Great acceleration and the disappearance of the future. Time, communication, progress and speed between the end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th century

Abstract

In one of his works, Marc Augé asked What happened to the future? (2009). It seems to have disappeared from the horizon. But, to better understand future, it may be useful to reflect on how it was imagined and represented in the past. Between the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th century, the development of railroads and media quickly transformed the world. Here we recall the links between transportation, media and the idea of progress, as key elements to frame the concept of future.