Manuela de Barros – The Art of Links: How Technology Transforms Our Magical World

Abstract  In this lecture, Manuela de Barros explores how technology has interfaced with the concept of magic since the Renaissance, influencing how beliefs and expectations about their capabilities are formed. She considers how these cultural beliefs endow technologies with magical powers to take care of social problems, inviting us to reflect on their significance in the context of expanding space exploration.  Bio  Manuela de Barros is Assistant Professor in philosophy, aesthetics and theory of arts at Université Paris 8 Vincennes - Saint-Denis. Her research concerns the aesthetics of contemporary art and new media ; relationships between arts, sciences and technologies; the biological, anthropological and environmental modifications brought by technosciences; the passages between sciences and fictional constructions (in art or in literature); feminism and gender. She is the author of several publications including Magie et technologie (UV éditions).  This presentation was accompanied by slides. To view the slides head to ManueladeBarros_Presentation.pptx