I’m here tonight to talk to you about one of my life’s great loves it’s a love
one of my life’s great loves it’s a love
one of my life’s great loves it’s a love that has
that has
that has stetic informed my creative output and
stetic informed my creative output and
stetic informed my creative output and my entire identity it began before I can
my entire identity it began before I can
my entire identity it began before I can even remember I wasn’t even three years
even remember I wasn’t even three years
even remember I wasn’t even three years old yet in 1977 and with my dad Robert
old yet in 1977 and with my dad Robert
old yet in 1977 and with my dad Robert and he like most dads in America that
and he like most dads in America that
and he like most dads in America that year took the family to see the hottest
year took the family to see the hottest
year took the family to see the hottest box-office ticket at the movies Star
box-office ticket at the movies Star
box-office ticket at the movies Star Wars and one of the film’s heroes
Wars and one of the film’s heroes
Wars and one of the film’s heroes reminded me so much of my father and
reminded me so much of my father and
reminded me so much of my father and still does good looking well-traveled
still does good looking well-traveled
still does good looking well-traveled intelligent person okati protocol
intelligent person okati protocol
intelligent person okati protocol obsessed gay perfectionist c-3po so my
obsessed gay perfectionist c-3po so my
obsessed gay perfectionist c-3po so my love of robots began not just because I
love of robots began not just because I
love of robots began not just because I found them fascinating but because they
found them fascinating but because they
found them fascinating but because they were family and they were everywhere
were family and they were everywhere
were family and they were everywhere when I was a kid
when I was a kid
when I was a kid TWiki on Buck Rogers was voiced by Mel
TWiki on Buck Rogers was voiced by Mel
TWiki on Buck Rogers was voiced by Mel Blanc the same man who gave me my
Blanc the same man who gave me my
Blanc the same man who gave me my favorite cartoon characters Daffy Duck
favorite cartoon characters Daffy Duck
favorite cartoon characters Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny and the disco
and Bugs Bunny and the disco
and Bugs Bunny and the disco stormtroopers the Cylons gave me my
stormtroopers the Cylons gave me my
stormtroopers the Cylons gave me my favorite colors chrome and LED red and
favorite colors chrome and LED red and
favorite colors chrome and LED red and made the sound of the vocoder music to
made the sound of the vocoder music to
made the sound of the vocoder music to my ears
my ears
my ears and then the best of all the robot human
and then the best of all the robot human
and then the best of all the robot human hybrids the cyborgs whether they were
hybrids the cyborgs whether they were
hybrids the cyborgs whether they were villains like Darth Vader or heroes like
villains like Darth Vader or heroes like
villains like Darth Vader or heroes like the Six Million Dollar Man and the
the Six Million Dollar Man and the
the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman taught me that with
Bionic Woman taught me that with
Bionic Woman taught me that with technology we could be delivered from
technology we could be delivered from
technology we could be delivered from death but that doesn’t deliver us from
death but that doesn’t deliver us from
death but that doesn’t deliver us from evil that is in the choice of the user
evil that is in the choice of the user
evil that is in the choice of the user is our newfound power used for harm or
is our newfound power used for harm or
is our newfound power used for harm or for help does it
for help does it
for help does it enhance our humanity or diminish it the
enhance our humanity or diminish it the
enhance our humanity or diminish it the lessons of the sci-fi seventies segue
lessons of the sci-fi seventies segue
lessons of the sci-fi seventies segue into the poppin and lock-in 80s where we
into the poppin and lock-in 80s where we
into the poppin and lock-in 80s where we all started doing the robot and bringing
all started doing the robot and bringing
all started doing the robot and bringing home our first computers or video game
home our first computers or video game
home our first computers or video game consoles it was the era where women’s
consoles it was the era where women’s
consoles it was the era where women’s fashion found endless inspiration in the
fashion found endless inspiration in the
fashion found endless inspiration in the repla femme fatales Rachel and Priss of
repla femme fatales Rachel and Priss of
repla femme fatales Rachel and Priss of Blade Runner and where James Cameron
Blade Runner and where James Cameron
Blade Runner and where James Cameron gave audiences their most enduring
gave audiences their most enduring
gave audiences their most enduring technological nightmare in the
technological nightmare in the
technological nightmare in the of the Terminator we learned new words
of the Terminator we learned new words
