| In February 2014 we spent a few weeks in a research retreat for Future Fabulators. We wanted to gain a better understanding the techniques, tools and theories of 'futures studies' and if they could be applied in our work with future pre-enactments. After much practice-based research in [[:/resilients/future_preparedness|future preparedness]], we found that a more theoretical underpinning was needed, which meant that our focus was primarily on literature. We spent the retreat in more or less uninterrupted reading, following interesting leads down often fractal rabbit holes. We attempted to answer questions that had arisen from the last few years of experiments in [[prehearsing the future]]. Our starting points were of both methodological and philosophical nature: on the one hand we wanted to know how to improve our practice of scenario building and pre-enacments with new, transdisciplinary techniques, and on the other hand we were wondering what would happen if foresight would become a part of everyday life, where uncertainty is not seen as a threat but an opportunity. To ease ourselves into the researchers' mindset, we began with seeking answers to our methodological questions, first related to scenario building, later looking at fields that we could draw from to design better prehearsals (improv theatre, role playing games, disaster drills and simulations. We found many promising tools that we’re keen to begin experimenting with. By looking at methods we began to get a grasp of what the shape and size of the field of futures studies, that hovers on the edges between being a (consulting) practice and an academic discipline, with a strong focus on methodology. We read about the history, current developments and future aspirations of the field and came to a happy conclusion that from its origins in systems theory and the culture of prediction 50-60 years ago, it (at least partially) seems to be moving towards our fields of interest: focusing on complexity, experience, awareness, uncertainty, anti-fragility, etc. The last part of our research was focusing on these developments, that helped us find kindred developments, such as the works of Stuart Candy and Jose Ramos, merging futures with design, politics and action research. Their writings helped us contextualise our work with experiential futures, understanding what has been done so far and which questions still remain open. By the end of this short literature research period we feel we stand on much firmer ground, with new potential allies and clearer future directions. The paragraphs below are written to provide an overview of our process and findings, and provide an alternative way to navigate the material collected on the [[background]] page of the Future Fabulators wiki. | During February 2014 we spent a few weeks on research for Future Fabulators. We wanted to gain a better understanding the techniques, tools and theories of 'futures studies' and if they could be applied in our work with future pre-enactments. After much practice-based research in [[:/resilients/future_preparedness|future preparedness]], we found that a more theoretical underpinning was needed, which meant that our focus was primarily on literature. We spent the retreat in more or less uninterrupted reading, following interesting leads down often fractal rabbit holes. We attempted to answer questions that had arisen from the last few years of experiments in [[prehearsing the future]]. Our starting points were of both methodological and philosophical nature: on the one hand we wanted to know how to improve our practice of scenario building and pre-enacments with new, transdisciplinary techniques, and on the other hand we were wondering what would happen if foresight would become a part of everyday life, where uncertainty is not seen as a threat but an opportunity. To ease ourselves into the researchers' mindset, we began with seeking answers to our methodological questions, first related to scenario building, later looking at fields that we could draw from to design better prehearsals (improv theatre, role playing games, disaster drills and simulations. We found many promising tools that we’re keen to begin experimenting with. By looking at methods we began to get a grasp of what the shape and size of the field of futures studies, that hovers on the edges between being a (consulting) practice and an academic discipline, with a strong focus on methodology. We read about the history, current developments and future aspirations of the field and came to a happy conclusion that from its origins in systems theory and the culture of prediction 50-60 years ago, it (at least partially) seems to be moving towards our fields of interest: focusing on complexity, experience, awareness, uncertainty, anti-fragility, etc. The last part of our research was focusing on these developments, that helped us find kindred developments, such as the works of Stuart Candy and Jose Ramos, merging futures with design, politics and action research. Their writings helped us contextualise our work with experiential futures, understanding what has been done so far and which questions still remain open. By the end of this short literature research period we feel we stand on much firmer ground, with new potential allies and clearer future directions. The paragraphs below are written to provide an overview of our process and findings, and provide an alternative way to navigate the material collected on the [[background]] page of the Future Fabulators wiki. |
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