tangents ‘25 | July

July’s topic focused on how architecture and urban planning go way beyond buildings; they incorporate ideas, imagination and narratives that shape how we live and can be wildly forward-thinking and whimsical. July’s topic was all about Fantasy.

Pauly kicked off the series with a video by Nick Sousanis, based on his groundbreaking thesis Unflattening. Written and drawn entirely as comics, Unflattening questions the long-standing dominance of text over imagery in Western thought, suggesting instead that the two are equally vital in how we create and share meaning. This exploration of visual reasoning connects closely to architecture, where language and drawings work hand in hand to define space and express ideas.

Craig took us into the neon-lit streets of cyberpunk, presenting a history of the genre’s evolution in popular culture. Far from being just science fiction, cyberpunk serves as a lens to examine real-world questions about technology, urban density, and social inequality. The setting provides both cautionary tales and inspiration for imagining the future direction of our cities; a reminder that fantasy often informs reality.

Ivan’s presentation looked at two very different but equally fascinating visions of the future. First, he revisited the optimistic futurism of The Jetsons, showing how many of its cultural aspirations and technological fantasies still echo in today’s world. Then, he contrasted this with the work of architect Leon Krier, whose drawings and philosophies offer another kind of “fantasy;” a vision of timeless urbanism rooted in tradition and human scale. Together, these perspectives highlight the diverse ways fantasy shapes our expectations for the built environment.