In his search for a new methodology, Hammons turns to an unlikely source: He posits that the future is not a destination we arrive at, but a territory we imagine and construct today.
┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE FUTURE │ └──────────────┬──────────────┘ │ ┌────────────────────────────────┼────────────────────────────────┐ ▼ ▼ ▼ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ │ COSMOPOLITICS │ │ SPECULATIVE FX │ │ MEDIA PRACTICES │ │ Environmental │ │ Cultural shifts │ │ Visual media & │ │ survival plans │ │ caused by AI/tech │ │ filmmaking tools│ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ anthropology of the future christian hammons pdf
Historically, the discipline focused on structural constants or historical trajectories. The forward-looking turn treats the future as a cultural artifact. Dr. Hammons' research focus on —ranging from the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia to the mountain towns of Colorado—highlights how different societies establish relationships with their environments to sustain themselves across time. Core Conceptual Pillars In his search for a new methodology, Hammons
The anthropology of the future has important implications for policy and practice. By anticipating and preparing for the challenges and opportunities of the future, policymakers, business leaders, and civil society organizations can make more informed decisions about investments, resource allocation, and social interventions. This, in turn, can help to mitigate the risks and maximize the benefits of emerging trends. By anticipating and preparing for the challenges and
In the traditional view, the anthropologist is a traveler to the "past." They visit remote villages, study ancient traditions, and document how people used to live. Christian Hammons, however, argues for a different kind of journey. In his work, he repositions the anthropologist not as an archivist of the dead, but as an architect of the yet-to-come.
Analyzing how emerging technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence, shift human labor, language, and social structures.