Images Of The Future Research Articles

Spatial Fantasies in Contemporary Russian Cinema

Fantastic film worlds give the viewer a new experience of understanding and living in space – combining different locations, establishing and overcoming boundaries, transitions into a fascinating other reality. This article examines the spatial patterns that create arenas of action for characters in Russian films and series of fantasy-mystical content shot in the 2020s. Analyses of worldbuilding in science fiction are related to philosophical ideas about possible worlds and are most represented by discussions of fantasy literature, whereas film fiction and the spaces it depicts await research attention. The authors dissect spatial patterns in sci-fi cinema as a reflection of current social conflicts/divisions and solidarities/convergences; reflecting on how spatial configurations encode the unprecedented mediation of modern technologies and normalize futuristic spatial practices. The focus is on the recurring film-to-film emphasis on the permeability, hybridity and tunnelling of space, on the phantasmagoria of non-releasing places. Russian cinema responds to an ontological philosophical agenda by visualizing the permeability of boundaries and the co-presence of man and other beings. The analysis shows that the portals and roads linking dream and reality, Soviet and modern Moscow, the cyber village on Mars and other planets of the solar system bear a significant plot load. The movement of the characters in an extraordinary space reproduces the archetypal test of the road and provides an opportunity to discuss social and attitudinal issues relevant to the Russian present. Particular attention is paid to the pattern of non-releasing space, which concentrates the fear of isolation characteristic of the established culture of mobility. Science fiction in cinema immerses viewers in worlds inhabited by unusual creatures, filled with artefacts, infrastructure, often through plot tension, frightening hints, visual effects draws attention to significant problems and challenges, including in the discussion of images of the future.

Eschatology of the Singularity: “Deus ex machina” in the Construction of Film Images of the Future

The mixed assessment by critics and theorists of the deus ex machina artistic device common in popular cinema requires a more thorough study of its dramatic and narrative functions in science fiction films. It is in the construction of film images of the future that this technique is combined with a fantastic assumption, expressing the narrator’s attitude towards artistic narration and becoming an argument in dialogue with the viewer. The study reveals, based on the analysis of empirical material, the multifunctionality of deus ex machina using the example of the development of the theme of technological singularity in cinema. The analysis of films significant for the development of the science fiction (Sci-Fi) genre and the most popular television series among science fiction fans today demonstrates the evolution of the deus ex machina technique. In addition to the trivial function of arbitrary resolution of peripeteia, it acquires various dramatic functions (accelerating or slowing down the rhythm of action, connecting parts of the plot in a large form), obtains the properties of scaling and fragmentation, synchrony and asynchrony with a fantastic assumption, adding complex narrative functions to the toolkit of expressive means, through which the narrator reveals or, on the contrary, conceals his attitude to artistic reality, involving the viewer into the game of probable meanings. The authors of the article come to the conclusion that the theme of technological singularity has been penetrating cinema since its appearance in the work of L. Lumiere and determines, depending on the narrator’s attitude to the topic, the vector of techno-skepticism or techno-optimism in the eschatological dilemma that characterizes the cosmogony of traditional religions. The article is of interest to researchers and film lovers and contributes to the study of artistic and scientific communication.

The future image as a component of political subjective space: testing the conceptual model

