Introducing: Strange New Work
The best way to think about how work could be better is to start from scratch—and defy all of our preconceived notions.
Alright, hear me out:
Star Trek is a workplace drama.
It’s not billed that way, of course. But it’s literally about people doing their work—and the situations that stem from their work.
Earlier this year, I got to thinking about how often science fiction depicts work scenarios. And I started to wonder:
What can science fiction teach us about how work could be better?
From there, I sought out speculative fiction that tackled questions about work (either explicitly or implicitly). At the same time, I looked to find how critics, labor theorists, economists, sociologists, and philosophers were exploring those same questions and themes.
The result is my fall What Works series—Strange New Work.
Starting this Thursday, September 14, we’ll think about how we can reimagine “work” from the ground up. Podcast episodes will drop in the What Works feed, as well as a dedicated feed for Strange New Work. Essays will drop in your inbox and at whatworks.fyi.
Monday posts will continue as usual outside of the series!
During the series, you’ll hear from some incredible folks who have helped me think through some of the questions that came up for me while researching:
, , , , Joanna Cea, Jess Rimington, Mauro Guillén, and more.You do not have to be a Trekkie or sci-fi fan to enjoy this series. The stories we’ll cover act as a way to defy our expectations and present scenarios we might never have considered.
If you’re ready to boldly go into the future of work with me, I’d so appreciate if you’d share Strange New Work with a friend or colleague:
It’s my birthday!
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Offer good through Monday, September 11.
Star Trek is definitely a workplace drama. Looking forward to this new series, Tara. Will you be looking at hierarchy, compensation, intrinsic motivation and diversity and gender dynamics? Those are the themes I always considered when watching Star Trek.