Against Reduction

Provocative, hopeful essays imagine a future that is not reduced to algorithms. What is human flourishing in an age of machine intelligence, when many claim that the world's most complex problems can be reduced to narrow technical questions? Does more computing make us more intelligent, or simply more computationally powerful? We need not always resist reduction; our ability to simplify helps us interpret complicated situations. The trick is to know when and how to do so. Against Reduction offers a collection of provocative and illuminating essays that consider different ways of recognizing and addressing the reduction in our approach to artificial intelligence, and ultimately to ourselves. Inspired by a widely read manifesto by Joi Ito that called for embracing the diversity and irreducibility of the world, these essays offer persuasive and compelling variations on resisting reduction. Among other things, the writers draw on Indigenous epistemology to argue for an extended “circle of relationships” that includes the nonhuman and robotic; cast “Snow White” as a tale of AI featuring a smart mirror; point out the cisnormativity of security protocol algorithms; map the interconnecting networks of so-called noncommunicable disease; and consider the limits of moral mathematics. Taken together, they show that we should push back against some of the reduction around us and do whatever is in our power to work toward broader solutions

Halfbred

This CD-ROM documents a multidisciplinary project presented in 1995 at three Vancouver venues (Grunt, Pitt Gallery and Video In), that included exhibitions (painting, photography, installation, video) and performances by approximately 20 artists, as well as essays (available on the CD-ROM) on issues of bisexuality, miscegenation and transgender. Includes brief texts on each artist’s work. Brief biographical notes

Queer City : The Queer Series

Presentation, in a newspaper format, of the Queer City performance art festival. Reception of the lesbian performance art of Kiss and Tell, homosexuality in the Native tradition and White reception of Native homosexuality, and performance art in Vancouver in the context of "Queer theory" are briefly commented upon

Coded Territories : Tracing Indigenous Pathways in New Media Art

"This collection of essays provides a historical and contemporary context for Indigenous new media arts practice in Canada. The writers are established artists, scholars, and curators who cover thematic concepts and underlying approaches to new media from a distinctly Indigenous perspective. Through discourse and narrative analysis, the writers discuss a number of topics ranging from how Indigenous worldviews inform unique approaches to new media arts practice to their own work and specific contemporary works. " -- Publisher's website

Live at the End of the Century : Aspects of Performance Art in Vancouver

An anthology made in conjunction with Vancouver’s performance art festival Live at the End of the Century (1999), organized by G. Alteen and B. Canyon. In his introductory text Canyon suggests the 13 essays in this book highlight different aspects of more than 35 years of performance activity in Vancouver. A wide range of issues are considered – aesthetics, politics, gender, sexuality, subjectivity and the body – in relation to subjects such as: the relationship between theatricality and performance; performance art presented through broadcast and telecommunications media; the role of Vancouver’s artist-run-centres; spiritual and philosophical aspects of performance by First Nations; lesbian identity; queer culture; and the influence of drag. Includes a detailed chronology of Vancouver performance since 1965. Biographical notes. 55 bibl. ref

Racy Sexy : Race, Culture, Sexuality : Film, Performance, Video, Visual Art, Writing

This publication documents a cross-cultural event consisting of screenings, readings, performances and exhibitions which took place in community and cultural centres throughout Vancouver. It contains critical essays, prose and poetic works focusing on issues of race, sexuality, identity politics and community building. Biographical notes. 6 bibl. ref

Other Places : Reflections on Media Arts in Canada

"Other Places: Reflections on Media Arts in Canada is a ground-breaking book that documents the historical and contemporary contributions that First Peoples, racialized, differently abled, and LGBTQ artists and administrators have made to the media arts in Canada. This collection of texts and artist portfolios is meant to serve as a foundational resource for artists, curators, and educators who are interested in parsing out the political concerns and thematic complexities that arise from/within moving image practices that incorporate a broad spectrum of intersectional identity-based issues. Instead of an anti-canonic text, this project maps an alternate set of discourses, practices and views across the field since the 1970s." -- p. [4] of cover