? Mention tablets etc in 2001. Use of colour, particularly red. Combination of monochrome displays and tactile buttons.
Like Alien that preceded it, Akira is another example of Cassette Futurism. Released in 1988 in Japan, Akira showcases a wonderful collection of hand drawn digital user interfaces throughout. A number of which resemble the user-interfaces used in 2001 A Space Odyssey. Without any real life constraints, they’re obviously user-interfaces for the sake of user-interfaces, drawn more for their aesthetic qualities, with little evidence to suggest that they’re useful in any way. However, that can be often said for a lot of retro-futuristic ideas and visuals, and it should be remembered that these visuals aid the tone, and atmosphere, that the director wants to illustrate.
One particularly effective example is a holographic interface that shows the viewer the amount of energy the titular Akira is generating. We can see subtle, low level movements when we first see this interface, which eventually shifts to show Akira’s true power.
I've always found films like Alien and 2001 fascinating. The future still having CRT monitors, Cassettes, and Computers taking up entire rooms is a unique aspect of older science fiction that is just so strange. It's looking at the past's view of what the future will be and judging how we nailed it, failed it, or got at least part way there. We in 2020 aren't exploring the galaxy in commercial space travel yet nor do we have robots that are practically indistinguishable from humans but those technologies are slowly being worked on. We have a device that can fit terabytes of data into the same space as a coffee mug. CRT and discs are gone and replaced with LCD and virtual storage. It's cool to think about.
Even original Star Trek, though its bright and cheery, had data tapes and some physical screens. Though I believe the screens were smaller.
LTO (Linear Tape Open) is still used for long term storage today.
I think in the same way!
We still use magnetic tape and irl the computer indutry snd people are looking back into analog computers again, some YT channels take about this like hoe they could completely change everything.
Style
Perhaps it is because I was born in the 80s, but I find retro-futurism strangely comforting. Our modern era, along with its projection of the future comes across as cold and sterile, but 80s depictions feel cozy.
So well said. I wish there was a time machine. I'd never want to come out of the 80's.
I’d say it has a similar feeling to brutalism, both of them have a sense of overwhelming power surrounding you.
@@sharmashivanand And if you come there you would want come back...
I always come back to cassette futurism as my favorite aesthetic. I've watched this video like 5 times bcs I always end up searching up cassette futurism to see what exists out there
It's less of an aesthetic and more of a sub-genre but yeah, with it's cooler name (formicapunk) fits well as a deviant of cyberpunk
@@mr_indie_fan The classic cyberpunk suffer on fact that it is both aesthetic and a genre.
Another couple of cool retrofuturistic games are: Event [0], taking place on a abandoned spaceship from alternate 1980s; upcoming Hardspace: Shipbreaker, which is about savaging old industrial-looking spaceships with a very analog UI in the menus.
I find it fascinating that we are so far advanced in our history that we are capable of saying contradictory words like ...
retro futurism
one implies the past and the other implies the future
And the word itself It means the past and future
It translate literally as Future of the Past.
This channel is so underrated,
Saw this video on my Birthday today. The aesthetic is so charming. I wish today's boring aesthetics were mixed with the more radical aesthetics of yesteryear.
What I found strange about the evolution of technology is that I started noticing that instead of embracing the technological improvements of what we already had we just leap-frogged over to the next innovation. In the 2000s I thought minidiscs were fucking cool, I saw a kid with one on the school bus when I was a kid, it looked so cutting edge, I was still rocking a cd player. Then all of a sudden mp3 players/iPods arrived and everyone on my bus wanted in solid state media players that could carry back then dozens of songs, Hell even I wanted one.
I was born in 2001 and I love retro futurism. It's probably because I grew up watching old movie and tv shows and read old comics.
i love your take on this topic, well done indeed.
There are many concept cars from the 50's, 60's and 80's that have not been created yet. Someone will create them one day.
fallout 4 was my introduction to retro-futurism and i love it! there is also a great animated movie called Planet 51!
Im glad I haved inspired you to make this video.
Lovely. I've just rediscovered my childhood ❤
One more example of retrofuturism in gaming is BioShock.
The least qualifying example of retrofuturism. You have examples such as Fallout and Control 2019
@@LSK2Kbioshock is most certainly a qualifying example; it is the ultimate decopunk/oceanpunk story and gives a look into the future through the lense of the 1920s.
Its inspiration System Shock is also a good example, but more in the cassette style.
@@mr_indie_fan Yes. Oceanic cities were big thing in the 50's.
Good video, might cite in one of my episodes later, IDK
Routine got some new info in the last few months. A new trailer reveal during Summer Game Fest 2022. They've switched engine from Unreal 4 to Unreal 5, and the legendary Mick Gordon is the audio director. They also made a statement on their website saying they're a 3 person team that was working on this game part time with a tight budget and they weren't happy with the game. They've also got a publisher helping them now.
You guys need to watch ‘Prophet’. Quite a recent B movie but wow did I connect to that futuristic 70s aesthetic. You will love it. Come back and let me know you thought about it.
Masterful analysis on retro (cassette) futurism. Thank you!
excellent video, amazing intro. I was literally shocked when I saw you were a small channel. I might use a clip of this in my video essay, if i do ill tag you!
