Dreams of Progress - philosophical debate July 9, 2009

Art videos and utopian visions - private viewing and debate

In these days of economical, environmental and sometimes ideological uncertainties, the philosophical debate Dreams of Progress will take a look back at our previous visions of the future, how they materialized and the way that they relate to the dreams we nourish today. What is our judgement regarding past utopias? Are dystopias not more closer to reality? If it is worth imaging new utopias, what are they?

The debate will be punctuated by projections of videos: predictions for the 60’s from General Motors in 1940, the vision of Microsoft for 2019, the galactic voyage of Tokyo imagined by the artist Ian Lynam, shrank people at the Sydney Mardi Gras by Keith Loutit. These videos and more will question the meaning of progress, between modernism and post-modernism, individuality and utopias, human nature as opposed to mega structures.

6.30pm: Reception at the exhibition
7pm - 9pm: Philosophical debate and video screening

The event is part of the video art exhibition "Dreams of Progress" held at the Westminster Reference Library from the 6th to the 18th of July.

Official Website: http://curatedmatter.org/exhibitions/dreams-of-progress/