DeepSummary
Annalee Newitz, a journalist and science fiction writer, discusses how escapist stories, like those found in science fiction, can help us reimagine our relationships with our communities and the world around us. She highlights examples of cosplayers from the 501st Legion, who dress up as Star Wars characters and engage in charity work, and researchers studying coastal flooding who drew inspiration from the 'goblincore' aesthetic.
Newitz explains how the character Scrubj, a sentient flying train from her novel, was inspired by her conversation with a public transit official about how trains might behave if they were conscious beings. This imaginative thinking can help promote understanding and support for public transit systems in the real world.
Newitz also describes the 'emerald tutu' project, a distributed network of floating gardens designed to mitigate coastal flooding, which was inspired by the goblincore aesthetic. She emphasizes that changing the world often starts with fantasies and imagining alternative possibilities before implementing real-world projects.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Escapist fiction and fantasies can provide new perspectives and inspire innovative solutions to real-world problems.
- Science fiction stories and online communities built around aesthetics like 'goblincore' have directly influenced practical projects aimed at social change and environmental conservation.
- Imagining alternative realities through fiction can foster understanding of concepts like public transportation as integral to a healthy society.
- Escapist stories allow us to reimagine our relationships with communities beyond our immediate circles.
- Fantasies are often the crucial starting point for envisioning and implementing large-scale initiatives to improve human infrastructure and mitigate climate change impacts.
- Creative thinkers can find common ground by tapping into the infinite possibilities portrayed in science fiction and fantasy narratives.
- Cosplay communities demonstrate how fan engagement with fictional universes can translate into positive real-world actions like charity work.
- Retaining a sense of infinite possibility from escapist fiction can motivate efforts to create change in our own lives and surroundings.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “But as a journalist and a science fiction writer, I've witnessed the way escapist stories can nourish our relationship with the truth and help us see the real world with fresh eyes.“ by Annalee Newitz
- “Now, I think that Jeff and I had this admittedly odd meeting of the minds, partly because he and I are both engaged in the same project. We both want the public to understand that transit is part of a healthy human future.“ by Annalee Newitz
- “And here you can see they're testing out a larger sample of the emerald tutu right now in Boston harbor. This is a new design for the chungus. So it's not a bag of biomass. It's a kind of snail shaped woven biomass mat. You can see the grass growing on top of it. They call this the cinnamon roll.“ by Annalee Newitz
- “And when I was creating the character of Scrubjack, there were certain things I knew for sure that would be true about them. Like, I knew that they were going to fall in love with an investigative journalist who's a cat, because obviously but what I didn't know was what Scrub Jay the train would do for fun.“ by Annalee Newitz
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Episode Information
TED Talks Daily
TED
5/18/24
When the world's problems have you weary, journalist and science fiction writer Annalee Newitz suggests a good dose of escapist fiction to refresh your perspective. Step into the whimsical world of science fiction, cosplay and "goblincore" to see how fantasy worlds help us reimagine our relationships with our communities and each other — and why the best way to solve your problems may start with escaping them.