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Post by brokennock on Feb 12, 2023 8:29:34 GMT -7
Okay, this is just a random, strange, idea/thought/question that popped into my head.
I was commenting on the importance of knowing when a painting was done when using paintings and sketches as a basis for clothing and kit when outfitting for reenacting or historical experimentation. Given that a painting could have been done in 1780 of someone in 1777, or similar.
It being possible for an artist to inject something current into their painting of the subject in the past.
Why don't we see any artist's ideas of what "the future" might look like in period artwork from the 1700 and early 1800s? Or do we? When do such things start to become thought about and represented in art and literature?
I'm betting as kids all of us here drew pictures with futuristic themes, or had friends that did. We all read or had access to books that were set somewhere in the future. I have books for kids and young adults from when my dad was a kid (so mid to late 40s and early 50s) that are set in space in the future, or some other futuristic theme.
Just something I started pondering as I wrote my reply.
Any thoughts?
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 12, 2023 8:52:15 GMT -7
I think our perception of the future is colored by our current understanding of technology. Think of the Jetson's rocket car - we had cars and rockets, making perfect sense that they could be combined into a functional unit from the perspective of the 1960s (no rocket cars yet, but getting closer). Same with Star Trek today coloring our perspective of what we could do in the future with the vast unexplored areas of space. I suspect the future would be recognizable to us now based upon our knowledge/technology of today, but not in the way that we believe it would...
“If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.” ― Isaac Newton
Even Isaac Newton, as brilliant as he was, could never had grasped in his time how his equations are use today and what they made possible.
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Post by brokennock on Feb 12, 2023 9:59:27 GMT -7
I think our perception of the future is colored by our current understanding of technology. Think of the Jetson's rocket car - we had cars and rockets, making perfect sense that they could be combined into a functional unit from the perspective of the 1960s (no rocket cars yet, but getting closer). Same with Star Trek today coloring our perspective of what we could do in the future with the vast unexplored areas of space. I suspect the future would be recognizable to us now based upon our knowledge/technology of today, but not in the way that we believe it would... “If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.” ― Isaac Newton Even Isaac Newton, as brilliant as he was, could never had grasped in his time how his equations are use today and what they made possible. That is all true,,, to an extent. But some of those children's and young adult novels predate the space race and rocketry. Even the early Star Trek communicators predated anyone having anything remotely like a cellphone, but there they are.... Did anyone in Early American times dream of a future world with automated farming equipment, more efficient modes of travel, and/or advanced weaponry? Did they draw, paint, or write stories about it? Why not? |
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Post by brokennock on Feb 12, 2023 10:01:27 GMT -7
I have to think that it was enough just to think about current life and existence, with enough education (for some people) on history to have some perspective. Never mind grandiose thoughts of "the future."
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 12, 2023 10:05:12 GMT -7
I have to think that it was enough just to think about current life and existence, with enough education (for some people) on history to have some perspective. Never mind grandiose thoughts of "the future." I agree - until the industrial revolution, people had barely enough time and strength to keep themselves fed, clothed and sheltered. Only when your basic needs are met (see Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs), does one have enough to devote to "idle speculation" about other things. |
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Post by artificer on Feb 13, 2023 13:19:15 GMT -7
FWIW, perhaps the closest thing to science fiction or science fantasy in the 18th century was Gulliver's Travels, originally published in 1726.
Gus
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Post by spence on Feb 13, 2023 15:00:01 GMT -7
And Swift got the yahoos right.
Spence
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Feb 13, 2023 15:43:05 GMT -7
There is a lot to be learned from reading Gulliver's Travels, & Robinson Crusoe & other fictional period stories. Despite the fiction, these were written in the 18th century, so they are still period correct.
Keith.
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 13, 2023 17:32:58 GMT -7
Many excellent stories from the period.
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Joe
City-dweller
Posts: 170
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Post by Joe on Feb 13, 2023 17:38:38 GMT -7
Well....over 150 years ago, H.G. Wells got a lot of things right that were unimaginable science fiction for the time. However, if you go back even further, Leonardo da Vinci probably takes the cake.
He predicted.
War tanks.
Machine guns.
Submarines.
Helicopters
Refrigerators.
Parachutes.
Human evolution.
Solar power
Calculators
Telescopes
Robots.
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Post by bushfire on Feb 14, 2023 0:23:34 GMT -7
Just today as i was home taking on home duties with a couple of sick kids and a sick wife (I'm now coming down with it myself - joy), I was watching a Townsend's video on 18th century cooking and pondered the effort they go to compared to us to make a meal. Then the thought occurred to me, that in 250 years from now what we do to prepare a meal will be seen as laborious more than likely.
We've had probably a greater level of advancement in the last 100 years than the 2500 years preceding it. I don't know how we predict much into the future.
I for one don't necessarily live the prospects either. I know people often think that any advancement is automatically and infinitely better than what has come before it, but I for one don't think we've come as far as we think.
We have a lot of advancements in medicine but my sister is still currently battling cancer, we dot have muskets but we do have nuclear bonbs, we understand much more about the mind but depression and mental health is possibly at its worst time in history, and of course we don't need flintlocks but I've seen people miss deer sized game from 100 yards with a scoped centrefire off a biped. I don't want to go off on a politicised opinion but suffice it to say that as a father of 3 boys I hate idea of the social world they'll grow up in as men.
Bit of a ramble I know but I for one don't put a lot of thought into the future because I don't think we're really doing much to improve ourselves. Then again I've always yearned for a simpler time, which is why I'm here with you fine gentlemen.
Edit: I forgot to make my point! I'm sure there were people in the 18th century that viewed the prospects of the future in the same way I look at the future from this point.
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Post by brokennock on Feb 14, 2023 2:19:27 GMT -7
Just today as i was home taking on home duties with a couple of sick kids and a sick wife (I'm now coming down with it myself - joy), I was watching a Townsend's video on 18th century cooking and pondered the effort they go to compared to us to make a meal. Then the thought occurred to me, that in 250 years from now what we do to prepare a meal will be seen as laborious more than likely. We've had probably a greater level of advancement in the last 100 years than the 2500 years preceding it. I don't know how we predict much into the future. I for one don't necessarily live the prospects either. I know people often think that any advancement is automatically and infinitely better than what has come before it, but I for one don't think we've come as far as we think. We have a lot of advancements in medicine but my sister is still currently battling cancer, we dot have muskets but we do have nuclear bonbs, we understand much more about the mind but depression and mental health is possibly at its worst time in history, and of course we don't need flintlocks but I've seen people miss deer sized game from 100 yards with a scoped centrefire off a biped. I don't want to go off on a politicised opinion but suffice it to say that as a father of 3 boys I hate idea of the social world they'll grow up in as men. Bit of a ramble I know but I for one don't put a lot of thought into the future because I don't think we're really doing much to improve ourselves. Then again I've always yearned for a simpler time, which is why I'm here with you fine gentlemen. All too true. Hope the family feels better quickly. |
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Post by Black Hand on Feb 15, 2023 5:43:15 GMT -7
How's the family - feeling better?
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Post by bushfire on Feb 15, 2023 14:10:13 GMT -7
On the mend, I was the last to get it so I'm still coming good.
Wife and boys are almost back to normal. I probably shouldn't have been commenting on threads the past couple of days with a fever, bit of delirium I think. My apologies fellas.
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Post by spence on Feb 15, 2023 14:12:35 GMT -7
Did you and the family get tested for covid?
Spence
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