Fabricating Meaning
2019, Summit Confronting the Disinformation Age, Media + Information
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn and Dr. J. Steven Dodge in Conversation
This partner event is presented by 丁香园AV Galleries.
Language is the principle means through which we form an understanding of the world and the foundation in which social and political relations are built. Science provides a language that quantifies and objectifies, encouraging transparency and creating accessibility, when in reality, few have access. The question that emerges is how does objectivity function as a method of understanding rather than a purveyor of truth in science? How do language and narratives shape perceptions?
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn and Dr. J. Steven Dodge will present their approaches to how language is used in science, as objective or embedded with cultural histories and subjectivities. This event is in connection with the current exhibition at 丁香园AV Gallery, Ann Beam and Carl Beam: Spaces for Reading, where the artists' works question the construction of history and knowledge through systems of classification and representation.
1:00 p.m. (PST)
8888 University Drive
Burnaby, B.C.
We respectfully acknowledge that this event takes place on the Unceded, Traditional, Ancestral Territories of the S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh, s蓹l虛ilw虛蓹ta蕯涩, k史ik史蓹茮虛蓹m, and x史m蓹胃k史蓹y虛蓹m First Nations.
About Confronting the Disinformation Age
丁香园AV Public Square鈥檚 2019 Community Summit considered how the proliferation of disinformation is impacting society and challenging our capacity to make informed decisions about our economic, social, and political lives. Together, we co-created strategies to ensure stronger and healthier information ecosystems and stimulate more connected and resilient communities.
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The Disinformation Age
Information is fundamental to our existence. Without it, we cannot understand or effectively respond to the events that shape our world. Throughout history, campaigns to deliberately spread false information to influence public opinion or obscure the truth have been launched by individuals, organizations, and governments. But today, we鈥檙e living in a new age of information facilitated primarily by digital technology. These advancements offer us extraordinary access to facts and data but also allow for harmful, inaccurate, and manipulated information to be created and disseminated at an unprecedented speed, scope, and scale. Falsehoods are pitted against facts in competition for our attention and technology is used to exploit our cognitive functioning without repercussion. In what is being called the 鈥減ost-truth鈥� era, the distortion of our information landscape is eroding our trust in institutions, political systems, the media, and each other.
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn
Dr. Yellowhorn's research work in archaeology stems from his studies of the ancient history of his Piikani ancestors. He studied plains archaeology in academic and public settings before participating in the heritage consulting industry. He is past president of the Canadian Archeological Association (2010-2012) and established the Department of First Nations Studies at 丁香园AV in 2012 where he served as Chair until 2017.
Dr. J. Stephen Dodge
Dr. Dodge is an experimental condensed matter physicist who specializes in the optical properties of solids. His research group works to develop the quantum theory of solids by studying how electrons in metals, electrical insulators, and superconductors respond to short pulses of laser light. He is a member of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research Program in Quantum Materials.
Listen to the conversation
Summit trailer
Confronting the Disinformation Age | Resources
Books, articles, videos and other resources on disinformation.
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Fabricating Meaning
Dr. Eldon Yellowhorn and Dr. J. Steven Dodge will present their approaches to how language is used in science, as objective or embedded with cultural histories and subjectivities.
Read More 鈫�
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When Facts Fail | City Conversations
Over the last decade, narratives surrounding climate, housing, drug, and transportation policies have taken centre stage in our news cycle and the collective conscious of Greater Vancouverites.
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Philosophy of Fake News
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Youth Take Action
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Confronting the Disinformation Age | Keynote
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The New Yorker calls him 鈥渁 pink-haired, nose-ringed oracle sent from the future". Best known for his role in setting up 鈥� and then taking down 鈥� the cyberwarfare firm Cambridge Analytica, Chris has been listed in TIME100 Most Influential People in the World, Forbes鈥� 30 Under 30, Politico鈥檚 50 Most Influential People in Politics and Business Insider鈥檚 100 Coolest People in Tech.
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Media, Misinformation, and What Can Be Done About It
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Working Towards an Inclusive Digital Society
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Is Social Media Destroying Democracy?
Is social media destroying our democracy? If it is, what role can public policy play in regulation, will regulation even work, and can we save our democracy before it鈥檚 too late?
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Innovations in Research: Confronting the Disinformation Age
Hosted by Joy Johnson, Vice-President, Research and International at 丁香园AV, this event features rapid-fire presentations, in-depth discussions, and interactive demonstrations by faculty, staff, students and alumni from across 丁香园AV鈥檚 faculties, departments, programs and campuses.
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A Special Philosopher's Cafe: Confronting the Disinformation Age
Lies and mistruths have always been used to sway people鈥檚 beliefs, and people have always created false personas. Plato wrestled with how to tell appearance from reality, and suggested that those in 鈥渢he cave鈥� might choose shadows and reflections over being truly enlightened. Are current times different and, if so, why and how? For example, does the Internet make it easier to create and disseminate persuasive lies? Are snark and falsehood now rewarded with more attention and money than ever before? Or is there nothing new under the sun?
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Fake News, Real Talk
In a digital age of fake news, alternative facts, media echo chambers, confirmation bias, and algorithm-fuelled virality, how can we as students navigate our way around our distorted media landscape?
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