bio
Phillip Baldwin, Professor at Stony Brook University. BA Philosophy from Gustavus Adolphus College. 1981, MFA from Yale University 1987, FAAR, Prix de Rome, Fellow of the American Academy in Rome 1994. Co artistic director of 'Global Civic Media' and international NGO on Interactive media projects.
Invited #1
title
"Post-humanism, cognitive spaces, way-finding, and the algorithms of social systems"
abstract
This is a lecture/demo using an EEG, real time data neuro-sensor on placed on a head that outputs feedback data to demonstrate the alarming new 'post-human' dimensions of VR, BCI, surveillance, susveillance, and the important capacity of 'psychological way-finding' through a number of very different terrains. Many of these terrains have no distinct borders or 'liminal zones'. The cognitive space of the college campus seduces with its indebtedness very early in the life of a subject. This could be first to go into the VR world. Using the material pressures created by capitalist economic 'scarcity' as a back ground, and the four algorithms of social interaction as 'boots on the ground' I argue/demonstrate multiple post human outcomes as the non-solipsist subject 'way-finds' in variable spaces. The necessity of a low-surveillance/susveillance culture, 'addiction resistance', and mixed reality semiosis become paramount in the feedback to an appreciation of the new VR space/time.
event
Invited Talk #2
Title
"The Work of the Expressive Body in the Age of CRISPR Bio-Reproduction"
abstract
In the current 'Kantian' divorce of the humanities from technocracy (made obvious by demographics, academic layoffs, culture wars, STEM obsessions, Google searches replacing Socratic dialog, etc.), aesthetics has served to elicit greater debates and discourses in global ethics now conjoined with pervasive mobile media. I live in the lucky epoch were the 'perfect storm' of both pervasive Artificial Intelligence has occurred/conjoined with an inexpensive means through CRISPR engineering of bio-design that will alter the ontological meanings of 'humanity'. Perhaps they will be at odds with each other, or combine to a designed telos of 'perfection'. I will use examples of my work through out with McLuhan's semiotic square to highlight the contrasts between these massive and paradigmatic forces in technological divergence. I am an artist, designer, researcher, academic, consultant, business person, technologist, citizen. I have worked in the fields of architecture, urbanism, performance, plastic arts, dramatic texts, design, and as an impresario in the field of public aesthetic exhibition/performance that raise discourses in social and technological ethics. In the current great paradigmatic debates of AI, Bio-design, climate change, culture-wars, refugees, technocratic bureaucracy, crisis of leadership, and post-human variance in human empathy 'at a distance and at hand' I will frame AI and CRISPR debates in the raising of aesthetics to ethical discourse. I will demonstrate basic CRISPR use.
