Arse Elektronika 2009 - Of Intercourse and Intracourse

September 23, 10:24 AMSF Movie ExaminerChristopher Smith

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The sexiest event of the year - technologically speaking - is monochrom's Arse Elektronika.

Now in it's third year, the event runs from October 1 - 4th at the Roxie, ParisSoMa and a couple other locations around town.

Far beyond penis jokes and traditional dirty movies, Arse Elektronika is an orgy of big-time brains, deep thinkers, futurists, PhDs, hackers, artists, performers, scientists, experimental engineers and whimsical disruptors determined to give the entire notion of human sexuality a high tech cupcake reach around. Yes - there will be robot sex.

VIA
We may not forget that mankind is a sexual and tool-using species. And that's why our annual conference Arse Elektronika deals with sex, technology and the future. As bio-hacking, sexually enhanced bodies, genetic utopias and plethora of gender have long been the focus of literature, science fiction and, increasingly, pornography, this year will see us explore the possibilities that fictional and authentic bodies have to offer.

Our world is already way more bizarre than our ancestors could have ever imagined. But it may not be bizarre enough. "Bizarre enough for what?" -- you might ask. Bizarre enough to subvert the heterosexist matrix that is underlying our world and that we should hack and overcome for some quite pressing reasons within the next century. Don't you think, replicants?

The event kicks off with a film festival and award gala at the Roxie.

Blowfish and Monochrom present Arse Elektronika 09, a film festival with rarely- and never- before seen shorts and features on sex and technology, and the Prixxx Arse Elektronika Award Gala. Includes the Arse Elektronika Opening Celebration (hosted by Johannes Grenzfurthner, featuring Allen Stein, Annalee Newitz and other human and non-human guests). The Awards ceremony begins at 9:30. Admission = $12.00.

And while not really film-related, I can't help but to point out that San Francisco's Noisebridge will be giving a pretty amazing-sounding workshop on Sunday, October 4th at Noisebridge.

How to build a Joydick: Sex device and game control?
By Noah Weinstein and Randy Sarafan
The Joydick is a wearable haptic device for controlling video gameplay based on realtime male masturbation. Through the use of a carefully designed strap-on interface, the user's penis is converted into a joystick capable of moving the character onscreen in all four cardinal directions. For games requiring the fire button, a separate ring can be worn which converts hand-strokes into button presses. Full details of the project can be seen at http://projects.sfmedialabs.com (NSFW!)

Arse Elektronika has already hustled up some coverge at BoingBoing and, as Violet Blue is involved, I'm certain the 'fest will see some more ink soon.

For more info: Arse Elektronika 2009