Fixed (Regan Brashear)

Fixed (Regan Brashear)
Biopolitical cultural festival

 

FIXED

A new documentary about disability, transhumanism and emerging human enhancement technologies

FIXED takes a critical look at the direction of emerging human enhancement technologies through the perspectives of three people with disabilities, a scientist, a journalist, and a community organizer: Gregor Wolbring, John Hockenberry, and Patty Berne. MIT neuroscientist Ed Boyden, transhumanist James Hughes, MIT robot scientist Rodney Brooks, and bioethicist Marcy Darnovsky also contribute to deepening the issues.

 

What does “disabled” mean when a man with no legs can run faster than many Olympic sprinters? With prenatal screening able to predict hundreds of probable conditions, who should determine what kind of people get to be born? If you could augment your body’s capabilities in any way imaginable what would you do? From pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to neural implants to bionic limbs, researchers around the world are hard at work developing a myriad of technologies to fix or enhance the human body. What does it mean to design “better humans” and should we want to?

 

FIXED sets out to challenge entrenched notions of “normal” by supporting new ways of thinking about disability, ability and difference and to examine how cultural values are deeply embedded in these technologies and in the ever-seductive “techno-fixes” which they promise. FIXED asks us to be cognizant of the long history of eugenics in this country and beyond and to question these technological developments in light of this history. Finally and most importantly, FIXED aims to stimulate public involvement with the direction and application of emerging human enhancement technologies. Who will benefit from these technologies? At what cost?

 

Currently, FIXED is in post-production. Regan will be presenting a trailer for the film at the Biopolitical Cultural Festival. She will also be holding two work-in-progress screenings on __________ and again on July 27th (day 3) at 10:30am in the Cronise Room. She encourages you to please join one of these sessions and be a part of making FIXED as effective social commentary on these issues as possible.

info@fixedthemovie.com || FIXED Kickstarter page: http://kck.st/qE02L6 

Fixed on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Fixed.the.movie ||  www.fixedthemovie.com

Originally from Virginia, Regan Brashear has been working on labor, disability, youth, LGBT, race and environmental issues for over 20 years now through documentary film, union organizing, community forums and teen theater. In addition to making FIXED, Regan currently serves as Co-Producer for THE GROVE, a new film about the National AIDS Memorial Grove, and as Community Engagement Coordinator for the Academy Award-shortlisted film, UNDER OUR SKIN. She is also co-founder of the Making Change Media Collective, which produces videos for economic, environmental and social justice causes.