Join Weird Fictions Research Group for the fourth lecture in the Weird Medicine series!
Dominik Kędzierawski
A New Life: Memory, Identity, and Ethics of Mind Manipulation in To The Moon
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
4:45 PM
You can get 3 OZN points for participating in this event.
Where?
Dobra 55, room 01.060
(the building features some mobility accommodations: ramp and lift)
What?
“Memories warm you up from the inside. But they also tear you apart.” – Haruki Murakami
Lying on his deathbed, Johnny Wyles has one final wish – to go to the moon. A quaint procedure led by doctors Neil Watts and Eva Rosalene, can help him achieve that. In order to make his dream come true, however, doctors have to relive his whole life and discover his painful experiences. Will they be able to fulfill Johnny’s wish?
An indie classic, To The Moon is more than a poignant story. It also offers a perspective on how memories shape our identities. What if these memories are erased? How can we interfere with them? Will the progress of medicine result in humanity living through artificial memories? During the meeting, we will take a closer look at the game, which – hopefully – will provide a starting point for a discussion about memory, ethics, and the future of psychology.
Who?
Dominik Kędzierawski is a sophomore in ASC’s MA program and a BA graduate. Current academic interests revolve around game studies and moral philosophy, with MA research focusing on the procedural rhetoric of American colonialism in video games.
