Autonomy
Autonomy
SUMMER 2025In a world that increasingly celebrates individualism, through personal branding, gig economies, and curated digital lives, the rise of autonomy can seem like a natural consequence. But beneath this cultural push lies a more nuanced reality: is what we call autonomy truly self-directed, or is it shaped by deeper systems of dependency, fragmentation, and control? Autonomy is a continuous movement, a delicate negotiation between freedom and dependence, solitude and solidarity, constraint and creativity. It emerges in personal and collective acts of self-expression, in the shaping of physical and imagined spaces, and in the fragile balance between withdrawal and engagement. From the assertion of identity to the preservation of culture, from shifting models of work to our evolving ties with technology and the environment, this issue of MAIZE delves into the layered realities of autonomy in contemporary life.
A brief history of autonomy
Exploring how today’s rise in self-sufficiency reflects a deeper shift: from institutional distrust to personal agency.
by Iida Korpiniitty
Past issues
About the magazine
This is the magazine published by MAIZE. It explores contemporary themes across multiple domains, from technology to the humanities, in search of cues for possible futures. We like to refer to this intricate, varicolored scenery as the manyworld.
Each issue of MAIZE is an aesthetic monograph that examines a central topic through compelling interviews, reports, short stories, personal essays, visuals, and more.
This magazine is for those who love open discussions, philosophical ideas, and unconventional thoughts; but also for those eager to discover new ways to develop foresight, be inspired, make informed decisions, and participate in the innovation process — all while staying human.
