Natasha Vita-More

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Natasha Vita-More
File:Natasha 2007.jpg
Born 1950[1]
Occupation Professor,designer, author

Natasha Vita-More, Ph.D. (born Nancie Clark in Westchester County, New York [2]) is an American designer and theorist.

She is co-editor and author of The Transhumanist Reader: Classical and Contemporary Essays on the Science, Technology and Philosophy of the Human Future (2012) and designer and author of "Primo Posthuman,"[3][4][5] a pioneering future whole body prototype. Vita-More is a professor at the University of Advancing Technology (2012-current), and a Fellow of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies and the Hybrid Reality Institute. She is currently Chairman of the Board of Directors of Humanity+.[6]

Contents

History[edit]

Natasha Vita-More grew up in a large family in Eastchester, New York. Her father was an art director at Young and Rubicam in New York City[citation needed]. She became interested in the future at an early age, but did not pursue it until having suffered an ectopic pregnancy. From the point forward, her work has reflected a continuous theme about the fragility of life and the possibilities of human enhancement and radical life extension. Vita-More lived in in the ski resort and film festival community of Telluride, Colorado and later Los Angeles. Currently she lives in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Education[edit]

Vita-More received her doctorate from the Planetary Collegium, University of Plymouth, United Kingdom. Her Ph.D. thesis focused on human enhancement and radical life extension. She has an M.Phil. in Media Art & Design from the University of Plymouth, a M.Sc. in Future Studies, University of Houston; and a B.F.A. in Fine Art, University of Memphis; and was filmmaker-in-residence, University of Colorado. She also holds certificates in Physical Fitness and Sports Nutrition from the American Muscle & Fitness Association.[7]

Projects[edit]

In 1983, Vita-More authored the "Transhuman Manifesto"; she produced and hosted cable TV show "TransCentury Update" on human futures reaching over 100,000 viewers in Los Angeles and Telluride 1985–1992; and founded Transhumanist Arts and Culture[8] 1993. She was the Chair of “Vital Progress Summit” [9] 2004, establishing a precedent for proaction of human enhancement (see Proactionary Principle). She was the president of the Extropy Institute 2002-2006, and has been a consultant to IBM on the future of human performance.

Vita-More is a lecturer on transhumanism.[5]

Vita-More on Transhumanism History[edit]

In an interview Vita-More speaks on the history of transhumanism and its main initiators. Here is a short extract from the interview:

The first transhumanist ideas were presented by the author FM-2030 at the New School of Social Research in New York City in 1960s. I started Transhumanist Arts in the early 1980s based on my work generated in the late 1970s while living in Telluride, Colorado. Although FM influenced my work immensely early on, I continue to be influenced by many individuals who have an uncanny ability to understand the complexities of the future and make is warm and delightful.
However, living in California, and perhaps Hollywood, have given me a broader understanding of how the world works. It’s quite an enormous playing field. The incomparable philosopher Max More created Extropy Institute based on his extropian transhumanist philosophy in the 1980s. It was in the early 1990s that transhuman ideas started flourishing and this was certainly due to FM, Max and myself and others here in Southern California.

Practice and theory[edit]

Vita-More is a proponent of morphological freedom and enhancing human biology. To give credence to her arguments, Vita-More supports the Proactionary Principle.

In addition to academic works, she has been featured in Wired, Harper’s Bazaar, Marie Claire, The New York Times, U.S. News & World Report, Net Business, Telepolis, LA Weekly and Village Voice. She makes frequent media appearances on the future and culture, and has exhibited at National Centre for Contemporary Arts, Brooks Memorial Museum,[10] Institute of Contemporary Art, Women In Video,[11] Telluride Film Festival [12] and United States Environmental Film Festival [13] and recently "Evolution Haute Couture: Art and Science in the Post-Biological Age".[14] Vita-More has a bi-monthly column in Nanotechnology Now,[15] is a Guest Editor of The Global Spiral [16] academic journal and on the Editorial Board of International Journal of Green Nanotechnology.[17] Audio and vido interviews with Vita-More can be found at Technoccult [18] La Spirale[19] MemeBox Future Blogger[20] Tin Foil [21] and Wiki Science.[22]

Primo posthuman[edit]

Vita-More has argued that the fundamental issue concerning human efficacy is to improve its condition and survive. Her theory suggests that human nature is built on the premise of problem solving through innovative methods of design. Such theory employs Conceptual Art at its core and includes, but is not limited to, biotechnology, robotics, information technology, nanotechnology, neuroscience and cognitive science, artificial general intelligence ("BRINC"). Primo Posthuman combines bioart and “BRNIC” in reaching past limitations of bioart toward the central issue of extending life well past the Hayflick theory. Arguing for instinctive need and desire to overcome odds such as disease, the original future human body/brain design “Primo Posthuman” is both a media design and a theoretical concept. Her “Primo Guide” gives a brief illustrated introduction.[23]"Citation needed"

Human enhancement rights[edit]

On the surface, Vita-More’s theoretical approach to human enhancement can be understood from evolutionary biology of natural selection; however, it is the human who is making the selection through critical thinking of the pros and cons of human enhancement technologies. Vita-More argues that morphological freedom is the bargaining chip rather than human enhancement being based on an economic hierarchy of those who have power (elitism) and those who do not (poverty).

Papers[edit]

2013[edit]

  • The Transhumanist Reader: Classical and Contemporary Essays on the Science, Technology, and Philosophy of the Human Future. Co-Editor and Author. Wiley-Blackwell. 2013.

2012[edit]

  • “Extended Minds” in Sistemi Intelligenti. Bologna, Italy: Il Mulino Publishing House. 2012.
  • “Epoch of Plasticity” in Sistemi Intelligenti. Italy. (Academic Journal). 2012.

2011[edit]

  • “Human Enhancement: Co-Evolving with the Brain -transformative (conceptual/actual/critical) media” in BEYOND DARWIN: the co-evolutionary path of art, technology and consciousness. Ed. María Gómez-Lechón. Valencia, Spain: SALA PARPALLÓ Diputación de Valencia. 2011.
  • “Zone of Life Expansion” in AI Society, Issue on “Biotopia”. Heidelberg: Springer. 2011.

2010[edit]

  • “Epoch of plasticity: The metaverse as a vehicle for cognitive enhancement” in Metaverse Creativity. London: Intellect. Vol. 1, Number 1. pp. 69–80.
  • “Zone of Life Prolongation” in Technoetic Arts - A Journal of Speculative Research. Bristol, UK: Intellect Ltd.
  • “Bringing Arts/Sciences and Design into the Discussion of Transhumanism” in Transhumanism and Its Critics. Philadelphia: Metanexus Institute. Chapter 4, pp. 79–96.
  • “Aesthetics of the radically enhanced human” in Technoetic Arts: a Journal of Speculative Research. Bristol, UK: Intellect. Vol. 8, Issue 2. Nov. 2010. pp. 207–214.
  • “Life Prolongation: Tools and Consequences” in Nanotechnology Now. Online 7thWave, Inc.
  • “We are Strong: Only Insofar As We Take Advantage of Our Innate Abilities and Build Smarter Tools” in Nanotechnology Now. Online 7thWave, Inc.
  • “Zone of Life Prolongation” in BIOTOPIA (Eds. Morten Søndergaard and Victoria Vesna), New York: Springer Verlag.

2009[edit]

  • "Bone Density" in Evolution Haute Couture, art and science in the post-biological age, Bulatov, