Michiel Schwarz and Joost Elffers' ''Sustainism Is
the New Modernism'' declares the dawn of a new cultural
era, as we transition from modernity to
sustainity--towards a world that is more connected, more
localist, more digital and more sustainable. As the
authors of this clear-eyed manifesto argue, ''sustainism
marks a shift not only in thinking and doing but in
collective perception--of how we live, do business, feed
ourselves, design, travel and communicate, as much as
how we deal with nature.'' In the twentieth century,
whether we knew it or not, our world was shaped by
modernist values, from the design of our cities to our
homes, technologies and our conceptions of progress.
Sustainism recasts our relationship to all of these
things, binding ecological issues to a larger picture of
our world. Through a series of graphically dynamic
aphorisms, quotes and symbols designed for worldwide use
by businesses, individuals and institutions, to signal
support for sustainism, Michiel Schwarz and Joost
Elffers show how the movement is already reshaping
global culture, technology, food and media. With this
concise manifesto, they launch the term sustainism into
the public consciousness. The sustainist era has
begun.Michiel Schwarz is a Dutch independent cultural
thinker, innovator and producer, now working from
Berkeley, California. Originally trained as a
sociologist of technology, he has initiated projects on
global issues, the future of design, technology and
media. His publications include ''The Technological
Culture ''and'' Speed: Visions of an Accelerated
Age.''Joost Elffers is a designer, ''symbol maker'' and
creative producer of award-winning and innovative books
such as ''48 Laws of Power,'' ''Play With Your Food
''and ''Tangram: The Ancient Chinese Shapes
Game.'' |
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