Kibitzers

Publication
A speculative narrative based on Scientific research (44 page/Perfect Bound)
London, UK, 2023

Kibitzers is a scientific research narrative that explores the Anthropocene by using Jenga as a symbolic representation of Earth, depicting a possible future if human actions, or our game playing with Earth, continues. This imaginative storyline unfolds as "kibitzers" participate in a game of Jenga, sharing ideas on how to modify and manipulate the Jenga structure, ultimately leading to its inevitable collapse. This act of 'kibitzing' symbolises the cumulative cultural behaviours of humans, where information is passed down, often with the intent of exploiting the Earth. The narrative highlights these collective behaviors to illustrate how humans have played a significant role in the onset of the Anthropocene epoch and the looming peril of the Sixth Great Extinction.

This thought-provoking essay ‘Kibitzers’ serves as a 'Kit' for humanity, offering strategies to avert the 'Sixth Great Extinction' through embracing the concept of Chthulucene. Humors and metaphors are employed as the visual language to educate the audience about the prevailing narratives of inevitability and the significance of forging connections with animals, fostering a harmonious coexistence.

The narrative's sym-poietic practice, with its deliberate exploration of 'unworkability,' opens possibilities for reimagining the future of humankind. It encourages us to embrace a new world-view and develop a kinship with all living beings, thus preventing the looming threat of the Sixth Great Extinction. The playfulness and experimentation employed throughout the storytelling align with Donna Haraway's notion of envisioning joyful yet precarious futures.