Special Events and Series

With panels, discussions, and demonstrations, Dreaming with Eyes Open will bring together leading Virtual Reality (VR) artists, philosophers, theorists, and technologists to explore the revolutionary implications of this rich, immersive medium. Hear from Academy Award–winning visual effects artist Kevin Mack of Shape Space; groundbreaking artist Asad J. Malik, whose 1RIC Studio focuses on telling the stories of culturally underrepresented voices through augmented reality; Janet H. Murray, author of Hamlet on the Holodeck; Amelia Winger-Bearskin, who is co-directing a 360 video story about Native American monsters; USC Dornsife philosophy professor Kadri Vihvelin; and UC Irvine professor of cognitive science Donald Hoffman, who wrote the provocative and widely circulated article “The Case Against Reality.”

While autonomy is a feature of much organic life, it is perhaps the defining feature of human existence. It is also, however, a distinguishing facet of much recent technology; a new cohort of artificially intelligent machines, systems, and agents that operate increasingly without human intervention. The most conspicuous examples include driverless automobiles, autonomous weapons, social media bots, assistive robots, and devices comprising the Internet of Things. But all algorithmically-automated systems with which we now engage are self-governing to a degree. In what ways might the increased autonomy of these systems affect our own agency? How might our use of such systems impact how we function as humans? Or how we see ourselves as human? How might they alter our dynamics with each other?

Join us for a day of discussion about our past, present, and future relationship with autonomous technologies. In a series of panels, faculty from computer science, engineering, robotics, the humanities, and the social sciences will reflect on the applications, ethics, and history of these systems.

Join the Harman Academy and the Department of Anthropology in celebrating the launch of Professor Tok Thompson's new book, Posthuman Folklore! There will be a discussion about the book, with copies available for purchase. Tok Thompson will be available for book signings, and refreshments will be provided. This event is open to all, with no RSVP required.

 

 

After the 2016 election, pundits and commentators questioned aloud: How did Trump win the rural, white poor? Why did they (seemingly) vote against their own economic interests? To many, the answer was anger, fueled by unemployment, identity politics, and bigotry. To others, it was due to a campaign of misinformation decades in the making, formed by an intense, right-wing "fake news" media bubble. But either way, it was difficult, perhaps impossible, for those on the outside to understand those within these communities--yet it is our ethical...

HEALING ARTS: The Polymathic Collection of Dr. Eugene Rogolsky

From Chicano street art to gay inspired photographs, prints, paintings and sculptures, the polymathic collection of Dr. Eugene Rogolsky, on exhibit at the USC Fisher Museum of Art, is "complex and introspective, and range from sacred to profane." Please join us in a Trojan Family Weekend special event co-sponsored by the Harman Academy for Polymathic Study and Fisher Museum of Art featuring a discussion with noted physician, art collector, Keck Medical professor and practitioner Dr. ...