Sunday, April 19, 2009

bio-robo-info-nano-cogno convergence -- transhumanist art



more discussion about this coming for sure in our cyborg session, but when thinking on extending our sensory perception, the transhumanist meme pops up automatically on my mind... so let me introduce Primo Posthuman, a speculative new human design created a few years ago by transhumanist artist Natasha Vita-More. Note the extra and quite 'extended' senses... :)

history and examples of transhumanist art

and of course... there is a manifesto, writen by Vita-More back in 1982; an excerpt:
We are transhumans
Our art integrates the most eminent progression
of creativity and sensibility
merged by discovery.


Transhumanist Arts represent the aesthetic and creative culture of transhumanity.
Transhumanist Artists are developing new and varied modes of art.
Our aesthetics and expressions are merging with science and technology in
designing increased sensory experiences.

Transhumans want to improve and extend life.
We are designing the technologies to improve and extend life.
Emotions are integral to our senses and understanding.
We are designing the technologies to enhance our senses and understanding.

There is a comprehensive three-part documentary series on the notion of Transhumanism called Technocalyps, by the Belgian film-maker Frank Theys. Available on ThePirateBay and on Youtube.

from Wikipedia:

Transhumanism is an international intellectual and cultural movement supporting the use of science and technology to improve human mental and physical characteristics and capacities. The movement regards aspects of the human condition, such as disability, suffering, disease, aging, and involuntary death as unnecessary and undesirable. Transhumanists look to biotechnologies and other emerging technologies for these purposes. Dangers, as well as benefits, are also of concern to the transhumanist movement.

The term "transhumanism" is symbolized by H+ or h+ and is often used as a synonym for "human enhancement". Although the first known use of the term dates from 1957, the contemporary meaning is a product of the 1980s when futurists in the United States began to organize what has since grown into the transhumanist movement. Transhumanist thinkers predict that human beings may eventually be able to transform themselves into beings with such greatly expanded abilities as to merit the label "posthuman". Transhumanism is therefore sometimes referred to as "posthumanism" or a form of transformational activism influenced by posthumanist ideals.

The transhumanist vision of a transformed future humanity has attracted many supporters and detractors from a wide range of perspectives. Transhumanism has been described by one critic, Francis Fukuyama, as the world's most dangerous idea, while one proponent, Ronald Bailey, counters that it is the "movement that epitomizes the most daring, courageous, imaginative, and idealistic aspirations of humanity".

2 comments:

  1. I have the dvd version of The Technocalypse on my comp. for who wants this.

    gr.

    ReplyDelete
  2. any worthy fascinating-scary-cool EXTRAS on the DVD version ??? :)

    ReplyDelete