The image of the future of youth is described in this paper and its relationship with the subjective space of politics is identified. The article provides a brief analysis of research on the image of the future within the framework of social and political sciences, describes the main theoretical approaches to analyzing the future image of youth. The authors give their own conceptual definition of the future image as a component of the political subjective space, a set of symbolic, ideological and cultural meanings that determine the orientation and behavior of various political actors. The authors as a methodology use focus group interviews, online questionnaires of youth representatives in order to verify the conceptual model of the study. The dynamic nature of the future image as a part of political subjective space is determined by a system of institutions, agents and factors of socialization. Five key components have been identified in the structure of the future image: content, value, emotions, activity and technology. Four projection levels of the future image are defined: personal, group, projection at the level of the macro community and global. The study indicates the predominance of personal projection in the respondents' ideas about the future. Despite the presence of worries and fears for their personal future, young people are generally confident in their own future and believe that the Russian state will continue to play an important role as a world power. An important characteristic of the future image is the subjectivity of its bearer, the degree of activity or proactivity and the willingness to take responsibility for their own future and the future of their families, local community, region, country, and the world. Locus control, that is, a subjective assessment of the factors (personal efforts or external circumstances) on which the future depends, according to the study, is associated with the degree of confidence in the future, the formation of a positive future image. The predominance of civic identity in the hierarchy of identities is also revealed. Young people feel responsible for the future of their country. At the moment, Russian civic identity has a positive impact on the future image of young people. It is significant that among students studying in the Luhansk People's Republic, the level of concern about the future is higher, the level of civil identity is lower, which indicates that the task of forming civil identity should be prioritized in the new regions of the Russian Federation.

Psychological Resources of Resilience in a Crisis Situation: Transformations of the Value-semantic Sphere of Students Living in a Zone of Local Military Conflict

This article substantiates the impact of the crisis situation on the actualization and development of personal resources and coping with a difficult life situation. Using the example of students living in a local military conflict zone, it is shown that value-semantic resources (psychological resources of stability) in a crisis situation can transform and manifest themselves at the level of reducing the level of meaningfulness of life, value basis and existential fulfillment of life, reducing the degree of emotional response to current events. A crisis situation for a person, on the one hand, can become a source of disintegration in the perception of events of the past, present and future; loss of meaningfulness of life and devaluation of past experience; on the other hand, it can result in subjective well–being if a person works with a psychoemotional state (that includes working with fear and anxiety; perception of a difficult life situation as a challenge and finding new ones personal meanings); works with goals (building an image of the future in the short term), and if a person is rethinking and updating new personal meanings. According to the results of our research, goal-setting and building an image of the future are interrelated with the ability of the subject to be more open to emotional experiences, to show willingness to work with negative emotions (the “Self-Transcendence” scale); to actualize his personal potential (the “Personality” scale). The following empirical methods were used: Test of life-meaning orientations. SJO (J. Crumbo, L. Maholik in adaptation by D. A. Leontyev); Test of research into the real structure of a person’s value orientations (S.S. Bubnova); Methodology for diagnosing the subjective well-being of an individual (Shamionov R.M., Beskova T.V.); «The scale of existence» (Existenzskala) by A. Langle and K. Orgler (adapted by I. N. Mainina and A. Yu. Vasanov).

Image of the future

image of the future

The Coal Phase-Out in Germany and Its Regional Impact on Economic Worries

Market-driven closures of coal mines have typically been associated with negative economic consequences for the affected regions. In Germany, structural policy directed towards ameliorating the negative effects of hard coal decline in the Ruhr area lagged behind the onset of decline, caused major political conflicts, and has been variously criticized for its reactive character that failed to generate a positive image of the future. The phase-out of lignite coal in Germany, in contrast, is policy-driven and accompanied from the outset by compensatory and investment policies that strive to facilitate regional structural change proactively. Against this backdrop, we investigate how the policies of lignite coal phase-out initiated in 2018 and the accompanying public discourse affect the economic worries of individuals in the remaining three lignite coal mining areas in Germany. We focus on the period 2016–2021, using a longitudinal multilevel design based on regional and individual data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (GSOEP). Overall, probabilities of strong economic worries decrease throughout the observed period. Results show that subjective economic worries do not significantly differ between residents of lignite mining regions and those in the rest of the country. Further robustness analyses confirm that the coal phase-out policy has not increased economic uncertainties in the populations of German lignite mining regions. Based on our results, we discuss the need for future research on the effects of policy designs of clean energy transitions on subjective perceptions of the future.

