Keynote Address by Maya Sharma
Theme: Our Lives, Our Data, Our Interventions
Whether you live in a small town or a village, whether you are in a factory workers’ union or in a feminist group, pleasure is an abiding quality, a propulsive need. Which is why human beings uproot their lives and take massive risks in pursuit of pleasure. But does the definition of pleasure change from place to place, person to person? In this talk by a pioneering activist and writer, prepare to have your ideas about the hierarchies of pleasure among women be changed forever.
Session Language -
Hindi
Audio translation language -
Bengali, English
ISL Availability - Yes
For ages - All
Pleasure Pocket by Rumi Harish
Theme: Our Lives, Our Data, Our Interventions
What is good data? Is it only numbers in a neat table? Here is a story that will make you think again. A few years ago, three queer researchers did extensive interviews to trace a certain history of the trans community in Bangalore. Afterwards they were told that their data did not fit the specifications of academic research. They then turned their data into a multilingual play, Freedom Begum, that in its very first staging in 2019 became an instant legend and loving history of the community. Here to tell the story of how data became a play is Rumi Harish, one of the researchers and the writer of Freedom Begum. Harish, a Hindustani classical musician, weaves into the story of the play a fascinating thread of his own voice -- a voice in transition.
Session Language -
English
Audio translation language -
Hindi, Bengali
ISL Availability - Yes
Pleasure Pocket by Maya Indira Ganesh
Theme: The Body As Data
What do you mean algorithms are opinions and not truth machines? Isn’t technology as clean and neutral as it seems when we type into the empty search box? If you think so, refresh your page! Big data algorithms are increasingly used in ways that make inequality worse. To find out more, listen to this fascinating talk about how data became part of our everyday conversation and how algorithms show partiality as often as your Class 4 Maths teacher.
Session Language -
English
Audio translation language -
ISL Availability - Yes
Pleasure Pocket by Meena Saraswathi Seshu
Theme: Why Are We Scared of Pleasure?
What is it about sex work that it is always discussed in hushed tones? While other services which provide bodily pleasure like a massage are considered a service, why is sex work separated from pleasure? When you unravel sex work from the knots of morality and gender what does it look like?
Session Language -
English
Audio translation language -
Hindi, Bengali
ISL Availability - Yes
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