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

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[…]

A Shattered Whole? Imagining Europe in Pieces

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[…]

Suffering in, for, and with Christ: Faithful CrossFit Bodies. 30 Sept 2015 @ Université de Strasbourg

CrossFit is a fitness regime that has attracted a number of Christian athletes over the past few years. Some of these athletes bear witness to their faith with and through their bodies. Rich Froning, the four time winner of the annual CrossFit Games, for example, has “Galatians 6:14” (“May I never boast except in the Read more about Suffering in, for, and with Christ: Faithful CrossFit Bodies. 30 Sept 2015 @ Université de Strasbourg[…]

Fit Enough for Faith? 26 Feb 2104 @ Univ of Hull

Fit Enough for Faith? Sports, Religion, and Values in the CrossFit Community CrossFit is a strength routine with the aim to develop a ‘broad, general and inclusive fitness’. While the workouts can be done alone, CrossFit emphasizes community and encourages working out together. In fact, this spirit of ‘togetherness’ and encouraging each other to complete Read more about Fit Enough for Faith? 26 Feb 2104 @ Univ of Hull[…]

Machinic Bodies, 21 March 2013 @ IISC

Machinic Bodies as Boundary Bodies: Reflections on the Impact of Body-Machine Images on Human Self-Understanding. Invited presentation at the The Centre for Contemporary Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India, 21 March 2013. Abstract: “Man as Industrial Palace” (1926) is the title of probably the most famous of Fritz Kahn’s, a German gynecologist, body illustrations. It was Read more about Machinic Bodies, 21 March 2013 @ IISC[…]

Some Popcorn and a Movie, 12 Dec 2012 @ University of Hull

In Western Europe, church attendence is in decline, while people flock to the movie theatre to experience grand narratives of good and evil in blockbusters like The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.This lecture will look at popular Hollywood films and argue that going to the movies is not just fun but that engaging Read more about Some Popcorn and a Movie, 12 Dec 2012 @ University of Hull[…]