Государство как ценность: репрезентация образа будущего в речах российских парламентариев

The article is devoted to studying the representation of state as value in the speeches of the deputies of the State Duma from the viewpoint of the image of Russia’s future. As a starting point, the authors used the pentabasis model, where the image of the future is presented in the form of five elements, one of which is the state, interpreted via trust in political institutions. The theoretical basis of the study was the concept of Stein Rokkan and his followers, according to which the state formation involves building socio-cultural boundaries that indicate belonging to a political community. The empirical basis was the transcripts of speeches of deputies on current socio-economic, political and other issues at the plenary sessions of the State Duma of VII— VIII convocations. The research was carried out by the method of discourse analysis. The obtained results clearly demonstrate that national parliamentarians are deeply concerned about the problem of trust. Although decisions on the most fundamental issues are made via consensus, deputies feel a lack of trust among certain groups of the population, which requires them to exert additional efforts to justify their initiatives. The topics they most often turn to include welfare state, center-regions relations, and economic development. At the same time, they rarely directly touch upon the prospects of domestic political institutions, as well as the topic of the image of the future in general, which may be explained by both a shortage of strategic ideas and external restrictions on parliamentary discourse.

Look into the Future: Life Values and Orientations of Modern Youth in Yakutia

The article contributes to the discussion about the values and life strategies of modern youth using the example of a study of students in the northern region of Russia. The article presents some results of a sociological survey aimed at studying the life world, social and political orientations of students of three federal universities of Yakutia (NEFU, ASICA, ChSIPhES). Special attention is paid to the peculiarities of the distribution of life values and orientations, factors of success and happiness, as well as the ratio of the respondents' civil and regional identities. The sociological study ‘Students of Russia: Civic Culture and Life Strategies’ was conducted by the Centre of Political Science of SPR FCTAS RAS in April-May 2023. The object of the study is Russian students. The study used a quota-proportional all-Russian sample with interdependent characteristics of the general population: gender, age, place of residence, level of education received and areas of higher education. The sample size is 6389 respondents, with 468 students in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). The data analysis revealed the priority of material-economic and socio-emotional life values in the individual matrices of young people. Material prosperity, interesting work, family stability, emotional ties with family members and friends, education, as well as autonomy, independence, individualism are the most significant in the lives of students. The spatial levels of identity and the degree of emotional attachment to local and global territorial communities, as well as the attitude of young people in Yakutia to Russia have been revealed. Student youth optimistically builds an image of the future of Yakutia and Russia, relying on traditional values and family, while being open to the global society, mostly relying on their own experience and competences.

Формирование образа будущего в современной России: массовая динамика и роль государства

The article is devoted to the problem of forming the image of the future in Russia in the late 2010s – early 2020s. The above problem is considered from two perspectives: from the point of view of factors influencing the crystallization of Russians’ perceptions of the collective future, and in the context of the state policy of constructing the image of the future. It is stated that the fragmentation of the image of the future in modern Russia is due to such factors as the complex nature of Russian society and its generational specifics, the intensive digital transformation of the socio-political environment, the lack of horizontal and vertical social trust, the eclecticism of political values and hypertrophied retrospective orientations of mass consciousness. It is pointed out that the state policy of constructing a national image of the future in today’s Russia is characterized by an insufficient level of institutionalization and elaboration. At the same time, in the semantic sense, at the turn of the 2010–2020s it was consistently aimed at actualizing such mass political values as paternalism, social justice and improving the quality of life. It is emphasized that the political events of the early 2020s were a stress factor for the Russian society and had a serious impact on Russians’ perceptions of the country’s future. Therefore, the role of the state policy of constructing the image of the future as a key tool for the value-semantic consolidation of Russian society is significantly increasing.