of the Terminator we learned new words and new art forms that decade modem
and new art forms that decade modem
and new art forms that decade modem anime and other words took on new
anime and other words took on new
anime and other words took on new meaning networking cellular escape in
meaning networking cellular escape in
meaning networking cellular escape in the 90s the word cyber entered our
the 90s the word cyber entered our
the 90s the word cyber entered our consciousness the internet entered our
consciousness the internet entered our
consciousness the internet entered our spaces and with advancements in
spaces and with advancements in
spaces and with advancements in prosthetics with implants allowing deaf
prosthetics with implants allowing deaf
prosthetics with implants allowing deaf children to hear the notion of Bionic
children to hear the notion of Bionic
children to hear the notion of Bionic people didn’t really seem that
people didn’t really seem that
people didn’t really seem that far-fetched and that’s where we find at
far-fetched and that’s where we find at
far-fetched and that’s where we find at Clark Community College in Washington
Clark Community College in Washington
Clark Community College in Washington State just across the bridge from
State just across the bridge from
State just across the bridge from Portland Oregon
Portland Oregon
Portland Oregon young on a Lynch study of popular
young on a Lynch study of popular
young on a Lynch study of popular culture in knee deep in 70s nostalgia
culture in knee deep in 70s nostalgia
culture in knee deep in 70s nostalgia with reruns of the Bionic Woman on a
with reruns of the Bionic Woman on a
with reruns of the Bionic Woman on a constant loop and having just studied
constant loop and having just studied
constant loop and having just studied Joseph Campbell’s examination of the
Joseph Campbell’s examination of the
Joseph Campbell’s examination of the hero’s journey
hero’s journey
hero’s journey I took his criteria and applied it to my
I took his criteria and applied it to my
I took his criteria and applied it to my childhood heroine Jaime Sommers for my
childhood heroine Jaime Sommers for my
childhood heroine Jaime Sommers for my first ever robotic writing project OSI
first ever robotic writing project OSI
first ever robotic writing project OSI Magazine the Bible of Bionic love and
Magazine the Bible of Bionic love and
Magazine the Bible of Bionic love and this was in the explosion of the zine
this was in the explosion of the zine
this was in the explosion of the zine phenomenon if you’re not familiar with
phenomenon if you’re not familiar with
phenomenon if you’re not familiar with this uniquely 90s occurrence it’s a zine
this uniquely 90s occurrence it’s a zine
this uniquely 90s occurrence it’s a zine as a small self-published magazine and
as a small self-published magazine and
as a small self-published magazine and it’s usually some sort of something
it’s usually some sort of something
it’s usually some sort of something about popular culture or some obscure
about popular culture or some obscure
about popular culture or some obscure obsession of the author my zine painted
obsession of the author my zine painted
obsession of the author my zine painted the caring and compassionate miss
the caring and compassionate miss
the caring and compassionate miss Sommers as the union of opposing forces
Sommers as the union of opposing forces
Sommers as the union of opposing forces of science and nature the literal
of science and nature the literal
of science and nature the literal embodiment of the future and a herald
embodiment of the future and a herald
embodiment of the future and a herald for the coming technological age not
for the coming technological age not
for the coming technological age not just a television show no the Bionic
just a television show no the Bionic
just a television show no the Bionic Woman is an Oracle teaching us that
Woman is an Oracle teaching us that
Woman is an Oracle teaching us that technology is not something to be feared
technology is not something to be feared
technology is not something to be feared but that’s something if harnessed with
but that’s something if harnessed with
but that’s something if harnessed with the best intentions can take humanity to
the best intentions can take humanity to
the best intentions can take humanity to the next level of existence physically
the next level of existence physically
the next level of existence physically mentally spiritually and it’s around the
mentally spiritually and it’s around the
mentally spiritually and it’s around the same time that mutual loves of mine love
same time that mutual loves of mine love
same time that mutual loves of mine love of theater music and dress-up all
of theater music and dress-up all
of theater music and dress-up all converged when I was asked to emcee and
converged when I was asked to emcee and
converged when I was asked to emcee and perform in a twice weekly drag and
perform in a twice weekly drag and
perform in a twice weekly drag and burlesque show in Portland Oregon at the
burlesque show in Portland Oregon at the
burlesque show in Portland Oregon at the place called the Paris theater
place called the Paris theater
