YASMIN July 2009 Discussion: Ethnic Cyborg: Are You (Un)Cyborgable?

The "amber Art and Technology Festival" (http://www.amberfestival.org) will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from 6-15 November 2009 The "amberConference" http://www.amberconference.org will be held on Nov 7, 8 2009 on the Theme "(un)Cyborgable?". The deadline for proposals for artworks for the festival and papers for the conference is August 1 2009. YASMIN as part of the cross networking between the AMBER, YASMIN and RAMI networks is pleased to host a discussion during the month of July 2009 on the topic: ETHNIC CYBORG: ARE YOU (UN)CYBORGABLE?

Re-visiting and re-thinking the notion of the cyborg, amber'09 asks: Are You (un)Cyborgable?".

For this discussion we are particularly interested in how concepts of the Cyborg and Ethnicity interact. Are Cyborgs a separate ethnicity ? How do differing cultural viewpoints of the body inform the future development of Cyborgs? What are examples of artists projects Ethnicity interact. What are the different cultural viewpoints on the development of involving Cyborgs that reflect the ethnic origin of the artist ? How does the ethnic origin of scientists and engineers affect their ideas for the development of Cyborgs?

Yasmin Discussion Moderator:

Ekmel Ertan:

Received his BSc degree on Electronics and Communication Engineering and his MA degree on Interactive Media Design. Worked as design engineer on telecommunication systems in Turkey and Europe. In 1997, started a multimedia design company in Istanbul. Since 1999, teaching multimedia / visual communication design / interactive design, currently at Sabanci University, Istanbul. Exhibited his photography work, interactive installations and cooperative performance works in several international venues. Founder of BIS Beden-Islemsel Sanatlar Dernegi (Body-Process Arts Association), as an education, research and production platform on new technologies in art. Curator and director of the annual amberFestival since 2007

Invited Responders:

Dicle Kocacioglu:

Dicle Kogacioglu is on the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Sabanci University (Turkey She is currently interested in understanding the multiple ways in which formations of class, gender, ehtnicity and sexuality interact in national and transnational contexts of law reform. She is currently conducting research on a grant from Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) for the project entitled "Access to Justice at Crossroads: Sociological Perspectives" (September 2007-2009).

Lanfranco Aceti:

Dr. Lanfranco Aceti works as an academic, artist and curator. He is Associate Professor in Contemporary Art and Digital Culture at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Sabanci University, Istanbul. He has written for Leonardo and Art Inquiry and his interdisciplinary research focuses on the intersection between digital arts, visual culture and new media technologies.

To take part in the online discussion, please subscribe to the Yasmin list at: http://www.media.uoa.gr/yasmin/