Abstract

FERNANDEZ PONCELA, Anna María. Viewing the futures from the common people in the midst of the pandemic situation. Relac. Estud. hist. soc. [online]. 2021, vol.42, n.167, pp.69-99.  Epub Dec 02, 2022. ISSN 2448-7554.  https://doi.org/10.24901/rehs.v42i167.879.

The objective of this text is to present, review and analyze the views on the future of the common population in the context of a pandemic. Specifically, how the future works as a device that builds subjectivities. This is done through testimonies of imaginative stories from everyday reality unfolding towards the future. Faced with the experiences in the current situation of a group of people from Mexico City, how their gazes see and outline the future of society.

The text focuses on the exposition of how they imagine how society, in general, will be in the future, whether or not there will be changes, what they will be, in what direction, and how they will be. Also, specifically in the economic, labor, and political, to draw the futuristic social panorama according to what each one considers. The narratives are reviewed in the light of Foucault's “device” and, in particular, Agamben, that is, mechanisms and artifacts that which captures, guides, shapes and controls opinions, emotions and behaviors.

The findings point towards a better society in terms of health, personal care and the other, through awareness when following health measures and the healthy distance that came to stay, even with the work and school changes that this implies and the limitation of coexistence. Second, the worst will be related to the economy, unemployment and crisis, poverty, and inequality; but it will gradually adjust to the new normal, as they say. The acceptance of the model of the single global narrative that will unfold into the future stands out. There are hardly any doubts or criticisms of the measures and social distancing, the imposition of new technologies to communicate and work; on the contrary, they are considered necessary and positive to survive. The panorama coincides with Foucault's historical descriptions of the device and with Agamben's definition of the current “biosafety” device.

Keywords : Imagination; storytelling; device; future; population.