Alan N. Shapiro, Technologist and Futurist

Blog and text archive about media theory, science fiction theory, future design, social choreography, Computer Science 2.0, new media art, robots and androids, Star Trek, The Prisoner, Jean Baudrillard, Albert Camus, Michel Foucault, and Marshall McLuhan

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Claude Lefort, Political Philosopher

January 31st, 2011 in Category: Claude Lefort

"Democracy" in America is obsolete. It is a simulation of democracy. How do we get back to (or move forward to) being a real democracy? By understanding the lifework of Claude Lefort, the greatest thinker of democracy of our time. By understanding Lefort’s writings.
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Teaching Two Media/Cultural Studies Seminars

January 28th, 2011 in Category: Media Studies, Quantum Culture

I am teaching two media/cultural studies seminars online at the VASA Project, founded and managed by Roberto Muffoletto, director of the Media Studies Ph.D. programme at a major American university.
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Today is a Sacred Day

January 23rd, 2011 in Category: American Football

One of the most inspiring days of my life was January 12, 1969. Super Bowl III. My brother and I watched the game on a small black-and-white TV. We saw the Jets, who were 19 point underdogs, beat the mighty Baltimore Colts. David slew Goliath. It was possible for the most unbelievable of dreams to come true.
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I Love Bologna, Italy

January 16th, 2011 in Category: Photography

Most tourists - for example, American tourists - go to Venice and Florence. Between those two fascinating cities lies the undiscovered gem which few tourists visit: Bologna.
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Science Fiction in Venice: Future Venue of the Quantum Culture Conference

January 9th, 2011 in Category: Quantum Culture

In my Science-Fictional-Becoming-Real imagination, the Quantum Culture and Quantum Thinking conference in Venice will take place at the Liassidi Palace hotel.