CfP: Technological Optimism in 1970s and 1980s Popular Culture: Innovation, Creativity, Prosperity, and Freedom

Call for paper for an international conference at the Leibniz Institute of European History (IEG) in Mainz, 15-17 April 2026.

We invite scholars, historians, technologists, and cultural critics to submit papers addressing the historical and cultural dimensions of technological optimism during this pivotal era.

Why did this belief in technology thrive despite the challenges of the time? What strategies did techno-optimists use to counter the arguments of technological pessimism? How did technological optimism build upon previous developments and/or shape the development of subsequent innovations?

We encourage papers that situate technological optimism within this broader historial context, connecting the period’s cultural, political, and social currents to its technological innovations.

Subtopics

We welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to:

• The Personal Computing Revolution:
  • Hobbyist computing cultures of the 1970s and 1980s.
  • The cultural impact of products like the Apple II, Atari ST, IBM PC, and Commodore 64.
  • Utopian ideals of democratised knowledge and productivity.
• Space Exploration and the Cosmos:
  • Optimistic visions of space travel and colonisation.
  • Representation of space futures in media, literature, and education.
• Biotechnology and the Promises of Life Sciences:
  • Early developments in genetic engineering and their portrayal in popular culture.
  • Optimism around medical advances and their potential to transform human life.
• Communication and Media Innovation:
  • The transformative potential of telecommunications and early internet technologies.
  • New media formats, including cable TV and home video.
  • The role of media in shaping perceptions of technology’s promises.
• Artificial Intelligence and Robotics:
  • Popular representations of AI and robotics in literature and film.
  • Early technological developments and their futuristic projections.
• Energy and Sustainibility:
  • Optimistic narratives surrounding renewable energy technologies.
  • Nuclear power’s promise and controversies during this era.
• Cultural Responses to Technology:
  • Artistic and literary engagements with technological optimism.
  • Futuristic aesthetics in music, design, and fashion.
• The Future of Work and Leisure:
  • Visions of automation and the end of labour as a societal goal.
  • Cybernetics and economic planning (e.g. Project Cybersyn in Chile).
  • The emergence of techno-utopian ideals in workplace innovation.

Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts: Please submit an abstract of no more than 500 words (references excluded) for a 20-minute presentation (plus discussion), clearly outlining your proposed paper’s focus, methodology, and relevance to the conference theme.
• Deadline: 11.09.2025, 23:59 CET
• Format: Include your name, institutional affiliation, and contact information with your abstract.
• Email: Send your submissions to: digital@ieg-mainz.de

Selected papers will be invited for presentation at the conference, with the opportunity for inclusion in a post-conference publication.

Travel grants

To encourage global participation, we aim to provide travel funding to support the selected speakers. However, we can only apply for travel funding once we have a clear understanding of the expected conference attendance and speaker demographics. Therefore, we ask applicants to indicate in their submission if they would like to apply for travel funding. We will make every effort to secure this support.