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Communicating across and beyond difference | 23 September, 6:10 pm - 8 pm ticket
Wed, 23 Sep, 6:10pm - 8pm AESTPeople: Natalie Osborne (Radio Reversal and Griffith University) and Anisa (School for Social Change) Place: Balam Balam Place (305) Building bridges in a context where they’ve been constantly on fire seems to be one of our biggest challenges this decade. With social interactions reduced to digital environments, majorly controlled but far-right aligned big tech companies, encountering different people, experiences and opinions face to face seems rare these days. In this same context, emotions like fear of the other are being manipulated as political tools for polarisation. In this encounter, we hear from Natalie Osborne and Anisa as we discuss how to reframe conflict as a way of us negotiating differences and building coalition, particularly in a polarised environment where it takes so much more effort to compromise.
People: Natalie Osborne (Radio Reversal and Griffith University) and Anisa (School for Social Change) Place: Balam Balam Place (305) Building bridges in a context where they’ve been constantly on fire seems to be one of our biggest challenges this decade. With social interactions reduced to digital environments, majorly controlled but far-right aligned big tech companies, encountering different people, experiences and opinions face to face seems rare these days. In this same context, emotions like fear of the other are being manipulated as political tools for polarisation. In this encounter, we hear from Natalie Osborne and Anisa as we discuss how to reframe conflict as a way of us negotiating differences and building coalition, particularly in a polarised environment where it takes so much more effort to compromise.
FreeUse arrow keys to change quantityImagining masculinities otherwise | 7 October, 6:10 pm - 8 pm ticket
Wed, 7 Oct, 6:10pm - 8pm AEDTPeople: Gabriela Loureiro (La Trobe University) Place: Balam Balam Place (304) Entangled with the resurgence of far-right politics in so-called australia and globally is the rise of the ‘manosphere’, increasing anxieties about status and wellbeing of men, the romanticisation of traditional binary gender roles, intensifying transphobia. This has included attacking some of the hard-won rights secured by feminist and LGBTQIA+ movements, in an attempt to secure cis-hetero-patriarchal domination. This encounter, featuring Gabriela Loureiro (La Trobe University) explores the crisis in contemporary masculinity, how that crisis is understood and framed by different political actors and through different ideologies, and the attempts to radicalise boys and young men into far-right politics and orientations to gender and sexuality. It will also consider alternative models and imaginaries of masculinity available to boys and men, ones consistent with mutual flourishing and collective liberation across the gender spectrum.
People: Gabriela Loureiro (La Trobe University) Place: Balam Balam Place (304) Entangled with the resurgence of far-right politics in so-called australia and globally is the rise of the ‘manosphere’, increasing anxieties about status and wellbeing of men, the romanticisation of traditional binary gender roles, intensifying transphobia. This has included attacking some of the hard-won rights secured by feminist and LGBTQIA+ movements, in an attempt to secure cis-hetero-patriarchal domination. This encounter, featuring Gabriela Loureiro (La Trobe University) explores the crisis in contemporary masculinity, how that crisis is understood and framed by different political actors and through different ideologies, and the attempts to radicalise boys and young men into far-right politics and orientations to gender and sexuality. It will also consider alternative models and imaginaries of masculinity available to boys and men, ones consistent with mutual flourishing and collective liberation across the gender spectrum.
FreeUse arrow keys to change quantityThe housing crisis? | 22 October, 6:10 pm - 8 pm ticket
Thu, 22 Oct, 6:10pm - 8pm AEDTPeople: Lucia Valentini (RMIT) and Alistair Sisson (UNSW) Place: Balam Balam Place (305) Across so-called australia there is a crisis in housing affordability and housing access. The politics and economics of housing, particularly home ownership, here have been shaped by settler-colonialism and assumptions about what it takes to ‘secure’ a place for our lives, the disciplinary function of debt, the commodification of housing, economic policies that incentivise investment, government disinvestment in public housing, and the positioning of housing as a vehicle for wealth generation, and more. Far-right movements, of course, offer different explanations for housing precarity, blaming immigrants, environmental regulations, or planning constraints. In this encounter, together with Lucia Valentini (RMIT), we will explore the nature of the housing crisis in so-called australia. We will discuss how that crisis is being weaponised by far-right movements, and what alternatives exist that can move us closer towards housing or dwelling justice.
People: Lucia Valentini (RMIT) and Alistair Sisson (UNSW) Place: Balam Balam Place (305) Across so-called australia there is a crisis in housing affordability and housing access. The politics and economics of housing, particularly home ownership, here have been shaped by settler-colonialism and assumptions about what it takes to ‘secure’ a place for our lives, the disciplinary function of debt, the commodification of housing, economic policies that incentivise investment, government disinvestment in public housing, and the positioning of housing as a vehicle for wealth generation, and more. Far-right movements, of course, offer different explanations for housing precarity, blaming immigrants, environmental regulations, or planning constraints. In this encounter, together with Lucia Valentini (RMIT), we will explore the nature of the housing crisis in so-called australia. We will discuss how that crisis is being weaponised by far-right movements, and what alternatives exist that can move us closer towards housing or dwelling justice.
