LESS REMOTE
For the first time, the arts and humanities have been invited into the professional space explorers global meeting place -The International Astronautical Congress in Glasgow. Artists, thinkers and writers will contribute to debates about going back to the moon and on to Mars, living in space, art in zero gravity, the future of the International Space station and the search for life and human origins in scientific missions.

Less Remote features presentations by Tomas Saraceno, Agnes Meyer-Brandis, Marko Peljhan, Zbigniew Oksuita, Rachel Armstrong, Andy Miah, Sarah Jane Pell, Nina Czegledy, Lowry Burgess and many other key contemporary figures who have worked either with space agencies or in the space context recently...website

Remixing the Masters
Four interviews by artist-filmmaker, Lynn Hershmann Leeson, partially shot in the virtual world of Second Life, Hershman Leeson and Tilda Swinton, pose questions to a selection of guests, including a politician, journalist, scientist and lawyer.

Subverting the distinction between real and simulated, the interviews explore interwoven themes of revolution, empowerment, technology and the remix. Each interview examines how new and mass media mechanisms have generated change and how cultural and technological infrastructures have shaped the ability of individuals to have social and political impact.

Gilberto Gil discusses his exile from Brazil and his involvement in The Tropicália movement, how after living and playing music in London, he returned to Brazil, eventually taking up the position of Minister for Culture, where he continues to promote free culture.

Elena Poniatowska, a renowned journalist and author dedicated to the promotion of equality and human rights, discusses how the mass media in South America remained silent at the time of the student massacres in Mexico in 1968 and how, through her use of publishing and distribution mechanisms, she inadvertently shifted state and cultural consciousness with an account of those events.

Dr. Elizabeth Blackburn, who is credited with having identified “the aging gene” or Telomeres in our DNA discusses how this information shifts our understanding of who we are as humans, how in fact we are ourselves a genetic remix; and how advances in macro photographic processes have aided that revelation.

Lawrence Lessig, the mastermind behind Creative Commons, discusses open content licensing and how it will function globally in allowing people to use copy left to shift the boundaries of ownership and shared knowledge...website

ARTS & TECHNOLOGY: THE ROLE OF THE ARTS IN DEMOCRATIC POLICY MAKING
When it comes to developments in science and technology, public perceptions on these issues are influenced largely by the various sources in the public square including the media and the arts. When it comes to the particular issue of emerging technologies, developments in this field have been at best met with caution, at worst with a negative response. Yet where has the real conversation concerning these issues taken place?

Over the years there have been numerous novels, films and visual arts projects which have explored and enriched the dialogue concerning many of these pertinent technologies. One only has to look at Michael Crichton’s 'Prey', Marge Piercy’s 'He, She, It,' to say nothing of the films 'I, Robot', 'Gattaca' and 'Bladerunner' as examples of this fact. It is therefore perhaps no surprise that to date the main discussion concerning these new technologies has taken place within the arts arena more than the policy arena.

How can the arts conversation shape and develop public policy? Do the arts add to the hype or do they really help to inform the public of the truth about these issues? Can the arts and public policy arenas work more closely to further enrich the dialogue? If so, how? What can policy makers learn from the arts in this area?...website

Citizen Filmmakers
New technology and the internet are making film-makers of us all. But does this herald a golden era of DIY cinema, or should moviemaking be left to the experts?...website

ONEDOTZERO_ADVENTURES IN MOTION 2008
Adventures in Motion presents an inspiring mix of groundbreaking new feature films, curated programmes of international short film, animation and more, live cinematic performances and audiovisual collaborations with headline musical talent.

The festival will present ground-breaking cinematic screen work, interactive installations, and explosive live audiovisual performances.

BFI southbank + bfi imax host a three day festival [14-16 nov]
p3 space hosts interactive events and exhibitions [1 - 12 nov]

This year’s festival introduces a citystates theme, an in-depth creative exploration of the modern metropolis and city life...website