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-- What is ReclaimFutures?
As networks of increasingly opaque algorithms drive hyper-consumption and bolster deeply questionable political agendas/regimes the once radical utopian vision of the future offered by the internet is rapidly fading into a lofty nostalgic throwback, how can we reclaim the narratives for non-capitalistic aims?
Perhaps through radical acts of creativity, resistance and collective action it may be possible to once again to imagine a plurality of futures other than those offered by tech’s big four.
Indeed ReclaimFutures is a technology and culture conference based upon these perhaps lofty ‘ideals’. It does not seek to disrupt nor 'innovate'. ReclaimFutures is not about the latest technologies, design trends or most exciting new startup incubator. It's not even about 'ethical tech'.
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Instead, ReclaimFutures (RF) aims to inspect, interrogate and expose the neoliberal forces at play within communication technology and startup culture, whilst championing radical thinkers and creators. In short reclaim futures is a conference for all the creators and thinkers attempting to smash, replace, and escape capitalism though acts of resistance in all their forms.
RF aims to foster an environment where creative and engaged artists, philosophers, technologists, activists, hackers, researchers and educators can collectively assemble to imagine new futures, beyond the walls of capitalistic limitation and stage the question of what we can do next, big or small to achieve political and/or social transformation in these troubled times in our species history.
Over the course of 3 days in spring 2020 the inaugural edition of ReclaimFutures will be held at a to-be-confirmed location in the city of Lausanne, Switzerland. During these 3 days a series of workshops, talks, roundtables, performances and artworks will be presented.
RF is also introspective in that it seeks to challenge our own preconceptions, and invites critical reflection. In the same way we cannot fix the societal technology-imposed problems on by applying yet more technology, we must not make the mistake that our own way will provides answers that cannot be challenged.
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RF in built upon an open, inclusive and respectful philosophy and is a conference trying to give a voice to those typically less heard within tech circles. Thus, RF invites all non-commercial individuals or small groups to participate in talks, artworks, and performances and strongly enthuses submissions from anyone who considers themselves to belong to an underrepresented group including but not limited to POCs, LGBT+, people with disabilities, working class and first-time speakers. ReclaimFutures is run as a DIT (Do It Together), self-funded, not-for-profit project and rejects commercial financial influence and thus cannot pay expenses of participants nor large fees (though all participants will be paid in accordance to the ticket sales and where possible we will offer meals as part of the event as well as trying to assist in finding accommodation and other practical needs).
If you're looking for inspiration we've assembled a list of hypothetical talk titles and subjects which you can take as a starting point, fully adopt, use to get an impression, or of course completely disregarded.