This talk examines the role of speculation as a tactical strategy in the context of post-media artivism, with a specific focus on the work of artist Bahar Noorizadeh and her piece “Teslaism: Economics at the End of the End of the Future.” Traditional forms of activism and artistic expression are evolving in a time of exponential technological advancement and media omnipresence. Post-media artivism represents a paradigm shift, incorporating new media, digital platforms, and speculative narratives to engage with socio-political issues.
The concept of speculation is situated within the broader discourse of tactical media, which emphasises the subversive and interventionist potential of media practices. This theoretical framework serves as a lens through which to analyse Noorizadeh’s artistic practice and her engagement with speculative strategies. Central to the analysis is an exploration of how “Teslaism” encapsulates the ethos of post-media artivism through its use of speculative economies (see “Weird Economy”) and technological imaginaries. Her work offers a nuanced critique of techno-capitalism and its reverberations across society. By employing speculative fiction and visual storytelling, “Teslaism” not only envisions alternative futures but also exposes the power dynamics inherent in contemporary technological discourses.