FESTIVAL of DANGEROUS IDEAS 5-6 September 2015, Sydney Opera House
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SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE & THE ETHICS CENTRE PRESENT FESTIVAL OF DANGEROUS IDEAS 5-6 September 2015, Sydney Opera House ROBOTS. SHAME CULTURE. CLIMATE CHANGE. SATIRE. ADDICTION. TARIQ ALI / FRANK BRENNAN / ANNA BROINOWSKI / PETER DOHERTY CLEMENTINE FORD / MARTIN FORD / DAMON GAMEAU / DENNIS GLOVER / AC GRAYLING PETER GRESTE / JOHANN HARI / EMMA JANE / HELEN JOYCE / SUKI KIM / MICHAEL KIRBY / NAOMI KLEIN PAUL KRUGMAN / MARC LEWIS / MIRIAM LYONS / JANE MARTIN / MALARNDIRRI MCCARTHY CHRIS MUNRO / LAURIE PENNY / GIDEON RAFF / HELEN RAZER / JON RONSON / JOHN SAFRAN ERIC SCHLOSSER / SARAI WALKER / MICHAEL WESLEY / MURONG XUECUN THE MOTH / THE NEW SATIRISTS Entering its seventh year, the Festival of Dangerous Ideas returns to the Sydney Opera House stages and online to present leading thinkers and culture creators from around the world discussing and debating some of the most important issues of our time. FODI 2015 HIGHLIGHTS: • Opening-night keynote from award-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, discussing the resilience of bad ideas • Climate change warrior and author of This Changes Everything, Naomi Klein • Leading political commentator Tariq Ali on the twilight of democracy and the rise of the extreme centre • Developmental neuroscientist and former addict Marc Lewis asking what if addiction isn’t a disease after all? • Eric Schlosser on why we can’t keep nuclear weapons safe • Jon Ronson, FODI alumni and one of the most requested return speakers, discussing shame culture and his recent bestseller, So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed st • Philosopher AC Grayling discussing what education should really look like in the 21 century • Helen Joyce, International Editor of The Economist, on the right to die • Feminist journalist and author Laurie Penny on the straitjacket of masculinity • Chinese popular author Murong Xuecun discussing censorship in China • A VICE panel on incarceration, featuring John Safran, Eric Schlosser and Chris Munro • Local icons including Peter Greste on journalistic freedom; Sarah Wilson, Damon Gameau and Jane Martin on sugar as the new tobacco; Helen Razer against compassion; Michael Kirby and Anna Broinowski on North Korea; and The New Satirists, led by FODI favourite Dan Ilic with Sydney’s most serious comedians • Closing night with New York’s cult-favourite storytelling group (and podcast) The Moth Download images and further information: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zpjbhbzsd6y8etc/AABOf5aSCf5l5Jw7GJtrIbI1a?dl=0 KEY MOMENTS: • Festival of Dangerous Ideas at Melbourne Writers Festival (28-30 August) will feature key FODI speakers Tariq Ali, Naomi Klein, Marc Lewis, Jon Ronson and Eric Schlosser, offering Melbourne audiences a snapshot of FODI within the MWF program • Online FODI web-series from Kacie Anning, the maker of The Minister for Men (All About Women 2015), due for release in August 2015 • Local artist Elliott Routledge (AKA Numskull) commissioned to illustrate unique FODI artwork • Satellite Events - performing arts centres around Australia have the opportunity to present FODI content livestreamed from the Sydney Opera House; click here for more information • FODI content filmed and available online by Monday 7 September via the Ideas at the House YouTube channel or recorded as podcasts and available via the Ideas at the House iTunes store Consisting of 22 solo sessions and 10 panels or shows featuring a diverse range of international and local speakers, the Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI) will tackle ideas including the economy, capitalism and climate change, artificial intelligence, cybersexism and addiction. Head of Talks and Ideas at the Sydney Opera House and co-curator of Festival of Dangerous Ideas Ann Mossop said, “From international affairs to the rise of robots, the Festival of Dangerous Ideas brings some of the world’s most exciting thinkers to the Sydney Opera House stages and online to throw down the gauntlet and challenge pre-conceived ideas about topics as diverse as incarceration, drug addiction, education and democracy. Whether they are ideas that people have been concerned about since the beginning of time, or ideas on the cusp of our consciousness, we’ll be exploring them at the Festival.” Executive Director of The Ethics Centre Simon Longstaff said, “You could say that danger lies in the eye of the beholder – but that's only true to a degree. Some ideas are dangerous at their very core, despite where they sit on your radar. That the global stocks of nuclear weapons might be out of our control, that democracy is set for failure, that compassion is obsolete in a modern world, that capitalism is at war with our planet. There is no wishing away such ideas. They tug at the sleeve of our consciousness, they nip our conscience. So rather than retreat into comfort and certainty, let us face up to them – at FODI.” KEY INFORMATION: Event: Festival of Dangerous Ideas Dates: 5-6 September, various times Venue: Sydney Opera House, various venues Tickets: From $25, multipack discount available Bookings: (02) 9250 7777 or online at www.sydneyoperahouse.com On-sale: Multipacks on sale Monday 20 July Single tickets on sale from Wednesday 22 July More info: www.sydneyoperahouse.com/fodi Event: Festival of Dangerous Ideas at Melbourne Writers Festival Date: 29-30 August, various times Venue: Deakin Edge, Fed Square & the Athenaeum Theatre Tickets: $22/$19 or see all five sessions and save with a Festival 5 Pack Bookings: www.mwf.com.au On-sale: Single tickets on sale or save with a Festival 5 Pack from 24 July More info: www.mwf.com.au ABOUT IDEAS AT THE HOUSE: Festival of Dangerous Ideas is part of the year-round Ideas at the House program at the Sydney Opera House, which presents great ideas, extraordinary people and key moments in contemporary culture. Ideas at the House consists of a series of talks and festivals on the Sydney Opera House stages and extends the reach of live productions by creating unique online content, livestreams and satellite events. Ideas at the House also features the All About Women festival, celebrating the stories of phenomenal women and taking place on or around International Women’s Day, Carnegie Conversations: Ideas for a better Australia and the For Thought series, partnering with the University of Melbourne to delve deeper into a range of topics. Follow us on Twitter @ideasatthehouse Like us on Facebook Catch up on previous Ideas at the House talks on YouTube or via podcasts on iTunes #FODI MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Julia Lenton / Senior Publicist / 02 9250 7825 / +61 410 748 039 / [email protected] FESTIVAL CO-PRESENTER: EVENT PARTNER: .