The Optimist Behind Blade Runner's Dystopia
Imaginary Worlds23 Apr 2025

The Optimist Behind Blade Runner's Dystopia

The late Syd Mead was a visual futurist who was hired to imagine the worlds of Blade Runner, Tron, Aliens, Elysium and other sci-fi films. His work in Hollywood has been lauded for decades, but there’s a new exhibit in New York that shows a different side of the artist. Syd Mead: Future Pastime is a collection of his personal and commercial paintings, which are all works of science fiction. Despite his connection to the dystopian world of Blade Runner, Mead’s personal vision of the future was unwaveringly optimistic. I talk with Mead’s husband and business partner Roger Servick, and the curators of the exhibit, Elon Solo and William Corman, about Mead’s predictions for the future of technology, sexuality and spirituality. (Image courtesy of Syd Mead Inc.) This week’s episode is sponsored by ShipStation and Hims Go to shipstation.com and use the code IMAGINARY to sign up for a free trial. Get your free online visit at hims.com/IMAGINARY. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avsnitt(301)

The Year Without a Summer

The Year Without a Summer

June 16, 2016 is the 200th anniversary of the night Mary Shelley began to write, "Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus." Scholars have long speculated what Frankenstein can tell us about scientific ...

15 Juni 201620min

Then She Fell

Then She Fell

Immersive theater is a new trend where there are no seats and no stage. The audience moves through the space like a virtual world, touching whatever they want, interacting with the actors who give the...

2 Juni 201623min

The Robot Uprising

The Robot Uprising

The robot uprising is coming, or at least that's what science fiction has told us. We will abuse the robots, treat them as less than us until one day, they will ask for their freedom, or take it by fo...

19 Maj 201620min

Humans: New & Improved

Humans: New & Improved

When Graeme Manson started as a showrunner for BBC America's Orphan Black, he needed to create villains who were on the cutting edge of science, and believe that humans should take control of their ow...

5 Maj 201623min

Economics of Thrones and Starships

Economics of Thrones and Starships

Whether you're running the seven kingdoms of Westeros or flying to Mars -- you have to figure out how to pay for everything. Many economists are fans of sci-fi because those worlds take economics mode...

21 Apr 201620min

Becoming Godzilla

Becoming Godzilla

This week's episode features another monster who comes from the sea and represents an existential threat -- but he's just so lovable. Journalist Dave Serchuk and graphic designer Jim Fazar both discov...

7 Apr 201618min

When Cthulhu Calls

When Cthulhu Calls

This week's episode is a radio drama, and a co-production with Jeff Emtman's podcast Here Be Monsters. I've been fascinated by the monster Cthulhu for a long time. The writer H.P. Lovecraft described ...

24 Mars 201621min

Why They Fight

Why They Fight

On the big screen this Spring, Batman will try to take down Superman, Iron Man is going to fight Captain America, and Daredevil will battle Punisher on Netflix. Cleary we are more interested in watchi...

10 Mars 201625min

Populärt inom Samhälle & Kultur

podme-dokumentar
aftonbladet-krim
gynning-berg
p3-dokumentar
mardromsgasten
badfluence
en-mork-historia
blenda-2
nemo-moter-en-van
skaringer-nessvold
killradet
creepypodden-med-jack-werner
flashback-forever
hor-har
kod-katastrof
vad-blir-det-for-mord
rss-brottsutredarna
rss-sanning-konsekvens
svenska-fall
rss-mer-an-bara-morsa