AHC: Create a 1950's Retro-Future world by 2000

Begs the question: does everything have to be all white to be a 50s retro-future? You make a persuasive argument for enough of the tech, architecture et al being plausible but how much does these retro-future presents require the society and culture of the US* to stay like the 50s too?

No. I don't think that's necessary, and I imagine that GlobalHumanism doesn't require it for the thread. I just wanted to look at all angles.

As for energy and cleanliness, I imagine that nuclear power would serve both functions nicely. And regarding hub and spoke cities like the Garden City idea, I suppose we need urban planners who believe very strongly in that model, and who also believe very strongly in deliberately making things look futuristic.
 
^ A legitimate point, but being able to have a dense city without serious social cohesion issues is both an infrastructure challenge and a social one. Packing people who don't like each other into one city is a recipe for disaster unless they have a fair bit of common ground.

It's not hard to see American cities rebuilt in grand fashion in the post-war era, but it has a dark side. Many of the housing projects and complexes of the time became high-rise ghettos, particularly in infamous ones like Cabrini-Green in Chicago or Pruitt-Igoe in St. Louis. The first task would be creating sufficient social cohesion that a future such as that could be built without it destroying itself.
 
The biggest problem in this case is decision !

Let take the Trope of Retro future: the flying Car

PA-59K-canon-fullsize.jpg

in 1950s there was Army project called Air Jeep, what actually a flying car!
they build several prototypes and some of them work very good.
But in 1958 the Army Generals change there mind and abandon the project.
Had that project go on, we could have today civilian version based on those Military Air Jeeps...
And there allot of dead dreams because some one make a wrong decision in Politic, Military or Industry...


Another problem is Design and what it become over time
the 1950s Retro future in 2000 is just a retro style
here example what i mean
640_laptop2001.jpg

That was Honeywell vision of a attache case computer with 1960s technology for movie 2001: a Space Odyssey
it feature computer, data Storage system in micro format, color TV set, TV camera, Telephone and Printer
and this what Apple build today (it just missing the printer)
unibody-apple-macbook-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
****Bumping Due to Fascination****

between the photos and the video playlist, I'm learning more than I thought I would.

Who else wants to take the challenge? :cool:
 
Top