place called the Paris theater and for our Halloween show I decided I
and for our Halloween show I decided I
and for our Halloween show I decided I was going to be a robot yeah big stretch
was going to be a robot yeah big stretch
was going to be a robot yeah big stretch I know and as I was describing my
I know and as I was describing my
I know and as I was describing my movements and my look to my friend
movements and my look to my friend
movements and my look to my friend Michael the word animatronic escaped my
Michael the word animatronic escaped my
Michael the word animatronic escaped my lips and as soon as it did and both
lips and as soon as it did and both
lips and as soon as it did and both froze and looked at each other I said oh
froze and looked at each other I said oh
froze and looked at each other I said oh my god
my god
my god animatronic and in that moment on a
animatronic and in that moment on a
animatronic and in that moment on a Lynch was reborn a better stronger
Lynch was reborn a better stronger
Lynch was reborn a better stronger faster 21st century cyborg super Queen
faster 21st century cyborg super Queen
faster 21st century cyborg super Queen animatronic and where do cyborgs super
animatronic and where do cyborgs super
animatronic and where do cyborgs super Queens go Silicon Valley and that’s
Queens go Silicon Valley and that’s
Queens go Silicon Valley and that’s where in the pansexual San Francisco
where in the pansexual San Francisco
where in the pansexual San Francisco cyberpunk late-1990s
cyberpunk late-1990s
cyberpunk late-1990s I found a home and a calling amongst an
I found a home and a calling amongst an
I found a home and a calling amongst an incredible group of artists and
incredible group of artists and
incredible group of artists and performers who would converge every
performers who would converge every
performers who would converge every Tuesday at an alternative drag Club
Tuesday at an alternative drag Club
Tuesday at an alternative drag Club called tranny Shack and that was where I
called tranny Shack and that was where I
called tranny Shack and that was where I learned how dress up glamour drag is not
learned how dress up glamour drag is not
learned how dress up glamour drag is not just a fun way to comment on gender in
just a fun way to comment on gender in
just a fun way to comment on gender in society but it can be used as a real
society but it can be used as a real
society but it can be used as a real powerful tool for personal
powerful tool for personal
powerful tool for personal transformation and self-realization the
transformation and self-realization the
transformation and self-realization the drag Club is for many transgender people
drag Club is for many transgender people
drag Club is for many transgender people the first public step in embodying their
the first public step in embodying their
the first public step in embodying their true selves and tea shock provided for
true selves and tea shock provided for
true selves and tea shock provided for me a safe space to explore my own
me a safe space to explore my own
me a safe space to explore my own sexuality and gender expression and I
sexuality and gender expression and I
sexuality and gender expression and I found that by taking an aspect of my
found that by taking an aspect of my
found that by taking an aspect of my personality and blowing it up into
personality and blowing it up into
personality and blowing it up into separate persona to inhabit an avatar
separate persona to inhabit an avatar
separate persona to inhabit an avatar IRL drag helped express the multitudes
IRL drag helped express the multitudes
IRL drag helped express the multitudes within me and by living a life of my own
within me and by living a life of my own
within me and by living a life of my own creation even for a night even for five
creation even for a night even for five
creation even for a night even for five minutes on stage I was able to create my
minutes on stage I was able to create my
minutes on stage I was able to create my true self and it was in this hotbed of
true self and it was in this hotbed of
true self and it was in this hotbed of inspiration that I was introduced to the
inspiration that I was introduced to the
inspiration that I was introduced to the work of another science writer who
work of another science writer who
work of another science writer who influenced me very much but not a writer
influenced me very much but not a writer
influenced me very much but not a writer of fiction a writer who confirmed my
of fiction a writer who confirmed my
of fiction a writer who confirmed my Bionic love and transformed it into
Bionic love and transformed it into
Bionic love and transformed it into something so much more Donna Haraway
something so much more Donna Haraway
something so much more Donna Haraway who is a professor and a writer of
who is a professor and a writer of
who is a professor and a writer of several groundbreaking treatises on
several groundbreaking treatises on
several groundbreaking treatises on human machine relay
human machine relay
human machine relay told me I didn’t have to wait to become
told me I didn’t have to wait to become
