This session will examine notions of conservation, preservation, enclosure, homeostasis and ecosystemic thinking.

Silent Running (1972) Directed by Douglas Trumbull, 89 Mins.

In a future Earth barren of all flora and fauna, the planet’s ecosystems exist only in large pods attached to spacecraft. When word comes in that the pods are to be jettisoned into space and destroyed so that the spacecraft can be reused for commercial purposes, most of the crew of the Valley Forge rejoice at the prospect of going home. Not so for botanist Freeman Lowell who loves the forest and its creatures, so decides to take matters into his own hands to protect what he loves.

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Mood Keep (2018) directed by Alice dos Reis, 14 mins

The world population of captive axolotl has had enough of the aggressive electric lights of their aquariums. Communicating via wireless waves and watching anime telepathically, they decide to develop eyelids to shut their eyes, reclaim the agency of their bodies and encourage empathic communication. Alice dos Reis’ Mood Keep imagines this collective moment of rebellion and resistance of the endangered salamanders.

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For those that wish to participate, the screenings will be followed by a group discussion of the films and assigned reading, found here: www.are.na