FreeUse arrow keys to change quantityAccelerationism and AI: existential dreaming | 4 November, 6:10 pm - 8 pm ticket
Wed, 4 Nov, 6:10pm - 8pm AEDTPeople: Artificial Intelligence Safety Symposiums (AISS) Place: To be confirmed (Melbourne CBD) The rise of AI, particularly algorithmic decision-making and surveillance systems and LLMs, have had an enormous impact on many sectors - governance, social services, media, arts, education, policing - in recent years. The vast majority of the growth we’ve seen has been driven by a small number of companies, configured by capitalism and, in many cases, by right-wing politics and values. Supporting this escalating expansion of AI tools is the development of data centres, resulting in a range of land use, environmental, and social impacts for communities. In this encounter, we discuss with AISS, the links between these forms of AI, data centres, and right-wing political movements and ideologies, and explore alternative approaches to technology (like luddism and solar punk) that are democratically driven, accountable, transparent, and rooted in commitments to advancing social, environmental, and economic justice.
People: Artificial Intelligence Safety Symposiums (AISS) Place: To be confirmed (Melbourne CBD) The rise of AI, particularly algorithmic decision-making and surveillance systems and LLMs, have had an enormous impact on many sectors - governance, social services, media, arts, education, policing - in recent years. The vast majority of the growth we’ve seen has been driven by a small number of companies, configured by capitalism and, in many cases, by right-wing politics and values. Supporting this escalating expansion of AI tools is the development of data centres, resulting in a range of land use, environmental, and social impacts for communities. In this encounter, we discuss with AISS, the links between these forms of AI, data centres, and right-wing political movements and ideologies, and explore alternative approaches to technology (like luddism and solar punk) that are democratically driven, accountable, transparent, and rooted in commitments to advancing social, environmental, and economic justice.
FreeUse arrow keys to change quantityMelbourne, australia’s ‘crime capital’? | 18 November, 6:10 pm - 8 pm ticket
Wed, 18 Nov, 6:10pm - 8pm AEDTPeople: Emma Russell (La Trobe University), Megan McElhone (Monash University), Tully O’Neill (La Trobe University). Place: To be confirmed (Melbourne CBD) Australia has, in recent-years, been undergoing a prison expansion boom; in fact, despite decreasing crime rates, our rate of imprisonment is greater than that of Canada, the UK, and Western Europe. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People face vastly disproportionate rates of policing and incarceration, and may well be the most incarcerated population in the world. This prison boom is supported by media and politician-driven moral panics about ‘youth crime epidemics’ and racialised ‘gangs’, and the criminalisation of poverty. A relatively new part of this discursive landscape is the rise of ‘crime control influencers’, who have played a significant role in framing Melbourne as the ‘crime capital’ of Australia, and driving support for increased carceral control. This encounter, a conversation with Emma Russell, Megan McElhone, Tully O’Neill and us, will take a critical look at media landscapes, crime control influencers and celebrity ‘crime crusaders’, the role that social media plays in the manufacturing of Melbourne as Australia’s ‘crime capital’, and explore possible alternatives to the expansion of the policing and prison system.
People: Emma Russell (La Trobe University), Megan McElhone (Monash University), Tully O’Neill (La Trobe University). Place: To be confirmed (Melbourne CBD) Australia has, in recent-years, been undergoing a prison expansion boom; in fact, despite decreasing crime rates, our rate of imprisonment is greater than that of Canada, the UK, and Western Europe. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People face vastly disproportionate rates of policing and incarceration, and may well be the most incarcerated population in the world. This prison boom is supported by media and politician-driven moral panics about ‘youth crime epidemics’ and racialised ‘gangs’, and the criminalisation of poverty. A relatively new part of this discursive landscape is the rise of ‘crime control influencers’, who have played a significant role in framing Melbourne as the ‘crime capital’ of Australia, and driving support for increased carceral control. This encounter, a conversation with Emma Russell, Megan McElhone, Tully O’Neill and us, will take a critical look at media landscapes, crime control influencers and celebrity ‘crime crusaders’, the role that social media plays in the manufacturing of Melbourne as Australia’s ‘crime capital’, and explore possible alternatives to the expansion of the policing and prison system.
FreeUse arrow keys to change quantityBuilding multicultural solidarities | 2 December, 6:10 pm - 8 pm ticket
Wed, 2 Dec, 6:10pm - 8pm AEDTPeople: Ash Alam (University of Melbourne) Place: To be confirmed (Melbourne CBD) This continent has, since time immemorial, been a diverse place and home to people of multiple cultures and languages. The period beginning with settler-colonialism has been marked by white anxieties, paranoia, and desires to sustain white possession and a white australia. The politics and practices of white supremacy on this continent have included policies supporting the dispossession, displacement, and genocide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the White Australia Policy, off-shore detention, and more; today, we observe it, as well, in the anti-immigration stance of extreme right movements and mainstream political parties. In conversation with Ash Alam (University of Melbourne), we will explore contemporary expressions of racism, white supremacy, and anti-migration sentiment and politics in so-called australia. Together with the audience, we will discuss how the right mobilises fear of the racialised other to weaken class-based coalitions, and how we can build multicultural solidarities.
People: Ash Alam (University of Melbourne) Place: To be confirmed (Melbourne CBD) This continent has, since time immemorial, been a diverse place and home to people of multiple cultures and languages. The period beginning with settler-colonialism has been marked by white anxieties, paranoia, and desires to sustain white possession and a white australia. The politics and practices of white supremacy on this continent have included policies supporting the dispossession, displacement, and genocide of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the White Australia Policy, off-shore detention, and more; today, we observe it, as well, in the anti-immigration stance of extreme right movements and mainstream political parties. In conversation with Ash Alam (University of Melbourne), we will explore contemporary expressions of racism, white supremacy, and anti-migration sentiment and politics in so-called australia. Together with the audience, we will discuss how the right mobilises fear of the racialised other to weaken class-based coalitions, and how we can build multicultural solidarities.
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