Harmful Thoughts (2022) | Jayne Crossling, Emma A. Jane, Georgia Naldrett & Michael Salter
Release Date: 10/09/2023
The Pitchforks are Coming (2024) - Myra Hamilton, Carl Rhodes & Jordan van den Berg
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Ordinary citizens are starting to realise that their dwindling share of our common wealth is no accident, but the inevitable result of the current system. As life becomes more precarious, has the time come when the ‘discontented majority’ will flex their muscles and seize, by whatever means, a fairer share of the economic and social pie? Or will the world’s wealthiest 1% step back from the precipice by realising that inequality is as much of a problem for them as it is for everyone else? Myra Hamilton is an Associate Professor in Work and Organisational Studies at...
info_outline
Speaking Bluntly (2024) - Antoinette Lattouf, Andy Mills & Josh Szeps
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Journalists play a vital role in a democracy, holding power to account. The traditional model of journalism sees journalists as disinterested seekers of the truth, striving for ‘objectivity’ and suppressing their own opinions. But as newsrooms and editorial pages previously staffed only by white male journalists have evolved, and as the internet has driven the rise of opinion journalism, we are faced with two important questions: Does it matter who journalists are? And does it matter what they think? At a time when media business models are in crisis, how should we think...
info_outline
David Runciman (2024) - Votes for 6 year olds
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
When it comes our most divisive political, economic and social issues there is a fracture between the views of the old and the young. As older generations continue to monopolise wealth and how policy is shaped, younger generations are becoming more and more disenfranchised. The inequality and anger between generations is growing, and it might just be the biggest threat to our democracy. In a world going to be inherited by younger generations, UK academic David Runciman says we hardly ask children about their political views. Perhaps the solution is giving children the right to vote...
info_outline
Counterfeit People (2024) - Lizzie O’Shea, Patrick Stokes & Emily van der Nagel
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
The late philosopher and scientist, Daniel Dennett talked about ‘counterfeit people’ as one of the great dangers of AI – but are we now willing to court the same dangers through our adoption of multiple identities across the metaverse. Moving from the confinement of physical reality to the landscape of the metaverse, where looks, preferences, and genders are limitless, we can each acquire many digital selves. Is a ‘virtual you’ a truer reflection of your deepest self – revealing desires and aspects that otherwise remain...
info_outline
Ending the 'Tyranny' of Pregnancy (2024) - Luara Ferracioli, Brigitte Gerstl, Mianna Lotz & Kathryn MacKay
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Since the dawn of time, our pro-natalist society has implemented certain systems, norms and lenses in which we view child rearing. These often oppressive and coercive conditions make it difficult for many to think about their reproductive options. But with the emergence of artificial wombs and womb transplants, what impact could this have on reproductive autonomy? And what ethical and political questions will follow? Brigitte Gerstl is the program manager for the uterus transplant program at the Royal Hospital for Women (RHW). Brigitte played a pivotal role in establishing...
info_outline
Uncancelled Culture (2024) - David Baddiel, Roxane Gay, Andy Mills, Megan Phelps-Roper & Tim Dean
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Throughout history we have found ways to regulate human behaviour through the threat of social exclusion. But while the idea of ‘cancellation’ is not new, the online sphere has radically shifted the way we hold people to account and punish perceived wrongdoing. Is redemption possible in the digital age? And can narratives of growth and forgiveness help us shift the power from condemnation to compassion? What does ‘forgiveness’ look like in the digital age? David Baddiel is an accomplished comedian, author, screenwriter and television presenter. His works include...
info_outline
Democracy is Not Worth Dying for (2024) - Geraldine Doogue, Masha Gessen, Paul Ham & David Runciman
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Democracy has often been presented as an ideal, where citizens can participate and benefit from a fair society. But as we face growing inequality, political turmoil, and loss of faith in modern life, the price of preserving democracy might be proving too steep. Masha Gessen is an opinion columnist for The New York Times and a Distinguished Professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. They have written extensively on The Russian-Ukrainian war, Israel/Palestine, Vladimir Putin, and Donald Trump. Paul Ham is an author...
info_outline
Jem Bendell (2024) - Breaking Together
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
The process of global collapse has begun – driven by the damage we have caused to the Earth’s natural systems. And governments and corporations aren’t going to save us. So are we going to cling to our old individual ways of fighting each other for the final scraps? Or should we adapt and support each other through this transition? Sociologist Jem Bendell says while it might be too late for the breakdown of society, it’s not too late to figure out how we want to survive this crisis, together. Jem Bendell is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, with twenty years...
info_outline
Contagious Realities (2024) - Alice Dawkins, Natasha Mitchell, Sandersan Onie, Jean Twenge & Sonny Jane Wise
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
The increase in mental health and neurodivergent diagnoses in recent years indicates that we’re more aware of our brains than ever before. Does improved social awareness, self-identification, representation and access mean we’ve reached a turning point in the way we acknowledge and treat mental health and neurodivergence in society? Or are we at risk of over-pathologising ourselves and the world around us? Alice Dawkins is the Executive Director of Reset.Tech Australia, a policy organisation with a focus on regulating digital risks and online harms. Sandersan Onie is...
info_outline
Positive Masculinity (2024) - Monty Badami, Tarang Chawla, Michael Flood & Anna Krien
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Masculinity has become a battle ground. From the gender pay gap, to domestic violence and rape, the idea of what it means to be a man has been heavily scrutinised in recent times. Meanwhile the gender wars – fuelled by mainstream conservatives, technology and social media – has shifted society’s ideas in a dangerous direction. Has the recent focus on women had a negative effect on masculinity? Are men and boy’s feelings of shame and exclusion contributing to a crisis? And is masculinity necessarily toxic? Tarang Chawla is an award-winning keynote speaker, writer,...
info_outlineAustralia is facing a child sexual abuse epidemic. Brought to light by The Royal Commission and stories of high-profile survivors, the numbers are shocking, and the online world is even worse. But this is not a crimewave we can arrest our way out of. Criminal justice is not enough, and the revulsion child sexual abuse inspires can paralyse more effective responses. However, there is a window for child sexual abuse prevention, if we are not too scared to seize it. It’s time to engage earlier with people concerned about their sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children, so that fewer children become victims in the first place.
Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling has been a member of the Australian Federal Police for 32 years. For the past five years she has been responsible for the oversight of teams investigating human trafficking, online child sexual exploitation and cybercrime.
Emma A. Jane is an Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney where she researches the social and ethical impacts of emerging technology. Her book, Diagnosis Normal, explores the complex combination of childhood sexual abuse, mental illness and a late autism diagnosis that led to her being who she is today, as well as exploring the impact each has on so many others in society.
Georgia Naldrett is the Stop It Now! Australia Manager, a program which aims to prevent child sexual abuse by offering anonymous support and advice to individuals concerned about their sexual thoughts or behaviours towards children, as well as affected family members and professionals. She is a psychology graduate with a BSc(hons) in Psychology and a MSc in Forensic Psychology.
Dr Michael Salter is the Scientia Associate Professor of Criminology at the University of New South Wales, where he specialises in the study of child sexual abuse and exploitation.