Thank you for your amazing take on Cassette Futurism! I wonder what your view is on Necrofuturism? ;-)
Thank you so much for this video. now i have some video games to test.
I'm confused; isn't retro futurism from early 50s to mid to late 70s? When I think 80s futurism, I think cyberpunk, neon, synthwave and beginning of digitalization
Sure, Retrofuturism is generally regarded as a movement in the creative arts that started around that time. It's also a fairly general term which still applies to the topics in the video, but as you said, Cyberpunk, Neon, Synthwave could be regarded as sub-genres within Retrofuturism.
@@pspolygons nuketown in call of duty bo2 is retrofuturism I think
@@kfl16 atompunk
@@FilippoFontanella nah I think it’s retro futurism from the 60s the map is called nuketown 2025 which means they were imagining the future a long time ago
@@kfl16 that's absolutely Atompunk. No doubt about that! Go check it out! Retro futurism is much more linked to synthwave and cyberpunk, which are pretty different from Nuketown. An Example of retrofuturism in videogames is obviously Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon
Great video but fallout is iconic for its retrofuturism and post apocalyptic esthetic
That's atompunk boy
@@FilippoFontanella Atom punk is a form of retro futurism. Retro futurism is simply the depictions of the future influenced by the trends of an earlier era.
Fascinante.
I Love the topic. You got a new subscriber!👍
Routine is back baby!
I want more videos like thissss
good wee video i liked it alot
Nice video. Whats the song at the start?
@@pspolygons I would love for you to make a video using that song and lots of clips edited of retrofuturism
If I was the richest man in the world I would’ve made a 3 story mansion. And 3 underground basements the 2 lower levels would look very futuristic.
game called at 0:56
Alien Isolation!
Hello, does anyone know from which art movement does Retro Futurism belong to? Like is it under or inspired from Futurism or Contemporary Art?
Sorry, but I always thought Akira is cyberpunk, sometimes is kind of difficult to see the differences.
I mean, eh. The general feel of the technology & atmosphere feels more akin to a proto-Cyberpunk, rather than full on Cyberpunk or just Cassette futurism.
I have an explanation and im gonna put it to you the simple way: every story has a
Begining - Watchdogs 2 (Nowpunk)
Middle - Akira (Formicapunk aka cassette futurism)
And End - Neuromancer (Full on cyberpunk)
Nowpunk starts the cycle, formicapunk is the middle of the cycle and by the end you have cyberpunk! (And if you turn that cyberpunk world into a semi-utopia somehow you have the prolouge; cyberprep)
@@tankieflanker4119Formicapunk (Cassette futurism) itself is proto Cyberpunk. It comes after Nowpunk, but before Cyberpunk.
Evangelion is an example of cassette futurism right?
I heard Rollercoaster Tycoon laugh
HEY
and best idea for gaming last 10 years is vr london heist, shark encounter, first 5 mins of horizon. maybe some swords fighting, boxing, and offcourse impressive mantions of hitman vr. and thats it. its much beter than 100500 hours of gameplay noone gives a shit about. just 5 minutes of awesomly made "vr magazine pictures" like an album from 80s you switch page and there is a totally different but awesomely artfully made small story. 5 MINS
its not about casettes and buttons, trust me 🤣 NO. its about emotions of listing a magazine from 70s. if you understand 😅
daddy yay
Hi
Not sure I like the term retro futurism. What is retro? 20 years ago? Don't get me started with "retro" games, because that label is hardly applicable to how it is used. "Cassette" is too narrow and "retro" is too broad.
While 20 years is a good ballpark, I think it has to do more with memory. Retro is old enough that you go "Oh, yeah, that was a thing!" when you get reminded of it. For operating systems, Windows 2000 and ME are retro, Windows XP is a maybe, and Windows Vista is a no. I'm reluctant to move XP into "retro" because I still use it in a virtual machine to get stuff done, but it's definitely going past merely old. If you want to call it retro, I'm not going to argue with you about it, though.
once ive read some book of poland futurist from 50-70s about some spaceship had disaster on some planet and they were digging out way from crash with a SHOWELS, connected wires at some door at spaceship to open it, and even this obvious stupidity of useind showels or wires(like its no microelectronics plate you cand coil in future with bare hands etc) felt more futuristic and soulful than those games 🤣 really. its completely have no soul inside.
retrofuturism is awesome course they felt the atmosphere of that life real. even analogue 80s tv style dashboards at some "escape from new york" ant toy spaceship in "alien 1" feels more futuristic and realistic than any modern futurism 😂 and they cant find any beter ideas than syd mead or kubrik at odyssey 2001 or even elyseum orbit spacebase. each drawned by hand picture of frazetta hame more story in it than whole modern hollywood alltigether x last ten years 😂 youre done, total degeneration
im not trying to insult or so, really - all this games SUCK comparable to some fkn album of pictures from syd mead or so 😅 its not even futurism, its a complete garbage. it have nothing inside, no meaning, no story, no emotions, no will, no soul no nothing except some cgi outlook someone tryed to represent. 100% garbage