I am a Punk!

DALL-E/Midjourney: Curt Doty

I do not mean the kind inspired by the music of the late 70’s and 80’s. Though I grew up with it and loved it. What is facing the world is not a choice in punk bands. It is a band of a different sort. A Bandwagon. I am talking about what future you believe in and what bandwagon are you going to hop on. Since the recent popularity of AI reignited a cyberpunk future. The one from Blade Runner and many other dystopian tales. As we are now 75 years past Turings musings of whether machines can think and conversely 75 years out from another turn of the century, 2100, what will we embrace as a culture and society? The often overlooked bandwagon is this movement called SolarPunk. This is a forward-thinking, optimistic movement that envisions a future where humanity thrives in harmony with nature through sustainable technologies, ethical practices, and equitable societies. At its core, SolarPunk celebrates the belief that a better world is not only possible but achievable through the thoughtful integration of advanced technology (AI) and ecological stewardship. It stands as a counter-narrative to dystopian futures often seen in popular media, offering instead a hopeful vision where innovation fuels a greener, more inclusive tomorrow.

The “solar” in SolarPunk symbolizes renewable energy, particularly solar power, as a cornerstone of this imagined future. It envisions cities powered by clean energy, communities designed with nature at their core, and technologies that actively repair environmental damage. Unlike many futuristic movements, SolarPunk emphasizes decentralization, grassroots efforts, and local solutions to global problems. Urban landscapes are transformed with vertical gardens, green roofs, and thriving ecosystems that blur the boundaries between human habitation and the natural world.

“Punk,” on the other hand, highlights the spirit of rebellion against systems that perpetuate inequality, environmental degradation, and unsustainable practices. It reflects a commitment to challenging the status quo and creating systemic change through innovation, art, music and activism. In the SolarPunk ethos, technology is not inherently good or bad—it is a tool to be wielded responsibly for the benefit of all. This is my view of AI.

At its heart, SolarPunk is deeply humanistic. It prioritizes equity, collaboration, and a sense of shared responsibility. It envisions societies where access to clean energy, food, water, and education is universal. Economies shift away from exploitation and waste toward circular models that regenerate resources. Art, literature, and design play vital roles in shaping and spreading this vision, often blending futuristic aesthetics with natural elements in a way that feels both aspirational and attainable. As AI seems to be sucking the creativity out of the atmosphere, it is, in fact, the poets, writers, artists, designers and architects who can and should lead us out of despair into a brighter future.

In a world where climate crises and social inequalities dominate headlines, SolarPunk offers an antidote to this despair. It serves as a call to action, inspiring individuals and communities to imagine and work toward a future that celebrates the best of human ingenuity and compassion. By combining ecological awareness, technological innovation, and social justice, SolarPunk envisions not just survival, but a flourishing future for all.

On the opposite spectrum is Cyberpunk. Which is a gritty, dystopian subgenre of science fiction that explores the collision of advanced technology with societal decay. Set in near-future worlds dominated by sprawling megacities, pervasive corporate control, and rampant inequality, cyberpunk delves into themes of rebellion, identity, and survival in a high-tech, low-life environment. It features neon-lit streets, cyberspace realms, synthetic humans, and advanced artificial intelligence, often portraying the dark side of technological progress. At its core, cyberpunk critiques the unchecked power of Big Tech and the dehumanizing effects of technology while celebrating the resilience and ingenuity of individuals navigating a fractured world.

To counter this more, Steampunk is a retro-futuristic genre and aesthetic that reimagines the world as if modern technological advancements were achieved through steam power during the Victorian or Industrial Revolution era. It blends elements of science fiction, history, and fantasy, creating an alternate timeline where gears, cogs, and brass machinery dominate innovation. Steampunk worlds are characterized by intricate designs, elaborate costumes, and a fascination with craftsmanship, often inspired by 19th-century architecture, fashion, and technology.

The genre celebrates human ingenuity and creativity while often exploring themes of progress, industrialization, and its consequences. Airships, clockwork automatons, and steam-powered contraptions populate its landscapes, alongside a romanticized vision of exploration and discovery. At its heart, steampunk is both a celebration of the past’s aesthetic and a speculative imagining of what could have been, blending nostalgia with inventive storytelling.

So, out of these three punk bandwagons, let’s invest our art, writing, advocacy, dollars and energy towards SolarPunk. Fuck Mars and let’s save the one thing we have, if it is not too late.

About the Author

Curt Doty is an award winning creative director whose legacy lies in branding, product development, social strategy, integrated marketing, and User Experience Design through CurtDoty.co. His work of entertainment branding includes Electronic Arts, EA Sports, ProSieben, SAT.1, WBTV Latin America, Discovery Health, ABC, CBS, A&E, StarTV, Fox, Kabel 1, and TV Guide Channel.

He has extensive experience on AI-driven platforms MidJourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Murf.ai, HeyGen, and DALL-E. He now runs his AI consultancy RealmIQ and companion podcast RealmIQ: Sessions onYouTube and Spotify.

He is a sought after public speaker having been featured at Streaming Media NYC, Digital Hollywood, Mobile Growth Association, Mobile Congress, App Growth Summit, Promax, CES, CTIA, NAB, NATPE, MMA Global, New Mexico Angels, Santa Fe Business Incubator, EntrepeneursRx and AI Impact. He has lectured at universities including Full Sail, SCAD, Art Center College of Design, CSNU and Chapman University.

He currently serves on the board of the Godfrey Reggio Foundation.