Hextech heart vs Solarpunk soul. Viktor's path to transcendence.

Serbanescu, Anca

Abstract

In this talk, I explore the transformative journey of Viktor, a central character in Arcane Season 2, through the lens of solarpunk and speculative design. Drawing from narrative analysis and symbolic worldbuilding, I examine how Viktor’s evolution from a brilliant inventor to a cyborg-like visionary unfolds across three interconnected realms: the physical, the spiritual, and the hybrid.
At the heart of this transformation lies the Hexcore, a magical-technological artifact that bridges science and mysticism. As Viktor merges with the Hexcore, he becomes both its creator and its vessel, navigating a liminal space where technological ambition collides with spiritual transcendence. This hybrid realm, shaped by Viktor’s vision, reflects solarpunk ideals: collective care, ecological harmony, and post-human coexistence.
Through this character study, I invite the audience to reflect on how interactive narratives like Arcane can model futures of healing, complexity, and ethical ambiguity.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: Solarpunk Conference 2025
• Start Date: Jun 21, 2025
• End Date: Jun 21, 2025
• Acceptance Date: Jun 6, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 23, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 24, 2025
• Journal: https://works.hcommons.org/records/ty47r-b8025
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed