Aesthetic Exploration – Outer Space Retrofuturism

[1] Street appearing as it’s orbiting earth

Retrofuturism emerged in the 1960s and 70s as the new age of technology and science was influencing people’s imagination about the future. Retrofuturism is the future as seen from the past. It is retro now because the art was created throughout the 20th century. Artists, writers, and filmmakers created images and designs portraying a futuristic, space-age future. These images were primarily depicting future utopian worlds. The aesthetic includes retro futuristic design elements, such as sleek lines, geometric shapes, and optimistic engineering designs. The aesthetic also includes space age imagery such as rockets, astronauts, and extraterrestrial colonies, while including popular mid-century colors, such as pastels, bold primaries, and metallic tones. This space imagery  imagined from the lens of technology in the 1960s and 70s, so there is often a disconnect between the technology they envisioned, and the technology that was later invented.

[2] Robot and woman with old technology made to look futuristic

Space retrofuturism took shape in the 1970s, the years that saw the final five flights of the Apollo Program. The art and aesthetic of retrofuturism emerged from the idea that applied science would improve the daily lives of humans through technological advancements. This idea of technology improving society was hard to realize in the midst of the Vietnam War, environmental degradation, and the energy crisis. However, the futuristic optimists prevailed and produced futuristic media that depicts humanity as a space bearing and multi planet civilization.

[3] “Space Home” depicting what a futuristic space home could look like

The characteristics of space retrofuturism look retro to the present day viewer, yet were futuristic for people living through the new space age. The aesthetic is interesting because it includes images that attempt to depict our current state of space technology, however accurate it may be. This aesthetic is also interesting because during our present we also like to predict what the future of space travel will look like with artwork and renderings. These renderings might be viewed as space retrofuturism in future years, just as we view the space retrofuturism from the 60s and 70s.

[4] Astronauts using vintage looking camera on moon base

Many images of space retrofuturism dive into the concept of retro space tourism. These types of images showcase a vision where space travel is not exploration, but a part of everyday life. These images are interesting because many of them simply take the current technology from that time, and place it in space, often ignoring the practicality and disregarding physics laws that the technology defies.

[5] Earth beach scene depicted in space

Space retrofuturism heavily influenced pop culture throughout the 1960s and 1970s. The most notable piece of pop culture influenced by retrofuturism was George Lucas’ Star Wars. The series of movies took the current technology from when the movies were filmed and simply put it in space. Although computers at the time were extremely rudimentary, they depict similar looking computers on the death star to make them seem for futuristic and advanced. Watching more current Star Wars movies, you can see how the updated knowledge of technology has influenced the look of the sets and gadgets used in filming.

[6] The main bridge of an imperial star destroyer

In conclusion, space retrofuturism is a nostalgic and imaginative aesthetic that combines the retro feel of the 1960s and 70s with the aspiration for space travel. It’s influence on pop culture will have humans envisioning our future in space for years to come.

 

Sources

https://artincontext.org/retrofuturism/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrofuturism#:~:text=Retrofuturism%20(adjective%20retrofuturistic%20or%20retrofuture,produced%20in%20an%20earlier%20era.

Pictures

[1] https://taudalpoi.com/products/space-promenade

[2] https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Retro-Futurism

[3] https://www.reddit.com/r/spaceflight/comments/z7qkno/retro_futuristic_space_station_project/

[4] https://www.pinterest.com/pin/retrofuturism-101-definitions-aesthetics-and-fashion-examples–886927720337389952/

[5] https://www.abposters.com/marketplace/galaxy-beach-retro-futuristic-collage-space-art-v90699

[6] https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Bridge_(starship)