told me I didn’t have to wait to become a cyborg I already am one fittingly in
a cyborg I already am one fittingly in
a cyborg I already am one fittingly in the year 1984 Harraway wrote a cyborg
the year 1984 Harraway wrote a cyborg
the year 1984 Harraway wrote a cyborg manifesto and in it she makes this
manifesto and in it she makes this
manifesto and in it she makes this statement by the late 20th century our
statement by the late 20th century our
statement by the late 20th century our time a mythic time we are all chimeras
time a mythic time we are all chimeras
time a mythic time we are all chimeras theorized and fabricated hybrids of
theorized and fabricated hybrids of
theorized and fabricated hybrids of machine and organism in short we are
machine and organism in short we are
machine and organism in short we are cyborgs the cyborg is our ontology it
cyborgs the cyborg is our ontology it
cyborgs the cyborg is our ontology it gives us our politics the cyborg is a
gives us our politics the cyborg is a
gives us our politics the cyborg is a condensed image of both imagination and
condensed image of both imagination and
condensed image of both imagination and material reality the two joined centers
material reality the two joined centers
material reality the two joined centers structuring any possibility of
structuring any possibility of
structuring any possibility of historical transformation in the
historical transformation in the
historical transformation in the traditions of Western science and
traditions of Western science and
traditions of Western science and politics the relation between organism
politics the relation between organism
politics the relation between organism and machine has been a border war the
and machine has been a border war the
and machine has been a border war the stakes in this border war have been the
stakes in this border war have been the
stakes in this border war have been the territories of production reproduction
territories of production reproduction
territories of production reproduction and imagination a cyborg manifesto is an
and imagination a cyborg manifesto is an
and imagination a cyborg manifesto is an argument for the pleasure in confusion
argument for the pleasure in confusion
argument for the pleasure in confusion of boundaries and for responsibility in
of boundaries and for responsibility in
of boundaries and for responsibility in their creation and she goes on to write
their creation and she goes on to write
their creation and she goes on to write that her manifesto is written in the
that her manifesto is written in the
that her manifesto is written in the utopian tradition of imagining a world
utopian tradition of imagining a world
utopian tradition of imagining a world without gender which is perhaps a world
without gender which is perhaps a world
without gender which is perhaps a world without Genesis but maybe also a world
without Genesis but maybe also a world
without Genesis but maybe also a world without end and right there in academia
without end and right there in academia
without end and right there in academia that at the end at the dawn of the 21st
that at the end at the dawn of the 21st
that at the end at the dawn of the 21st century I found in theory ideas that
century I found in theory ideas that
century I found in theory ideas that felt like the science fiction I grew up
felt like the science fiction I grew up
felt like the science fiction I grew up reading I got confirmation in the idea
reading I got confirmation in the idea
reading I got confirmation in the idea that with technology we can push back
that with technology we can push back
that with technology we can push back against the rigid boundaries imposed
against the rigid boundaries imposed
against the rigid boundaries imposed upon us that we can take an active part
upon us that we can take an active part
upon us that we can take an active part in our own evolution and augment our the
in our own evolution and augment our the
in our own evolution and augment our the evolution of our bodies of our minds and
evolution of our bodies of our minds and
evolution of our bodies of our minds and take humanity to the next level of
take humanity to the next level of
take humanity to the next level of existence Donna Haraway blew open a door
existence Donna Haraway blew open a door
existence Donna Haraway blew open a door to a path that led me to the
to a path that led me to the
to a path that led me to the most exciting word I know transhuman and
most exciting word I know transhuman and
most exciting word I know transhuman and transhumanism is where all my paths
transhumanism is where all my paths
transhumanism is where all my paths intersect where my love of robots and
intersect where my love of robots and
intersect where my love of robots and cyborgs drag queens and and Regine’s
cyborgs drag queens and and Regine’s
cyborgs drag queens and and Regine’s tekken sci-fi fantasy and reality come
tekken sci-fi fantasy and reality come
tekken sci-fi fantasy and reality come together in one massive boundary
together in one massive boundary
together in one massive boundary shattering field of study it’s where
shattering field of study it’s where
