Realities of Science Fiction III

When does science fiction become a reality? How do artists work with Artificial Intelligence What forms of resistance can science fiction inspire? What can cyberpunk tell us about current technological developments?

Over the course of a weekend, artists, authors, and researchers discuss topics relating to Afrofuturism, artificial intelligence, and science fiction as a strategy of resistance.

The third edition of Realities of Science Fiction will culminate in the development of ideas on world-building and possible futures at a moment when societies are driven by rapidly changing technology. Highlighting alternative futurisms and non-hegemonic forms of imagination, Realities of Science Fiction III will bring together leading voices from diverse disciplines to explore critical approaches to Western science-fiction archetypes and the production of emancipatory narratives. The multilayered complexities and ambiguity that characterize sociotechnological change will also be the focus of this event.

Of particular importance is the increasing dominance and rapid advancement of artificial intelligence in the different fields of human experience. From cyberpunk to climate fiction, many authors and cultural practitioners have considered other forms of consciousness parallel to our own perception of the world. Reflecting on the current nature and evolution of artificial intelligence, conversations will draw on major examples from the science fiction literature that first imagined the processes we currently inhabit.

At the heart of science fiction lies the invention of alternative modes of access to knowledge and consciousness. The symposium will also address these realities, from psychedelic history to more contemporary experiments in the sciences and arts.