Weimar: Conference sparks discussion on techno-animism

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With the kind permission of the Thüringen Allgemeine, we provide you with this article, which has been translated into English.

Weimar. Three-day event at Bauhaus University focuses on avatars, artificial intelligence, and their impact on the Anthropocene.

An upcoming conference at the Bauhaus University Weimar will focus on so-called techno-animism. From January 24 to 26, the Chair of Media Theory and History of Science invites to Weimar under the title "Assistants, Avatars, Atmospheres: Perspectives on Animism in Media Studies and Media Art". The event will explore the effects of the introduction of new technologies on the way we experience our environment.

In a world where more and more objects, plants, and machines are considered animate and endowed with human characteristics, the conference turns its attention to techno-animism. Discussions about the individual personalities of devices - suggested, for example, by voice assistants like Siri or Alexa - as well as the active involvement of artificial intelligences in creative processes bring animistic perspectives to the fore. According to the organizers, these perspectives are particularly relevant in the Anthropocene, the geological epoch in which humans are exerting a significant influence on the Earth and its ecosystems.

Insight into the research at Bauhaus University
The three central themes of the event are "Assistants," "Avatars," and "Atmospheres. Speakers include Anselm Franke and Angela Melitopoulos (the duo Ruth Anderwald and Leonhard Grond), Volker Bernhard, Jenny Brockmann, Judith Dörrenbächer, Anselm Franke, Leonhard Grond, and Moritz Hiller. In addition, a visit to three laboratories at the Bauhaus University will provide insight into current research processes on these topics and allow participants to experience their practical implications firsthand.