I began writing this article to explore the nonbinariness of dystopia and hopeful fiction. I’ve expounded on nonbinary thinking in previous articles (here, for instance) since it’s core to the way I interact with the world.
Linear, polar constructs are not helpful—in fact, they impede expanding possibilities, mutuality, justice, and creating change.
In other word, binaries create harm.
Most often folx think of gender when hearing “nonbinary.” Gender is one attribute that I hope you’ll apply nonbinary thought to.
And then apply it to all things.
For me, choice is always among at least three paths. I picture many threads radiating out to choose from. Expansive, creative thought generates more possibilities!
Injustice and harm of binary culture
YK Hong recently published an important article “U.S. Binary Culture is War” about overriding Empire’s binary constructs as an act of resistance. (You’ll need to subscribe to Liberation Toolbox to view the article—and I highly recommend you do. YK offers excellent and necessary information.)
YK shows how the U.S. and other imperialist colonizers say
either you die from [insert what they want to fight, for instance, communism]
OR
you can be ‘saved’ by our capitalism, our might, our definition of culture and who belongs.
Empire leans into the fear that comes with binary systems, because at their core, binary systems are systems with no options and no volition. …the United States Empire fully plays into the binary dualism, “This is our only option.” No, war is never the only option. Oppression is not the only option. Those are Empire’s only options, but not ours. [~ YK Hong]
What opposites will you burst open into an array of thought?
Black-white.
Right-wrong.
Us-them.
Free-bound.
How can these be starbursts, matrices, or tapestries rather than linear?
Which brings to mind Indigenous and non-Western storytelling that often steps away from the linear—it circles and meanders.
Spirals, circles, and other nonlinear forms offer readers more stepping-off points (and stepping-on points). They help us experience and navigate paradox and ambiguity, which are aligned with Truth … which actually are many truths.
Just as there are many thriving futures.
What is the opposite of dystopia?
You might answer utopia. Though perhaps you guessed this is a trick question.
Dystopian and hopeful fiction are not a mutually exclusive binary.
There’s little dystopian fiction that doesn’t embed some level of hope. Discussing this in the Rewilding Our Stories discord, Marissa Van Udden, editor of ECO24, said (quoted with her permission):
I do find dystopian stories very hopeful… the hope is just not as overt. The setting and situation can be so depressing but the hope comes from the tiny acts of survival and compassion in a terrible and desperate situation, which I find relatable and soothing to read when I need an emotional lift. But I will go to solarpunk when I’m in a brighter mood and don’t need the comfort as much.
Her sentiment counters my expectation about reading hopeful stories. And yet …
I realized during the Philcon speculative fiction conference panel I was on this Fall, “Writing Dystopia in Dystopian Times,” hope is part of dystopian literature and has more in common with my solarpunk than I would have expected.
What separates hopeful from dystopian fiction is the tone or flavor of the narrative, not whether there is a grim, apocalyptic element to the story. Much solarpunk takes place post-apocalypse or even during a catastrophic event.
The ratio of hope in the story also affects how we label it.
I wonder what flavor or ratio supports readers to take action? If only a glimmer of hope at the end, does that further our getting to better worlds? Or lift people’s moods?
Ambitopia?
Solarpunk is very much about interconnection. When I mentioned writing this piece, a friend on Mastodon introduced me to Redfern Jon Barrett’s notion of ambitopia. They discuss the nonbinary nature of dystopia-utopia. Ambitopia is about both qualities being inherent in a work. And not averaging out to a middle—both aspects extend simultaneously.
By the way, I highly recommend Redfern’s ambitopia novel, Proud Pink Sky. It’s an alternate history where Berlin is the first gay state. I’ve added it to the Great Reads section of my site.
Is ambitopia another way of naming solarpunk?
I frame solarpunk as a dynamic, amorphous container that holds a non-finite array of ideas—a generative engine as Jay Springett discusses. The container is richer with many voices, many ideas.
Looping back to Empire
We counter the harm and destruction of colonizers, fascists, and authoritarians when we don’t accept their binaries.
Model nonbinary thinking.
Lay breadcrumbs for others to follow, and explore many alternatives and paths.
Try solarpunk.