Dr Duckie Homemade Mutant Hope Machines

What good is hope?


As the world we knew cracks apart, it’s easy to despair. But in this impassioned thesis, Ben Walters (aka ‘Dr Duckie’) makes the case for hope as a pragmatic technology of civic change. 


Better worlds are possible, even for those at the sharp end of injustice and inequality. And we can all make them together – one deed, one day, one dance at a time. 


Based on years of doctoral research with legendary queer performance collective Duckie, and first-hand immersion in their unique community projects, this ebook passionately articulates the power of ‘homemade mutant hope machines’. 


Homemade mutant hope machines come in all shapes and sizes. For the Duckie gang, they include an afternoon cabaret for older people without many friends or family; a summer school for young LGBTQ+ artists finding their feet; and a drop-in arts project for people living with homelessness and addiction. 


But it’s not just about Duckie. Homemade mutant hope machines are everywhere. 


They’re habits, hobbies, groups and projects, from the journal under your bed to the global Ballroom community. They start at home and adapt to changing conditions. They work toward their own goals on their own terms. And they prove that when you routinely behave as if better worlds are possible, those worlds start to appear. 


So get stuck in. The world is up for grabs – and utopia ain’t gonna build itself. 


‘Inspirational’ 

Lois Keidan, Director, Live Art Development Agency 


‘Brilliant’ 

Professor Ben Campkin, Co-Director, University College London Urban Laboratory 


‘A smart cookie... what fun!’ 

Krishna Istha, artist and writer 


ISBN 9781527262362