Artstation gallery of the artist with more images from the series

NYT : Nooooo stop sharing based communist sci fi concept art on your authoritarian social media

In one Beijing artist’s recent depiction of the world in 2098, China is a high-tech superpower and the United States is humbled. Americans have embraced communism and Manhattan, draped with the hammer-and-sickle flags of the “People’s Union of America,” has become a quaint tourist precinct.

This triumphant vision has resonated among Chinese.

The sci-fi digital illustrations by the artist, Fan Wennan, caught fire on Chinese social media in recent months, reflecting a resurgent nationalism. China’s authoritarian system, proponents say, is not just different from the West’s democracies, it is also proving itself superior. It is a long-running theme, but China’s success against the pandemic has given it a sharp boost.

:wojak-nooo: :wojak-nooo: :wojak-nooo:

“America isn’t that heavenly kingdom depicted since decades ago,” said Mr. Fan, who is in his early twenties. “There’s nothing special about it. If you have to say there’s anything special about it now, it’s how messed up it can be at times.”

Fan Wennan: No

posts megastructure draped in red banners

The artist also got some sort of movie deal

    • star_wraith [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      Just from a vexillogical standpoint though, I hate both the current US flag and the one depicted here. Ugly af.

        • Huldra [they/them, it/its]
          ·
          3 years ago

          I'd say out of a symbological view it doesnt really make any sense to maintain the 13 colonial stripes but remove the 50 stars unless you're absolutely desperate to have both the old flag and some new communist symbol.

          I mean I guess you could make an argument for the American revolution but that'd be patsucc shit, the hypocrisy and self interest of the American revolution is widely known and would hopefully be widely taught in any socialist America, meanwhile the 50 stars at least represent current political reality(assuming all 50 states remain as is and dont do any shenanigans of splitting, uniting, being ceded/returned etc).

        • SoyViking [he/him]
          ·
          3 years ago

          Visual clutter first and foremost. The US flag is nothing but clutter, none of which sparks joy.

          • SoyViking [he/him]
            ·
            3 years ago

            Communist symbolism sparks joy but it makes no sense to assume that a communist government would adopt a version of the old national flag with an exact rendition of the party emblem on it, as most alt hist artists assume. Historical precedence makes it far more likely to assume that they would just keep the old flag or that they would make a completely new one with symbolism appropriate for flags, ie. simple figures like stars, not intricate party logos.