Futuristic Cities
Future City by Frank R. Paul
I have long been fascinated with illustrations depicting cities of the future. This older graphic (Future City by Frank R. Paul) is one of my favorites because of its bold forms and colors. These utopian depictions of the future in print and film share common characteristics. Presumably we would all be living and working in very dense mega-structures. Some would drive highway vehicles on controlled traffic routes which bridge from high-rise building to building. Others would operate personal planes on guide paths in the sky. The glistening architecture of the future would have smooth rounded shapes without any reference to historic styles. The artist’s rendering is devoid of deterioration, litter, pollution, or any other unpleasantries.
I wonder if there is room for individual expression or small group activities. Where are the mothers and fathers pushing baby strollers through the neighborhood? Where are the houses of worship? Many of these visions (past and present) promote a brave, new, secular and socialist urbanism.
-TJC