LET'S GET CRITICAL: THOUGHT CIRCULATION & ITS MODES OF PRODUCTION #1 'BROWNING THE FUTURE: CREEPING KHALEEJ' Presentation by THE STATE (Rahel Aima, Ahmad Makia) Tuesday, 15th October 19h30 'BROWNING THE FUTURE: CREEPING KHALEEJ' explores THE STATE’s practice, as rooted in the cultural production of the Arabian Gulf. The discussion will cover the future weird & its technological transmogrifications, reverse skeuomorphs, the Pan-Arabian hangover, ethnifuturisms, Khaleeji swag, the sensuous architecture of the printernet, and post2colonial vernaculars. The central questions: can cultural production have terroir? What does it mean to be an artist, writer or cultural practitioner «from» Dubai? And what is the future of futurism? THE STATE is a publishing practice based out of Dubai, U.A.E. It investigates South-South reorientations, alternative futurisms, transgressive cultural criticism, and the transition from analogue to digital. RAHEL AIMA is a writer and an editor of THE STATE. Her research focuses on the intersections of magic, radical politics and non-western futurisms. AHMAD MAKIA is an editor at THE STATE, and is based in Dubai. He is currently researching 3jami politics, and is on the lookout for someone to pay off his student loan. _ LET'S GET CRITICAL: THOUGHT CIRCULATION & ITS MODES OF PRODUCTION is a cycle of events about the production and distribution of critical thought, which intends to incite debate about research methodologies, ephemeral practices and writing as vital modus operandi. Departing from the desire to galvanise the local critical mass, and with the aim of creating a spectre of resonance on the surrounding context and practices, this ongoing cycle of events will comprise a series of seminars, workshops, lectures and a book club, programmed by The Barber Shop from October 2013 onwards. +info: www.thestate.ae www.thisisthebarbershop.blogspot.com
