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What would you like to change about Lemmy culture? (sopuli.xyz)

submitted 1 month ago by PinkyCoyote@sopuli.xyz to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Idk why you think it has to have theory or praxis to be a movement. It does have a manifesto but I kinda doubt you care about that. There's enough people that are interested in the topics that solarpunk encompasses to give it legitimacy.

I was interested, actually. I read through it, a lot of things people say they stand for and against, and what types of art styles they like and envision, but no actual theory or praxis behind it.

I already stated why it needs a strong ideological backbone to avoid being taken advantage of by ecofascists, but I'll restate it: bad actors can and will use the aesthetic to push alternative messaging, just like what already happened to cottagecore.

Tbh your position is kinda disenfranchising to people that got into gardening, anti consumption, diy, gurilla grafting or any other facet of solarpunk because of it being under the umbrella.

Those are certainly good things, I never stated that Solarpunk is only "bad," in fact I think many good things have come from it. However, to paint it as a place of "happy communists" when there have been ecofascists using it to push their messaging, is a bit off, hence why I pointed it out and explained my issues with it overall.

[–] blindbunny@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I've not been aware of ecofascist cooping the movement. But I imagine the vegan mods would sus that out quickly 😜

I suppose my point is that a movement doesn't have to know everything about itself to be effective and while anecdotal; I've learned a lot about communism/socialism and mutual aid from solarpunk spaces.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I've not been aware of ecofascist cooping the movement. But I imagine the vegan mods would sus that out quickly 😜

Not saying the Solarpunk community on Lemmy definitely has it, but it is a problem with the "movement" itself overall, like all aesthetic-movements do.

I suppose my point is that a movement doesn't have to know everything about itself to be effective and while anecdotal; I've learned a lot about communism/socialism and mutual aid from solarpunk spaces.

That's a good thing! I would still try to learn and read Theory outside of a solarpunk context though.

[–] blindbunny@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

That's a good thing! would still try to learn and read Theory outside of a solarpunk context though.

I've picked up Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin at the request of a comrade at our mutual aid organization. But I still don't think you understand that Solarpunk is a point of intersection to extend a post scarcity, environmental sustainability and social justice to people that are less aware of these concepts.

[–] Cowbee@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

I've picked up Conquest of Bread by Peter Kropotkin at the request of a comrade at our mutual aid organization.

The Bread Book is pretty good, but Anarchism and Other Essays by Emma Goldman would probably be better when it comes to actual Praxis.

I also wouldn't discount Marxism either. Anarchism is appealing to new leftists, but there are many misconceptions about Marxism I see in Anarchist circles, like the idea of Communism not having a Government. Marx wasn't an Anarchist, he advocated for central planning and a government run by the people, but without the previous elements of Capitalist society he called the "state," ie Private Property Rights and Capitalist policing.

But I still don't think you understand that Solarpunk is a point of intersection to extend a post scarcity, environmental sustainability and social justice to people that are less aware of these concepts.

It's a vibe, and an aesthetic. People fans of the aesthetic can also push methods of theory and praxis, but as it stands it is generally describing an ideal, without the structures or actions necessary to get there. Marxism and Anarchism both have those answers, Solarpunk by itself does not, which is why I am saying it is vulnerable to bad actors.