Between Eternal Life and Death Wishes: Imagining Transhumanism in Popular Culture

Posted on January 18, 2021January 18, 2021 by Alexander

Abstract Recent TV series such as ALTERED CARBON (USA 2018) or AD VITAM (France 2019) do not just portray the possibilities of eternal life through technologies often imagined in transhumanist discourses (cloning, mind transfer, cell regeneration), but more importantly they discuss the tensions between wanting to live forever and wanting to die. In particular, in the first Read more about Between Eternal Life and Death Wishes: Imagining Transhumanism in Popular Culture[…]

Judge, Jury, and Executioner

Posted on June 4, 2020June 4, 2020 by Alexander

President Trump, “a” Bible, and the Church of the Presidents – this choreographed presidential photo “opportunity” hit the news and social media over the last few hours. There have been plenty of commentaries on the photo op and speculations what drove Trump’s decision to appear in front of St John’s. I can’t help it to Read more about Judge, Jury, and Executioner[…]

A Shattered Whole? Imagining Europe in Pieces

Posted on August 26, 2019September 25, 2019 by Alexander

In recent socio-political discourses and the right-shift across a number of European countries, the ideas of “borders” are increasingly invoked as harbingers of a new utopia. These borders are both “real borders” (borders of the nation state) that can be physically imposed and made visible through border controls as well as imaginary (who should or Read more about A Shattered Whole? Imagining Europe in Pieces[…]

“Why nature won’t save us from climate change but technology will”: Creating a New Heaven and a New Earth Through Carbon Capture Technologies (DRAFT Feedback)

Posted on February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 by Alexander

A draft version of a paper on carbon capture technologies and religion. Feel free to comment and leave feedback here. Abstract Warnings about climate change often come wrapped in apocalyptic language and scenarios, often as a rhetorical strategy to convey the sense of urgency with which action is required. Similarly, technologies that promise to deliver Read more about “Why nature won’t save us from climate change but technology will”: Creating a New Heaven and a New Earth Through Carbon Capture Technologies (DRAFT Feedback)[…]

Altered Carbon: Body and Mind?

Posted on February 3, 2019February 3, 2019 by Alexander

I was discussing the body-mind dualism (or lack thereof) in the Netflix series Altered Carbon (2018). In my presentation, I argued that there is no real body-mind dualism but that it continues a return to the body of some of its science fiction predecessors. I also ponder over the question why the narrative contains religious Read more about Altered Carbon: Body and Mind?[…]

Losers, Food, and Sex: Clerical Masculinity in the BBC Sitcom REV

Posted on November 15, 2016March 18, 2017 by Alexander

Just published: Clerical masculinities, much like their lay/secular counterparts, often appear unchanging because they are the products of naturalization processes. Clerical masculinities, however, are far from stable, for they live and breathe the dynamics of both their socio-religious context and their secular “others”. The BBC sitcom REV (BBC2, UK 2010–2014) is a refreshing take on the everyday Read more about Losers, Food, and Sex: Clerical Masculinity in the BBC Sitcom REV[…]

Sport as Practice of Remembrance

Posted on September 8, 2016March 18, 2017 by Alexander

In his paper on graveyard commemoration of sport celebrities, Huggins argues that “memorials say something about the perceived personal identity of the commemorated sporting hero.”[1] As such, the gravestone and the memorial might say more about the patron(s) than the athlete. They emerge from and are expression of discourses about gender, power, class, religion, and fame. Read more about Sport as Practice of Remembrance[…]

“Jesus saves, bro”. 24-28 August 2016 @ York St. John University

Posted on February 23, 2016March 18, 2017 by Alexander

On her website, the prominent Christian CrossFit athlete Andrea Ager reflects on wearing a “Jesus saves, bro” t-shirt at a recent competition. She declares: “That day I got to reperesent [sic] for the only brand worth representing“. The ambiguity in the language leaves open if “brand” refers to the apparel or to Jesus or salvation Read more about “Jesus saves, bro”. 24-28 August 2016 @ York St. John University[…]

New Book: Making Humans: Religious, Technological and Aesthetic Perspectives

Posted on February 23, 2016February 23, 2016 by Alexander

My new edited volume, Making Humans: Religious, Technological and Aesthetic Perspectives, just came out. This volume explores body-making as human-making practice because the bodies we have or mould ourselves into are always a socio-cultural and religious expression of the kind of human beings we are or want to be. Visit the Publisher website or read the Read more about New Book: Making Humans: Religious, Technological and Aesthetic Perspectives[…]

How to live forever: podcast

Posted on August 28, 2015March 18, 2017 by Alexander

Leila Johnston from HackCircus interviewed Eric Olsen, Paul Graham Raven, and myself for her How to live forever podcast on 28 August 2015. The podcast is part of her art project How to life forever funded by Brighton Digital Festival, Arts Council England, and the British Science Foundation. Read more about the podcast and listen to it.

Dr. Alexander Darius Ornella

Dr . Alexander Darius Ornella