From ‘Old Man Yells at Cloud’ to Geronto-Futurism: Co-Imagining Holography and Aging

Vollständiger Abstract

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Abstract This article explores the discursive, industrial, artistic, and practical interconnections between older people, aging, and holography, arguing that their nexus mutually shapes how both concepts are culturally constituted. Methodologically, the paper utilizes a discourse and representation analysis to examine a heterogeneous corpus of actual wave-optic holography and pseudo-holographic lens-optic phantasmagorias—collectively addressed as “(quasi-)holographic” phenomena. Dissolving the boundaries between cultural fiction and industrial technology, the analysis tracks two central thematic clusters revolving around exclusion and inclusion to interrogate how older adults are integrated into techno-social futures. The paper demonstrates that while older individuals are frequently subjected to exclusionary transhumanist logics or paternalistic, resource-scarcity-driven care practices, they also emerge as active agents of inclusive technology. By analyzing cases ranging from speculative science fiction to real-world care appliances, this study maps a neglected intersection in media and aging studies. Ultimately, it introduces the concept of “geronto-futurist” interventions. These practices not only expose the marginalized position of older adults in technological imaginations but actively reshape techno-futurities. By introducing an age lens to media practices, this article contributes to broader discussions of techno-social equality, highlighting how notions of later life actively shape contemporary understandings of digitality.