Chinese Economic Outlook: Unemployment Changes and Sector Shifts

A vivid image of the future of the Chinese economy proves essential in navigating the complex future of the Chinese economy. Under the impacts of the prolonged quarantine in China and the nation’s strong recovery in the high-tech sector following large financial market reforms, the future of the Chinese economy becomes increasingly uncertain with the likeliness of a period of expansion as well as development to redistribute sectors within the Chinese economy. With seemingly contradictory trends of development, such forecasts become increasingly urgent. In this study, through the statistical exploitation of the unemployment rate of China, coupled with policy and economic analysis of the nation, this paper sought to determine the future of the Chinese economy through both structural perspectives and its overall trend, shedding light on some of the ambiguity of the future. Although the forecast of unemployment proved to be flat under the exploitation of two different models following manipulation and testing of the data, news, and policy generated other insights from which a more accurate and specific conclusion regarding the Chinese economy can be derived. Finally, the research explores in detail the implications of the alternations in the Chinese economy.

Image of the Future: An Optimistic Tragedy

The article raises the question of possible variations of attitude to the future, both in theoretical discourses and in the worldview of the contemporary. The problem of the future (humanity) is put in the context of the problem of crisis of the modern state of society, including the context of the crisis of modern capitalism. The author shows that modern capitalism, which has spread to the whole world, no longer has opportunities for extensive development and for taking its crisis phenomena outside its own system. In this regard, there is a way to solve the internal problems of this system on the principle of bringing them into the future. The article demonstrates two versions of understanding the future: the first one – a return to the past – represents either a retreat backwards in order to free up space/time for a subsequent intensive move forward, or a version of barbarization/archaization/primitivization of the present, conscious or not. The second version of the future’ image, with all its possible tragicism, is the image of the future as a future, another, different, something that has not yet happened. This version requires a new social theory that explains the process and allows to develop an action strategy.

Пенсионная система в будущем

In this article, the author considers the image of the future of world civilization promoted by the global Western elite, including the World Economic Forum and the Club of Rome, which predetermines the future of pension systems from the point of view of this elite. As an alternative to these plans and a way to counter them, it is proposed to form a new pension paradigm, which will allow the army of pensioners to be included in the general efforts of the Russian people to transition in our country to a noospheric worldview and harmonize life on the basis of nature-like technologies and environmentally friendly development management. Nine principles are proposed on which this paradigm can be built.

Image of the Future: Methodological Foundations

Relevance. This article analyzes the categories "image" and "image of the future" as a fundamental for various concepts of the image of the future. The relevance of this article is dictated by the radical changes taking place in Russia and in the world, which have called into question the existence of previous socio-economic and political systems. The purpose of the study is to analyze the methodological foundations of the image of the future. Objectives: to consider the concepts of "image" and "image of the future", based on the etymology of the words themselves and their relationship with other words and phrases: "model" (of the future), "picture" (of the future), "concept" (of the future); show the differences and similarities of the concept of "image" in psychology, philosophy and fiction; reveal the connection between the image of the future and the memory of the past. Methodology. The methodological basis of the article is the historical-critical method developed in the German (R. Koselleck) and English (K. Skinner, J. A. Pocock) schools of the history of concepts. Results. The relationship between the concept of "image" and the concepts of "model", "picture", and "concept" has been studied. It has been proven that it is the concept of "image" that is most suitable for connection with the concept of "future", because in the phrase "image of the future" two sides are inextricably linked: subjective and objective, which makes it possible to take into account both fantasies and real projects about the future. It is shown that the subject of the image of the future is not so much an individual as a certain community of people and that the image itself is between them, in the interaction that exists between people in society. Conclusions. The conducted methodological analysis creates a philosophical basis for further research, both for subsequent methodological research and for various analyzes of specific aspects of the image of the future of Russia and the world as a whole.

Haiku Horizons: Visions of Tomorrow, Creative Mindsets, and Artificial Intelligence-Driven Change

In an ever-changing technological landscape, organizations stand at a pivotal juncture, seeking to harness the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) while confronting the spectre of workforce upheaval. This study extends on an exploratory journey into the profound impact of mindset, drawing inspiration from images of the future. It delves into how these mental landscapes shape organizational responses to imminent disruptions ushered in by AI. Employing an innovative participatory research approach, participants reviewed previously created hand drawn images of the future to conduct a thematic analysis and haiku poetry contribution. Participants envisioned a world where AI implementation led to employee displacement. This essay extends on this transformative research journey and showcases participant-generated summative poetry contributions. The essay deepens the profound relevance of cultivating creative and anticipatory mindsets within people as they navigate AI-induced disruptions.

