Brian Horrigan
Papers
1
Total Citations
59
H-Index
1
About
Brian Horrigan is a cultural historian and curator whose work explores the intersection of technology, design, and American futurism. His primary research areas include the history of technological forecasting, material culture, and the visual rhetoric of progress. Horrigan is best known for his seminal work, *Yesterday’s Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future* (1984), which has garnered 59 citations and remains a foundational text in the study of retro-futurism. In this book, he examines how mid-20th-century Americans imagined the future—from enormous skyscrapers where residents go weeks without touching the ground, to hurricane-proof houses that pivot like weather vanes, and family cars that transform into airplanes in five minutes. Horrigan’s scholarship reveals how these visions reflected societal anxieties and aspirations, offering a critical lens on the promises of technology. His work has influenced fields ranging from design history to science and technology studies. As a curator, Horrigan has also shaped public understanding of innovation, making complex ideas accessible to broad audiences. His contributions continue to inspire scholars and students interested in how past futures shape our present.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Yesterday's Tomorrows: Past Visions of the American Future59 citations · 1984