Yes, that struck me too. And although they're wrong about how those have played out, you get the same tendency now to imagine futures as new! and shiny! and different! but with gender, gender roles and sexuality not having moved on an iota.
Well, they're mostly wrong about transport, the workplace and gender roles, but they're broadly right about a lot of stuff - satnav, internet shopping, microwaves, debit card payments, huge TVs, cheap protein-rich food.
I must confess that friend_of_tofu and I are a little skeptical about this article. Some of the predictions are too accurate, and some of the mistakes (like the business about housewives, and the 3-hour commute) so hilariously and predictably wrong, that they may have been put in for effect.
That, or it's a strikingly accurate but nevertheless cringe-inducingly typical piece of 60s futurology writing. If it is a fake, it's really well put-together.
Very glad we don't live in domed cities though - how ghastly! Usually in sci-fi the only reason for these is either environmental devastation, or some kind of population control.
Not sure about all the plastic & esp. disposable plastic!!! And how many housewives does he really think there'd be if they had fuck all to do all week eh? Surely they'd get careers, as has in fact happened?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ciphergoth) wrote2008-03-29 11:03 am
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
Hurray for this coming true!
The average work day is about four hours.
Boo for this not coming true!
no subject
That, or it's a strikingly accurate but nevertheless cringe-inducingly typical piece of 60s futurology writing. If it is a fake, it's really well put-together.
no subject
Very glad we don't live in domed cities though - how ghastly! Usually in sci-fi the only reason for these is either environmental devastation, or some kind of population control.
Not sure about all the plastic & esp. disposable plastic!!! And how many housewives does he really think there'd be if they had fuck all to do all week eh? Surely they'd get careers, as has in fact happened?
But I want my 300mph automatic car dammit!
no subject
...reads on
no subject
no subject