I foresee "Atompunk" replacing "Cyberpunk"!

As a sci-fi enthusiast, I recently watched the newly released "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes." While the story didn't astonish me, there was something unusually captivating about the sci-fi aesthetics. Despite being set in a future era, people's aesthetics seemed even more monotonous than the present — giant sculptures on the streets and everyone in uniforms — a "1984"-esque authoritarian society reminiscent of the former Soviet Union.

Yet this style intrigued me so much that I spent a night exploring and learning until I finally grasped it.

This Soviet-inspired sci-fi style is called "Atompunk." To better explain what Atompunk is, let me briefly introduce the currently popular "Cyberpunk" first.

The sci-fi genre "Cyberpunk" originated in the 1980s. "Cyber" represents computers and networks, while "Punk" denotes a rebellious and anti-establishment attitude. Notable cyberpunk works include "Blade Runner," "The Matrix," and "NieR: Automata."

Words are not as intuitive as images. Let's take a look at visuals from some cyberpunk movies.

The world of cyberpunk is often high-tech yet filled with sin. Human-machine fusion is the norm, as if bodies and machinery meld into one. Bio-modification and implant technologies elevate humanity beyond the limits of the flesh. Social injustice and rampant corruption prevail, with mega-corporations holding all the power, while ordinary people become the underclass. It's a dystopian world where the wealth gap widens, and the dark side gradually erodes the city's lights. Crime and violence seem ubiquitous, turning the city streets into a merciless battleground.

So, how does "Atompunk" in "The Hunger Games" relate to "Cyberpunk"?

"Atompunk" in "The Hunger Games"

"Cyberpunk" and "Atomic Punk" grew out of certain historical background, namely, the Cold War in the 1980s. During this period, the U.S. and the Soviet Union competed in an arms race, developing advanced technologies like computers and IT. Both "punk" spirits reflected the alienation of people and society caused by technological advancement.

Cyberpunk concerns mainly with the development of capitalist society. Technological progress didn't eliminate social inequality but exacerbated social divisions, making the rich richer and the wealth gap widened. Large corporations and tech giants monopolized resources and power, leaving the majority marginalized and in poverty.

As for Atompunk, it concerns more about the excessive development of socialism. For example, it often borrows the Soviet socialist model and depicts itself as an overly centralized and overdeveloped system that leads to various societal issues.

Firstly, Atompunk expresses concerns about the excessive concentration of power in the socialist model. In this setting, the government knows and controls almost everything, making people feel like they're in a transparent fish tank. Planned economies are filled with bureaucratic formalities, and it always take a lengthy application process to obtain what you want. In "The Hunger Games," the government's so powerful that it can arbitrarily decide life and death. A typical example is how they treat the participants in the game like animals, locking them in cages for the amusement of the spectators.

Secondly, technological becomes a double-edged sword. Socialist countries, in an effort to showcase technological prowess, heavily promoted nuclear energy applications. However, the power of atomic energy could lead to irreversible consequences if unchecked. In this future, we might witness disasters caused by technological experiments, such as nuclear leaks and radiation pollution, prompting people to rethink their blind worship of technology. While not explicitly shown in "The Hunger Games," we can infer this from the visually impactful biological weapon – a bucket filled with countless poisonous snakes descends like an atomic bomb, killing all participants in the competition arena (except, of course, the beautiful female protagonist).

Environmental issues is another major focus in Atompunk works. Socialist countries pay great efforts in pursuing the dream of industrialization at the expense of vast natural resources, leading to catastrophic environmental collapses. In this future, we might see people living on lands contaminated by nuclear radiation, immersed in apocalyptic scenes. This is vividly portrayed in the third chapter of "The Hunger Games" through the harsh industrial world with its adverse environment.

The restriction of culture and suppression of creativity are also concerns expressed by Atompunk creators. This prompts people to ponder whether cultural diversity and creativity should be restrained, whether they should remain silent under the shadow of power. In "The Hunger Games," this is reflected in the neat but monotonous clothing and various norms in society.

Lastly, Atompunk works may depict the collapse of the socialist system, showing scenes of political turmoil and economic collapse. The entire society appears like a precarious building that could collapse once the balance is lost. Upon closer inspection, those rebellious forces feared by the government in the movies might be harbingers of the collapse of authoritarian rule.

Atompunk is reviving

Though emerging in the 1980s like Cyberpunk, Atompunk is far less popular. It’s partly because this style originated in the Soviet Union, with its earliest source being the Soviet sci-fi novel "Roadside Picnic." During the Soviet era, culture faced strong political control and censorship, limiting the expression of Atompunk. In contrast, Cyberpunk in the West could more freely and vividly address technological and societal issues.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union has removed the root of Atompunk. With the wave of globalization and newfound freedom, people no longer harbor the same concerns about authoritarian societies.

However, with cultural evolution and people's pursuit of novelty, Atompunk is quietly resurfacing and rekindling everyone's interest. Although last year the film industry saw Atompunk style only in "The Hunger Games" in the gaming world, it has sparked a trend, as seen in the popular game "Atomic Heart". Let me showcase some screenshots from the game.

Unlike the past critical spirit, this resurgence of Atompunk is not due to vigilance against authoritarian societies but simply for the sake of nostalgia. For me, Cyberpunk has been popular for too many years, and I've grown a bit tired of it. I hope Atompunk-style movies can refresh the increasingly design-lacking sci-fi film genre.