The Whispers of Justice: Wind Scribes of 2032 by Aida Al-Akhdar

Fragment of a legal precedent etched onto a clay tablet, 2032. Rural Yemen.

What if robots run the legal system?

The Whispers of Justice: Wind Scribes of 2032: Wind-powered robotic scribes etch remnants of a DMT-influenced legal system onto clay tablets in post-collapse Yemen, 2032.

Al-Akhdar_4156, Yemen

Description

Law in a post-collapse world? In rural Yemen, 2032, wind-powered robotic scribes etch legal narratives onto clay tablets, their movements echoing the whispers of the wind and capturing remnants of a complex legal system rooted in altered states of consciousness. This collection of tablets evokes a poignant reflection on justice and societal memory in a world grappling with the aftermath of collapse.

Context

2032 rural Yemen. Dust storms rage across a landscape ravaged by ecological collapse. Fragmented communities struggle to rebuild amidst the ruins of a technologically advanced, yet ultimately unsustainable, civilization. Traditional Yemeni customs blend with the salvaged remnants of advanced technology. The wind, a constant presence, carries both the whispers of the past and the seeds of a new beginning.

Provocation

This speculation project asks: how could legal systems founded on complex concepts survive societal collapse? Consider the fragility of our current technological and ecological structures. Are we prepared for the potential reshaping of justice in the face of unforeseen upheaval? Reflect on the importance of preserving cultural knowledge and navigating future legal landscapes, particularly considering the present disregard for ecological and technological complexities that could lead to such a future.

Al-Akhdar_4156's process

Al-Akhdar’s creative process for ‘The Whispers of Justice’ began with immersive listening sessions of Yemeni wind instruments and oral recitations of poetry, reflecting the impact of their cultural heritage. This exploration translated sonic narratives of law and memory into robotic scribes. They rigorously researched pre-Islamic Yemeni legal customs and the impact of DMT on legal frameworks, informing the designs of the scribes and the etched narratives on the tablets. Each artifact embodies the interplay of traditional Yemeni culture and the speculative legal realities of a post-collapse world.

More about Al-Akhdar_4156

Events leading to ‘The Whispers of Justice: Wind Scribes of 2032’

2024: Increased research into DMT reveals potential for altered consciousness to resolve disputes.

2027: Experimental DMT-informed legal frameworks are implemented in select communities.

2029: Ecological disasters accelerate, causing societal instability and questioning the effectiveness of complex legal systems.

2031: Widespread societal collapse leads to the abandonment of centralized legal systems.

2032: Fragmented communities adapt, incorporating remnants of DMT-influenced legal principles into localized practices.

Imagined Future Scenarios Considered

Al-Akhdar_4156 considered the following imagined future scenarios while working on this project

In the far future, entirely new legal systems emerge that incorporate the altered states of consciousness revealed via DMT research.

Extrapolated from The world’s most mysterious psychedelic is already inside your brain - Vox

Hypothetical Product Ideas Considered

Al-Akhdar_4156 considered the following hypothetical product ideas while working on this project

Decentralized Legal Knowledge Network

A peer-to-peer network leveraging resilient technologies to share and preserve legal knowledge from various cultures and legal systems informed by altered states, promoting adaptable legal principles.

Community Dispute Resolution Kit

A portable, low-tech kit containing materials and guidelines for conflict resolution based on principles derived from altered states of consciousness, adaptable to various post-collapse contexts.

Similar Projects

What if art became a form of protest?

The Scribe: Calligraphy in the Age of Material Scarcity: The Scribe, a calligraphic robotic arm, navigates the legal constraints of material scarcity in 2032, inscribing new alloys onto biodegradable substrates as a form of ecological art.

What if the law that governs our future with AI are written down by a robot?

The Scribe: Inscribing the Laws of a Shared Future: The Scribe, a calligraphic robot from 2032, inscribes the laws governing human-robot interaction, exploring the intersection of tradition, technology, and the future of law.

What if ancient wisdom held the key to surviving climate change?

Mwana wa Ardhi: Whispers of Resilience: Mwana wa Ardhi: bio-robotic farming units blending ancient Comorian wisdom and futuristic technology, offer a fragile hope for food security in a world ravaged by climate change.

What if we could turn pollution into a breathtaking spectacle?

The J'ouvert Ritual Engine: A Speculative Symbiosis: A theoretical robotic system inspired by Belizean J'ouvert transforms ecological strain into a mesmerizing ritual of renewal.