Prof Anthony Stagliano talk: "Biopolitical Art: Profaning the Apparatus" 11/9 @ 10am

Tuesday November 9, 2021 @ 10:00am Zoom

Abstract: This talk will survey emerging art practices that take as their medium and site of intervention a range of biopolitical technologies: At-home DNA testing; facial recognition technologies; biometric fitness devices and apps; thermal sensing and tracking of mammal bodies, and so forth. Dr. Stagliano will argue that this kind of art is distinct from prior technological art practices such as tactical media, in that it is an experiment in creating alternative, horizontal knowledge-production circuits. To understand that distinction, he turns to the Italian philosopher Giorgio Agamben and his concept “profanation,” which is the return to common use a technology or apparatus that has been occulted by the authorities. Through the art practices, in turn, he'll aim to show the limitations of Agamben’s technophobia, which risks inhibiting the otherwise productive concept of “profanation.”

image composite by jmason