Arse Electronika sex/tech conference, San Francisco Oct 1-4

Johannes writes in with the news of this year's sex/tech Arse Electronika conference in San Francisco:

We may not forget that mankind is a sexual and tool-using species. And that's why our annual conference Arse Elektronika deals with sex, technology and the future. As bio-hacking, sexually enhanced bodies, genetic utopias and plethora of gender have long been the focus of literature, science fiction and, increasingly, pornography, this year will see us explore the possibilities that fictional and authentic bodies have to offer. Our world is already way more bizarre than our ancestors could have ever imagined. But it may not be bizarre enough. "Bizarre enough for what?" -- you might ask. Bizarre enough to subvert the heterosexist matrix that is underlying our world and that we should hack and overcome for some quite pressing reasons within the next century. Don't you think, replicants?

Arse Elektronika 2009 (Thanks, Johannes!)

[danlalan #1 05:37 on Tue, Sep.22]

subvert the heterosexist matrix

this would make a good bumper sticker

[Tdawwg #2 05:53 on Tue, Sep.22]

Except that matrix in Latin means "womb": all the linguists and otherwise-minded geeks would be giggling at you. "Subvert the womb!", not a great rallying cry....

[dculberson #3 06:33 on Tue, Sep.22]

Actually, sounds like a great rallying cry for Singularists! (Singularityists? Singularians? Ahh... Kurzweilites.)

[Roach #4 07:30 on Tue, Sep.22]

Could they first subvert the prejudice against our ancestors so clearly shown here?

[Marcel #5 07:51 on Tue, Sep.22]

So, how more bizarre does Johannes want our sexual explorations to become?

I think we've just about covered every nook and cranny there is. (don't say it..:)

But hey, you go stick it in something unsuspected and see if that will subvert my heterosexual matrix. Don't hold your...though.

[arkizzle / Moderator #6 08:39 on Tue, Sep.22]

Roach, what prejudice?

[grenz #7 09:20 on Tue, Sep.22]

@dculberson: Ha! R.U. Sirus will actually give a talk about Singularian sex!

[avidd #8 09:54 on Tue, Sep.22]

#2 post singularity, "subvert the womb" will be a great rallying cry!

[bearchild #9 10:15 on Tue, Sep.22]

This is pushing all the right buttons for me, Cory.

[octopod #10 21:03 on Tue, Sep.22]

I was like awesome, Iain Banks is speaking, but then like, total despair, not on the list of speakers. so the about page was a bit of a let down.

>Could they first subvert the prejudice against our ancestors so clearly shown here?

agree.

>Our world is already way more bizarre than our ancestors could have ever imagined

tho, tbh, I'm pretty fucking glad that's not the case. like Juliette isn't all 'and the marquis said to the pope blah blah blah'.

[grenz #11 00:27 on Wed, Sep.23]

@octopod: No, sorry, Iain Banks doesn't really leave the UK.