Student discourse’s paradoxes of representations of the concept “technological well-being of Russia”

Problem and aim. The relevance of presented study lies in understanding that it is impossible to be an independent government and implement its own policies without having technological leadership. In modern youth discourse, the attractive image of the creative engineer has disappeared, without which it is impossible to achieve a change in the «user» mentality in the field of technology. Accordingly, the purpose of the study is an applied communicative-semiotic analysis of the basic representations through which students describe concepts such as «Russia’s technological wellbeing», «technological leadership» and «technological imitation». Materials and research methods. The authors of the study used communicative-semiotic analysis to study free verbal associations of students (projective methodology), which made it possible to determine the symbolic constructs of youth discourse in the ratio of internal/external and individual/collective areas that integrate human consciousness and empirical phenomena into conversations about the technological well-being of Russia (concept of M. Conway). The applied research (questionnaire) was carried out in two stages. Data processing was carried out using the method of identifying keywords by Word Cloud Generator with the subsequent formation of a word cloud as a method of information compression. The identified associations were analyzed within the Porter stemmer word stemming tool. Research results. The results of the study showed that the formation of representations in relation to the concept of «technological well-being of Russia» is contradictory. However, this inconsistency is not associated with projection of the «technological leadership» and «technological imitation» vectors. The authors found that the projection of the image of the future of Russia in the trends of technological well-being is not associated by engineer students with the role of a man. The non-subjective nature of the concept of «technological well-being» emphasizes the gaps in the system of higher engineering education associated with the imposed practice of consumer behavior. The authors proposed educational technologies for leveling the non-subjective nature in the formation of the concept of «technological well-being of Russia» in the system of higher engineering education. Conclusion. The results of the study are significant for both the theoretical and practical research base in the field of higher engineering education. An empirical basis on representations of the image of the future associated with the concept of «technological well-being» will make it possible to understand what stereotypes and constructs are relevant for young people’s individual educational trajectory. In the future, this will make it possible to make changes curriculum for future engineers in terms of social and humanitarian knowledge.

A Quantitative and Qualitative Exploration of Futuristic Narratives on TVTropes.org

This paper embarks on a methodical exploration of TVTropes.org, a comprehensive crowd-sourced wiki that documents storytelling conventions across various forms of media, with a special focus on representations of artificial intelligence and future scenarios. The study delineates the multifaceted nature of the platform, asserting that its offerings extend beyond mere television tropes, and explores its potent applicability for futurists and scholars. Through the strategic application of web scraping and data analysis, this research quantifies diverse aspects of science fiction media and the embedded tropes therein. The paper underscores the pivotal role of tropes in shaping societal perceptions and influencing discourse, particularly in the realm of futuristic thinking, using instances such as the impact of “The Terminator” franchise on military strategic thinking as a case study. Furthermore, the research engages in a quantitative analysis of trope density and frequency within science fiction works, offering a nuanced understanding and uncovering patterns in storytelling conventions. This study thus offers a foundational framework for understanding, categorizing, and analyzing the influential images of the future that permeate today’s media environment, thereby providing a valuable resource for futurists, researchers, and media scholars in their respective endeavors.

