Virtual Futures “Heated Debate”: The First Cyber Punk Conference
New culture of 21st century Cyberpunk.
Held at Warwick University, May [1995].
Last May, world leading professionals of Cyber punk gathered for the first time at Warwick University, Coventry, England.
About one thousand cyber philosophers, artists, Computer experts, literature critics, psychologists and media scholars from 21 countries from Europe, North America and Australia gathered to attend [Virtual Future95: Cyber Revolution] conference.
The conference consisted of shocking and unique presentations, and heated debates on approximately eighty different topics such as; culture of cyberspace, virtual reality and cybersex disruption of values, change in ethics, realization of cyberpunk literature, cyber feminism.
Organiser of the event, Eric Cassidy (PhD philosophy student at Warwick University, 29), quoted Karl Marx’s words from ‘Capital: Critique of Political Economy’ and explained the purpose of the conference as “Until now philosophers and artists merely interpreted the virtual future brought by new technology and computers. It is now time to change that and turn our desires into reality.”
Most presentations were carried out in the format of performance art using multi media such as videos and music.
Debate forums were filled with new terms and concepts created by cyber culture. Through these on the spot debates even more new language and ideas were pioneered.
A Canadian couple, Arthur and Meryl Louise Crocker, carried out the keynote speech and they explained the general concept of the conference as ‘Hacking the Future’.
World first Cyber punk conference held at Warwick University ‘Panorama Hall’, Coventry.
Over a thousand gathered.
According to the Crockers, there is a conflict between ‘Technopia’ that believes development of computer technology and cyber space will lead to brighter future and ‘Hacking the future’ who believes we should prepare for uncertain and chaotic future. Most participants of the conference affiliate to the latter.
The most popular events at the conference were experimental films and performance arts.
Some of the most intriguing events were; experimental film using abstract computer graphics and electronic music, depicting changed society in virtual future where humans and cyborgs are incorporated together; psychedelic ‘Rave’ party with famous Paris and London DJs; videos and books exhibition featuring the reality of hackers and underground culture.
Especially people were in awe by performance artist and professor of Dijon National Superior Art School (France) Orlean, putting objects into his earlobes without any surgical procedure or anesthesia.
Promoter of “Virtual Future 95”, Otto Imken (PhD philosophy student at Warwick University, 28) said, “Almost everyone have never met each other but people are able to bond and form communities through the conference since they have already interacted and shared ideologies on the Internet”.
From Asia only Sang-gu Kim, the writer of ‘interpretation of neurophysiology and psychology in literature’ and professor of Busan National University (South Korea), and reporters of Joongang Daily attended. The conference was a success and it will be held again in 1996.
Computer multimedia music expert Dan O’Hara (Masters English student at Warwick University, 24) in punk.
Australian avant-garde performance artist Stelarc, attracted attention at “Virtual Future 95” conference by connecting his invention to himself.
The aim of his performance was to exceed the limit of the human body and creating a new concept of humans.
Stelarc said “I am trying to demonstrate the future where concept of the human body changes once modification of brain waves and expanding veins and muscles to observe inside the body becomes possible.”
In order to achieve this he demonstrated his invention “The Third Arm” with peculiar rhythm music.
He believes that stimulating muscles with complex computer system will create a new idea of “Dance”.
He explained the purpose of his show as “ human bodies should no longer exist purely biologically. Our bodies would experience true freedom once we are ‘released through electronic engineering’ but participants of the conference seem to have trouble understanding his ideology.
Australian artist Stelarc perform attaching machine to his arm.