Four Futures
We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings.
Ursula K LeGuin
Four Futures is a trans-media project exploring potential societies in a post-capitalist world. Inspired by the premise of Peter Frase’s book Four Futures, this project will imagine how the intersection of climate change and advances in automation will reshape the world in the coming centuries and explore the lives of people living in these vastly different landscapes. A team of 30 artists are collaborating on this work in two different formats—digital and in-person—to tell these sprawling stories using performance, comics, visual design, interactive fiction, and other interdisciplinary formats.
As daunting as it may sound, it means that it is this society and these institutions that must cut emissions.
Christian Parenti
The premise for this project is taken from Peter Frase’s template for the book Four Futures: Climate change is going to dramatically change earth’s resources and automation is going to dramatically change the role of labor in society. How our civilization addresses climate change and the hierarchies of economics generates four broad categories.
Communism: abundant resources along with an egalitarian world results in a world in which material want is virtually eliminated.
Socialism: in the face of a world ravaged by climate change, humans are forced to work together to create a more equitable society while finding a new way to live in balance with the ecosystem.
Rentism: a world of riches is hoarded by landlords and corporations. Nothing can be owned, only rented, while vast inequity divides people into owners and customers of life itself.
Exterminism: the elite abandon the earth to devastation, saving themselves in high-tech bunkers while billions are consigned to a new barbarous age
Two Ways to Explore
Four Futures will be presented in two formats working together to tell the full story
Online
A digital portal linking to interactive stories, videos, audio, digital zines, and more. Patrons will receive a code giving them access to the web portal.
In-person
A gallery of video, sound, and visual art exploring each future in physical detail. The gallery will be open for several hours, allowing patrons to explore the work at their leisure (total occupancy will be limited to 15 at any time)
Oct 28 - Nov 7
Gallery Hours
Thursday, Friday: 6-9p
Saturday: 1-4p, 6-9p
Sunday: 1-4pm
Tickets
$25-50
Covid Protocols
Four Futures will have a limited occupancy of 15 patrons at any given time.
Due to the continuing pandemic, we are requiring all Four Futures patrons to be vaccinated and to wear a mask at the in-person gallery. These two precautions have proven to be the most effective measures against the spread of COVID-19.
If you are not currently vaccinated, click here for resources about how to make a free appointment for vaccination.
Proof of Vaccination will be required for this performance. To prove vaccination, either upload an image of your CDC Vaccination card when you purchase your ticket, or bring it to the MCA box office. We recommend taking a photo of your card on a phone.
Four Futures Artists
Produced by Jeremy Paul
Associate Produced by Katherine Nash
Conceptualized by Jeremy Paul and Jasmine Golphin
Future Producers:
Emily Liptow, Jasmine A Golphin,
Meredith L. King, Rachel L. Mulholland
”The Present” composed by Devin Hinzo
Communism
Emily Liptow, Producer
Brianna Janae
Cassie Harner
Kate Atherton
Martinique Mims
Naomi Columna
Rentism
Rachel L. Mulholland, Producer
Robin Steele
Sequoia Bostick
Suhaylah Hamzah
Susie Underwood
Stewart Blackwood
Socialism
Jasmine A. Golphin, Producer
Elaine Hullihen
Haumed Rahmani
Molly Andrews-Hinders
Silk Allen
Varsha Vydyula
Exterminism
Meredith L. King, Producer
Amy Schwabauer
Christine Piscura
Connie Fu
Courtney Love
Maia Delegal
Supported in part by
The George Gund Foundation