Eulogists of Great Changes: Images of the Future in Russian Soviet Song Poetry from the Revolution to the Collapse of the USSR

Russian Soviet song from the moment of its emergence bore no ethnic character, but that of an imperial one, it was a means of relaying certain ideas and images throughout the Soviet Union. Simultaneously it bore the imprint of the events that were taking place in the country and formed the image of them among the general public. Originating initially as a revolutionary song, it called people to fi ght fi rst against exploiters and then against counter-revolutionary elements. In the 1930-ies the song formed a positive image of the present, with little reference to either the past or the future. From the second half of the 1950-ies the image of the future becomes more distinct, it is connected with the exploration of space and hard-to-reach places on Earth, the efforts made in the present will bear fruit in the lifetime of the next generations. But from the mid-1970-ies, Soviet pop began to lose the battle for the hearts of people to Russian rock, representatives of which called for escape from reality rather than building a new world. By the mid-1980-ies, the call for changes becomes the key motive, but there is no image of the future that should follow those changes

THE IMAGE OF THE FUTURE THROUGH BINARY OPPOSITIONS IN “MASS POETRY” OF WESTERN BELARUS

The article reveals the distinctiveness of revealing “the image of the future” in the work of representatives of the “mass poetry” of Western Belarus. The main emphasis is placed on the depiction of typical “binary oppositions” (on the example of poems by A. Ivers). It is claimed that consideration of the ideological and aesthetic specificity of literary creativity requires the correct use of the terms “the image of the future”, “binary oppositions”, “mass poetry”, “Western Belarusian poetry”. Using specific examples, it is shown that the analysis of different versions of the same works (which are included in the periodicals of Western Belarus and Soviet editions) allows us to reveal a clear tendency in the evolution of images of the future.

Exploring the driving forces and scenario analysis for catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures in Iran

BackgroundThe extent of healthcare expenditure within households stands as a crucial indicator in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). When out-of-pocket healthcare expenses surpass household income or become unduly burdensome, it serves as a significant socio-economic alarm, resulting in a reduced quality of life, a phenomenon referred to as ‘catastrophic health expenditure (CHE).’ Multiple factors can contribute to the occurrence of CHE. The study’s objective was to identify the key uncertainties and driving forces influencing CHE to develop scenarios in Iran on the horizon of 2030.MethodsThis study was conducted between December 2021 and January 2023, data were collected through a literature review, and experts’ opinions were gathered via questionnaires, interviews, and expert panels. The statistical population included experts in the fields of health policy, health economics, and futures studies. Scenario Wizard software and MICMAC analysis were employed for data analysis, providing valuable insights into potential future scenarios of health expenditures in Iran.ResultsBased on the results of the scoping review and semi-structured interview, 65 key factors in the fields of economics, politics, technology, social, and environmental were identified. The findings of the MICMAC analysis presented 10 key variables. Finally, six main scenario spaces are depicted using Scenario Wizard. These scenarios included catastrophic cost crises, sanction relief, selective information access, technological ambiguity, induced demand management, and incremental reforms.ConclusionsEach of the six drawn scenarios provides images of the future of health expenditure in Iranian households on the horizon of 2030. The worst-case scenario from all scenarios was scenario one, with the most probable and critical features to derive Iran’s health expenditures. The current study is a valuable addition to the literature depicting the key drivers that all developing nations can consider to decrease exposing households to catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditures.

A torn generation: Dichotomies and dissonances on sustainability and technological change in in-depth interviews with university students

AbstractIn a research study among university students regarding technological change, equality and environmental sustainability, deep-seated dichotomies were found in the students' mental images of the future. This study aims to present these dichotomies as well as propose explanations for them, adding to our understanding of what kind of behavioural barriers inhibit sustainability transformations. The results show that the interviewees truly struggle to decide if the world really is on fire regarding environmental change, if technology is capable of solving the situation, if inequality is truly a problem, and how they can relate to all this. The dichotomies that we found suggest that on the one hand, they find no comfort in the dominant techno-optimistic, eco-modernisation narratives and, on the other hand, they are not aware of any alternatives. The results underline the existence of psychological phenomena such as optimism bias or psychological distancing. In our paper, we also address whether dichotomous thinking poses a problem or whether we may have to accept that dichotomies can become the norm when contemplating the world in its increasing complexity.