Toekomstschok

We are living in confusing times. Climate change, collapsing biodiversity, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the erosion of democratic rule of law — just a few of the issues dominating the headlines in recent years. Want to gain a better understanding of these turbulent times and prepare for what lies ahead? Join this masterclass and lecture by Studio Monnik, the historians of the future.

Looking back, people may one day call this a transitional phase — that’s what liminal means: an in-between state, a threshold, a twilight zone. But that’s hindsight. The term doesn’t capture the current feelings of unease, fear, and despair that many people experience today. For many, this doesn’t feel like a transition, but an end time, where trust, clarity, and hope have become scarce. We are living in an era where the certainties of the old world are disappearing, while those of a new one are still far from view.

There’s a term for this: large-scale social and cultural transitions are also called future shock — a kind of culture shock. During a culture shock, the social institutions and behavioral patterns you once took for granted suddenly collapse, taking with them your sense of trust in others. The art of coexisting then feels distant — even though it is precisely what we need most. Feelings of disorientation and distrust are natural responses. In the case of future shock, however, you don’t move to another culture — a new future culture comes to you.

Which culture are we leaving behind, and which new one is emerging? What will the institutions and social roles of the future look like? And how can we return to The Art of Coexisting?

During the Masterclass Future Shock, Studio Monnik dives deeper into these questions — exploring how we can better understand, and find our footing within, the time and world we live in today.

Studio Monnik onderzoekt historische trends en ontwikkelt denkkaders die doorgetrokken kunnen worden naar geloofwaardige toekomstscenario's.