shattering field of study it’s where bionic people become real and is the one
bionic people become real and is the one
bionic people become real and is the one word that best sums up both my faith in
word that best sums up both my faith in
word that best sums up both my faith in the future and my belief in human
the future and my belief in human
the future and my belief in human potential
potential
potential it’s where the science fiction of
it’s where the science fiction of
it’s where the science fiction of William Gibson becomes realized in the
William Gibson becomes realized in the
William Gibson becomes realized in the work of Martine Rothblatt and Randall
work of Martine Rothblatt and Randall
work of Martine Rothblatt and Randall Cooney who may be the people who allow
Cooney who may be the people who allow
Cooney who may be the people who allow us to upload our minds onto digital
us to upload our minds onto digital
us to upload our minds onto digital brain emulation software and have our
brain emulation software and have our
brain emulation software and have our consciousness live on long after our
consciousness live on long after our
consciousness live on long after our physical bodies give out okay this isn’t
physical bodies give out okay this isn’t
physical bodies give out okay this isn’t an episode of black mirror it’s real I
an episode of black mirror it’s real I
an episode of black mirror it’s real I mean it is also an episode of black
mean it is also an episode of black
mean it is also an episode of black mirror but it’s also real and that’s
mirror but it’s also real and that’s
mirror but it’s also real and that’s what separates robots and artificial
what separates robots and artificial
what separates robots and artificial intelligence apart from all other
intelligence apart from all other
intelligence apart from all other aspects of science fiction storytelling
aspects of science fiction storytelling
aspects of science fiction storytelling robots are here artificial intelligence
robots are here artificial intelligence
robots are here artificial intelligence is on this planet and it we are
is on this planet and it we are
is on this planet and it we are interacting with it on a daily basis and
interacting with it on a daily basis and
interacting with it on a daily basis and that is only going to continue to grow a
that is only going to continue to grow a
that is only going to continue to grow a robot was just made a citizen in Saudi
robot was just made a citizen in Saudi
robot was just made a citizen in Saudi Arabia it was a gimmick but it’s really
Arabia it was a gimmick but it’s really
Arabia it was a gimmick but it’s really happening
happening
happening robots confuse the boundaries between
robots confuse the boundaries between
robots confuse the boundaries between life and death
life and death
life and death male and female master and servant
male and female master and servant
male and female master and servant thinking and perceiving male and female
thinking and perceiving male and female
thinking and perceiving male and female ability and disability I take pleasure
ability and disability I take pleasure
ability and disability I take pleasure in the confusion of all of these
in the confusion of all of these
in the confusion of all of these boundaries and as an artist I have a
boundaries and as an artist I have a
boundaries and as an artist I have a unique platform to study and share these
unique platform to study and share these
unique platform to study and share these stories and as a transhumanist I take
stories and as a transhumanist I take
stories and as a transhumanist I take responsibility in their examination and
responsibility in their examination and
responsibility in their examination and the formation of new boundaries
the formation of new boundaries
the formation of new boundaries boundaries that expand and challenge the
boundaries that expand and challenge the
boundaries that expand and challenge the very definition of personhood now
very definition of personhood now
very definition of personhood now Martine Rothblatt who is working on this
Martine Rothblatt who is working on this
Martine Rothblatt who is working on this brain emulation software says that if
brain emulation software says that if
brain emulation software says that if you believe in transgender rights it’s
you believe in transgender rights it’s
you believe in transgender rights it’s really not that far leap to become a
really not that far leap to become a
really not that far leap to become a transhumanist at all in one of her
transhumanist at all in one of her
transhumanist at all in one of her groundbreaking treatises
groundbreaking treatises
groundbreaking treatises she writes that freedom of gender is a
she writes that freedom of gender is a
she writes that freedom of gender is a gateway to a freedom of form and to an
gateway to a freedom of form and to an
gateway to a freedom of form and to an explosion of human potential if you can
explosion of human potential if you can
explosion of human potential if you can accept that a person without a penis can
accept that a person without a penis can
accept that a person without a penis can peaceably live life as they please
peaceably live life as they please
peaceably live life as they please including is a man then you should be
including is a man then you should be
including is a man then you should be able to accept that a person without
able to accept that a person without
able to accept that a person without physical form can peaceably live life as
physical form can peaceably live life as
physical form can peaceably live life as they please
they please
they please including as a human can you accept that
including as a human can you accept that
including as a human can you accept that someone is not automatically passive or
someone is not automatically passive or
someone is not automatically passive or evil or done simply because they have a
evil or done simply because they have a
evil or done simply because they have a vagina instead of a penis then you
vagina instead of a penis then you
vagina instead of a penis then you should be able to accept that a person
should be able to accept that a person
should be able to accept that a person without physical form or a person is not
without physical form or a person is not
without physical form or a person is not automatically passive or evil or dumb
automatically passive or evil or dumb
automatically passive or evil or dumb simply because they have a
simply because they have a
simply because they have a software-based mind instead of a flesh
software-based mind instead of a flesh
software-based mind instead of a flesh based one mind is the substance of
based one mind is the substance of
based one mind is the substance of humanity mind is deeper than matter she
humanity mind is deeper than matter she
humanity mind is deeper than matter she goes on to write that human identity is
goes on to write that human identity is
goes on to write that human identity is limitless and variety and detachable
limitless and variety and detachable
limitless and variety and detachable from reproduction personhood is about
from reproduction personhood is about
from reproduction personhood is about equity not equipment and these are the
equity not equipment and these are the
equity not equipment and these are the ideas that we’re throwing around state
ideas that we’re throwing around state
ideas that we’re throwing around state this is the world we live in and it’s
this is the world we live in and it’s
this is the world we live in and it’s only going to continue and when we are
only going to continue and when we are
only going to continue and when we are confronted with artificial intelligence
confronted with artificial intelligence
confronted with artificial intelligence that thinks we need to know where we
that thinks we need to know where we
that thinks we need to know where we stand we have accept we need to examine
stand we have accept we need to examine
stand we have accept we need to examine the spaces that robots occupy in our
the spaces that robots occupy in our
the spaces that robots occupy in our storytelling before they start occupying
storytelling before they start occupying
storytelling before they start occupying spaces in our society we are on the
spaces in our society we are on the
spaces in our society we are on the verge of creating a new kind of
verge of creating a new kind of
verge of creating a new kind of intellectual equity a new kind of person
intellectual equity a new kind of person
intellectual equity a new kind of person and we have an opportunity and an
and we have an opportunity and an
and we have an opportunity and an imperative I believe in this moment to
imperative I believe in this moment to
imperative I believe in this moment to be prepared because once robot rights do
be prepared because once robot rights do
be prepared because once robot rights do become a rallying cry and they are no
become a rallying cry and they are no
become a rallying cry and they are no longer storylines from the matrix or
longer storylines from the matrix or
longer storylines from the matrix or Futurama we will be forced to look
Futurama we will be forced to look
Futurama we will be forced to look around and examine just how well we’ve
around and examine just how well we’ve
around and examine just how well we’ve done with the rights of our fellow
done with the rights of our fellow
done with the rights of our fellow humans have we been using our time or
humans have we been using our time or
humans have we been using our time or technology our talents to build bridges
technology our talents to build bridges
technology our talents to build bridges or walls the coming AI revolution
or walls the coming AI revolution
or walls the coming AI revolution provides an imperative for us to address
provides an imperative for us to address
provides an imperative for us to address the inequalities that exist on this
the inequalities that exist on this
the inequalities that exist on this planet and to allow us as we become more
planet and to allow us as we become more
planet and to allow us as we become more Bionic to actually become more human
Bionic to actually become more human
Bionic to actually become more human [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Applause]
”
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