[Metalab] ARSE ELEKTRONIKA 2008: Do Androids Sleep With Electric Sheep?

[das ende der nahrungskette]

monochrom's
ARSE ELEKTRONIKA 2008
"Do Androids Sleep With Electric Sheep?"

September 25-28, 2008
San Francisco, USA

http://www.monochrom.at/arse-elektronika/

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A conference dealing with sex, technology and science fiction.
Featuring the Prixxx Arse Elektronika 2008 Awards 
Ceremony (an unobjectionable award for sex 
machines, orgasmotrons and teledildonics), the 
presentation of the Arse Elektronika Anthology 
"pr0nnovation?" (about pornography and 
technological innovation), a curated erotic 
reading about sex in SF/speculative/alt-reality 
fiction and -- of course -- a three day 
conference about critical perspectives on 
sexuality and pornography in science and social 
fiction (with keynote speeches by Rudy Rucker and Constance Penley).

Registration:
http://www.monochrom.at/arse-elektronika/bookings.html

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Taking up where the successful conference in 
autumn 2007 left off, this year's Arse 
Elektronika stands under the motto "future" -- 
and the ways in which the present sees itself 
reflected in it. Maintaining a broadened 
perspective on technical development and 
technology while also putting special emphasis on 
its social implementation, this year's conference 
focuses on Science and Social Fiction. The genre 
of the "fantastic" is especially well suited to 
the investigation of the touchy area of sexuality 
and pornography: actual and assumed developments 
are frequently depicted positively and 
approvingly, but just as often with dystopian 
admonishment. Here the classic, and continuingly 
valid, themes of modernism represent a clear link 
between the two aspects: questions of science, 
research and technologization are of interest, as 
is the complex surrounding urbanism, 
artificiality and control (or the loss of 
control). Depictions of the future, irregardless 
of the form they take, always address the present 
as well. Imaginations of the fantastic and the 
nightmarish give rise to a thematic overlapping 
of the exotic, the alienating and, of course, the pornographic/sexual as well.

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+++ Prixxx Arse Elektronika 2008 Awards Ceremony

(@ CELLspace / 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco 
/ September 25 / 8pm, doors open at 7pm)

An unobjectionable award for sex machines, orgasmotrons and teledildonics.
Hosted by monochrom's Johannes Grenzfurthner and 
info maniac David Dempsey. Featuring Annalee 
Newitz, Jonathan Mann aka GameJew, and many other 
human and non-human guest stars.
The winners will be honored with the "Golden Kleene"(*).
Prixxx Arse Elektronika 2008 will be a dignified 
occasion -- and so we invite you to dress up 
properly. Surprise us with sex and science 
fiction related costumes... and maybe win a "Golden Kleene"(*) yourself!

(*)
There was a young man named Kleene
Who invented a fucking machine.
Concave or convex,
It fit either sex,
And was remarkably easy to clean!
(Limerick, attributed to John von Neumann)

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+++ Presentation of Arse Elektronika Anthology: "pr0nnovation?"
(@ CELLspace / 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco 
/ September 25 / 8pm, doors open at 7pm)

It is our pleasure and privilege to present you 
with the first Arse Elektronika Anthology: "pr0nnovation?"

 From the depiction of a vulva in a cave painting 
to the newest internet porno, technology and 
sexuality have always been closely linked. No one 
can predict what the future will bring, but 
history indicates that sex will continue to play 
an essential role in technological development. 
Is it going too far to assume that research in 
nanotechnology and genetic engineering will be 
influenced by our sexual needs? The question is 
not whether these technologies alter humanity, but how they do so.

Edited by Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger, Daniel Fabry.
Published by RE/Search Publications (San 
Francisco) in cooperation with monochrom.

Featuring: Michael Achenbach, Timothy Archibald, 
Peter Asaro, Thomas Ballhausen, Binx, Violet 
Blue, Jonathan Coopersmith, Mark Dery, Thomas 
Edlinger, Johannes Grenzfurthner, Ema 
Konstantinova, Tina Lorenz, Stefan Lutschinger, 
Kyle Machulis, Aaron Muszalski, Annalee Newitz, 
Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, Autumn Tyr-Salvia, 
Frank Apunkt Schneider, Katie Vann, Rose White, 
Amanda Williams, Katherina Zakravsky.

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+++ Arse Elektronika Conference
(@ CELLspace / 2050 Bryant Street, San Francisco 
/ September 26-28 / 1pm - 8pm, doors open at 12am)

"Do Androids Sleep With Electric Sheep?"
Critical Perspectives on Sexuality and 
Pornography in Science and Social Fiction

This year's conference will be structured around 
three day-long talks and discussion panels, each devoted to a specific theme.

Featuring: Violet Blue, Jason Brown, Reesa Brown, 
Simone Davalos, Daniel Fabry, Karin Harrasser, 
Richard Kadrey, Verena Kuni, Isaac Leung, Mela 
Mikes, Susan Mernit, Chris Noessel, Kit 
O'Connell, Jens Ohlig, Constance Penley, Bonni 
Rambatan, Bonnie Ruberg, Rudy Rucker, Mae Saslaw, 
Nathan Shedroff, Viviane, Rose White, Sharing is 
Sexy (Scruffy Eudora, DJ Lotu5, J Bird), and many others.

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+++ Arse Elektronika Reading
(@ Center for Sex & Culture / 1519 Mission Street 
near 11th, San Francisco / September 26 / 9pm, doors open at 8 pm)

Carol Queen, with the support of the Center for 
Sex & Culture and cosponsorship of San 
Francisco's premiere SF/fantasy bookstore 
Borderlands, presents a curated erotic reading 
evening, featuring writers who commonly explore 
sexual themes in their science fiction and 
alt-reality fiction work. While the focus of much 
of the conference will be a critical 
deconstruction of sexual tropes in 
SF/speculative/alt-reality fiction, the focus of 
this event will be to appreciate and celebrate 
the fiction itself. Readers include Rudy Rucker, 
Richard Kadrey, M. Christian, Steven Schwartz, 
Charlie Anders, Carol Queen, Thomas Roche, and more.