The epistemological relevance of the arts in foresight and futures studies

In this paper, we argue that the arts in its various forms have a genuine epistemological relevance to the theory and practice of foresight. To this end, we draw on the work of Ernst Bloch to advance the ‘disclosive’ role of graffiti art in contributing to futures becoming and the understanding of peoples’ subjective experiences and shared social theories about inarticulate social currents that may bring to life possibilities and potentialities in the realisation of some modest utopian visions.

► We argue that the arts in its various forms have a genuine epistemological relevance to the theory and practice of foresight.
► We draw on the work of Ernst Bloch to advance the ‘disclosive’ role of graffiti art in contributing to futures becoming.
► This we do by exploring how inarticulate social currents may bring to life possibilities and potentialities in the realisation of some modest utopian visions.