We are excited to announce the launch of the Book and Movie Club “(Re)Imagining Technologies: Pathways to The Future” on Monday, December 16th. This initiative has already attracted over 100 Portuguese-speaking participants from different parts in Brazil, thanks to the established partnership with Instituto da Hora, a non-profit organization founded in 2020 by Black and Indigenous women and led by computer scientist Nina da Hora. Its mission is to decentralize scientific knowledge, amplify anti-racist narratives in technology, and promote digital rights empowerment in Brazil. At Data-Pop Alliance (DPA), we are proud to co-organize this project alongside the Instituto and Eureka.
Remember, this initiative is completely free, and it’s in Portuguese. You can join using this link.
Theme of the Club
This Book and Movie Club centers on exploring how technology can shape more inclusive and sustainable futures. Through books and films, the club invites participants to rethink dominant perspectives and co-create alternative visions of technology that empower everyone.
Focusing on diverse narratives, especially those beyond the Global North, the club examines stories ranging from dystopian warnings to utopian possibilities. By engaging with accessible and thought-provoking works, participants are encouraged to imagine new pathways for technology that foster equity and justice.
How Does the Club Work?
Over the next four months (from December 16 to March 30), participants will co-create new stories and ideas for a more inclusive world. It is important to note that this Book and Movie Club is in Portuguese.
By joining, participants will have access to the following Book and Movie Club features:
Book and Movie: First Month
In this first month, we will read Kentukis by Samanta Schweblin (2018), a novel that explores the complex relationship between technology and human connection. Through the lens of “kentukis”—small, animal-shaped devices that allow strangers to remotely observe and interact with their owners—the book discusses the ethical dilemmas of technological intimacy, raising critical questions about privacy, empathy, and control in the digital age.
We will also watch Sleep Dealer, directed by Alex Rivera (2008), a thought-provoking sci-fi film set in a dystopian near future where workers in developing countries operate robotic machinery remotely for the benefit of wealthier nations. By addressing issues such as economic exploitation, migration, and disconnection, Sleep Dealer challenges us to consider the human cost of technological advancement and the inequities it often reinforces.
In-Person Meeting in Recife
Near the end of the Club in March, we will hold an in-person meeting in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, featuring a screening session and a thoughtful discussion to conclude the Club. Further details will be shared closer to the date.
Join Us!
If the discussion brought by this Book and Movie Club piques your interest, you can join us! Click the button below to learn more and sign up!
