Primer

A primer is a concise, entry‑level document that explains the fundamentals of a subject, often serving as a first point of contact before deeper resources like textbooks, handbooks, or technical standards. It prioritizes clarity over completeness and orients readers to key ideas, terms, and why the topic matters.

I use primers whenever I want to look into a new topic or when I want to get a fresh overview of a topic I’ve been dealing with for a long time. The goal is to get a comprehensive view and be able to link to it whenever I refer to a topic in another note or want to provide a quick introduction to someone.

I create these primers in Obsidian using Claude Code, which connects to my knowledge graph and uses Perplexity for web research.

Notes mentioning this note

Metamodernism
This is a [[Primer primer]] on metamodernism. Related note: [[Metamodernism and Futures Studies]]
Trends
_This is a [[Primer primer]]. A related note is [[Trend Report This is not a trend report]]._
Utopia
_This is a [[Primer primer]] on utopia. Related notes: [[Utopia as Method]], [[Real Utopias]]_
Index
Complete Index of Notes

Here are all the notes in this garden, along with their links, visualized as a graph.

AI and science fictionAI, future imaginaries, and futures studiesArtificial IntelligenceAnti-Dystopia – A Third Way Between Utopia and...ApproachDr. Armin GrunwaldArticle - Future FailArticle – Future of Terranascient Futures Studies...Article - Futures from RuinsArticles on FuturesArtificial general intelligence (agi)Artificial Intelligence and future imaginariesArticle – Beyond Capitalist RealismThe Blue Ant TrilogyBooks on FuturesCLA GameCausal layered analysis (cla)Characteristics of Future ImaginariesCollective MemoryCommon SenseComparable and related approachesComparison of national AI strategiesComponents of Future ImaginariesConceptual challenges and inconsistenciesConclusionCondensation of Future ImaginariesCritical Futures StudiesCultural UndercurrentsCyberpunkDates and eventsDifferentiation from similar termsDigital GardenEarly Approaches to ImaginariesEffect of performativity on future imaginariesFictional Expectations from BeckertFred PolakPaper – From Critique to Cultural RecoveryFuture Imaginaries from CookFuture Imaginaries from Goode and GodheFuture ScenarioFutures StudiesFutures terminologyFutures TriangleFuturesGlobal business networkGoalsImages of the Future from InayatullahImaginaries from Lockton and CandyImaginaries from an anthropological perspectiveImaginariesInteresting Questions in Futures Studies &...IntroductionIntroductions to Futures Thinking & ForesightJargon WatchKey questions in critical futures studiesLeitbildLiterature on Critical Futures StudiesLongtermismMaster's Thesis – Future ImaginariesMeaning-Making and AIMegatrendsMetamodernism and Futures StudiesMetamodernismMetaphorMethodsMinimum group size for (future) imaginariesMythNele fischer on critical futures studiesNo future is neutralNo such thing as “future-proof”Observations from the examination of futures and...Official futureOutlook – Application of future imaginariesOverton WindowPattern recognitionPolak GamePresent futures from GrunwaldPrimerPull of the FutureQuestions for the Start of a Foresight ProjectRationalistsReal UtopiasResearch QuestionsRoles of Future ImaginariesSarkar gameSituating the ResearcherSocial ImaginariesSociotechnical Imaginaries from JasanoffSohail InayatullahTescrealThe Difference between Present Futures and Future...Book – The Image of the FutureThe JackpotThe network stateThe Role of Futures in CapitalismThe distinction between imaginaries and future...The paradox of foresightThe vagueness of future imaginariesThinkers on futuresFuture NotesTools for the examination of future imaginariesTowards a definition of Future ImaginariesTraining Practice for FuturistsSorry, but this is not a trend reportTrendsUtopia as Method and Metamodernism: A SynthesisUtopia as MethodUtopiaVerge frameworkVisionWhat good is scientific rigor when nobody gives a...William GibsonMethod: WindtunnelingWorldbuildingCritical FuturesFuture ImaginariesIndex