Paul Virilio is a French philosopher known for his writings on how war and speed have shaped modern society. He argues that futurism assaulted the human body and ethics through increasingly abstract forms of art. Virilio also developed the theory of dromology, which examines how speed enables domination and how war defines humanity. The performance artist Stelarc explores what it means to be human and questions if the traditional human body is still adequate, as he creates works that utilize technology like AI, robots and prosthetics to extend the human form. The multimedia artist Laurie Anderson also examines humanity's relationship with technology through her pieces that combine different forms and critique technology's growing influence.
2. Some books: War and Cinema (1989) The Art of the Motor (1995) Pure War (1997) The Original Accident (2007)
3. Ideas: War & speed as foundations of society Futurism a direct assault on human body, on representational art and on its ethical limits: the visual arts of that historical period never ceased TORTURING FORMS before making them disappear in abstraction. Similarly others would not cease TORTURING BODIES afterwards to the tune of the screams of the tortured prior to their asphyxiation inside the gas chambers (Virilio, 2003: 87)
4. Speed, technology & war Dromology - the science of speed Speed means domination War defines humanity State of pure war Connected with capitalism and rise of modern city Theories of the integral accident
5. STELARC Performance artist Explores what it means to be human Human body is obsolete: 'It is a time to question whether a bipedal, breathing body with binocular vision and a 1400cc brain is an adequate biological form.'
6. Performance work utilises A.I., robots, cyborgs and prosthetics To extend and enhance human body Explores our connection to technology
7. LAURIE ANDERSON American multimedia artist Combines and juxtaposes forms Explores themes of gender, power, communication and technology Critical of dominance of technology NASA artist-in residence 2004-06
