The futures we imagine are the futures we will live in.
How we imagine tomorrow is shaped by the stories we see on screen.
These were the ideas proposed by The Future & Other Fictions exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). During this excursion, the Curiosity “Futures” students engaged with a range of exhibitions presenting both dystopian worlds and alternative perspectives exploring the potential for change. Students observed video essays on the economic and technological inequality futures in the Cyberpunk genre, created posters that expressed unique visions of the future, and viewed costumes from the Black Panther films, a well-known example of Afrofuturism.
Students from 9T1 viewing the posters they made at ACMI
Students from 9T1 viewing the posters they made at ACMI
This excursion is just one of many that Curiosity students will experience this year in the Booeegigat Program. Curiosity is a year-long cross-curriculum subject covering four units: Futures, The Pacific, Economic Explorers and Changing Australian Identities. They are designed to challenge students to think critically about “What Shapes Our World?”
In Futures students contemplate why as humans we are inclined to imagine our future, and gain a greater understanding of present-day concerns. This includes the future role and impact of technology and AI, shifts in social relationships, changes in the economy and our work lives, the impacts of climate change, and expansion into space.
Students take what they have learned in class in the beginning of term to develop an inquiry project. They have shown creativity, adaptability and perseverance throughout their projects, and are keenly developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills to develop and then answer questions like:
- How is AI transforming economic structures and the job market, and what can be done to ensure a balanced future for workers?
- What are the ethical and practical implications of replacing human caretakers with robots?
- How have films and literature explored the idea of human existence in the future?
- How does climate change increase the risks of conflicts and wars?
Corinne Pearce - Year 9 Curiosity Teacher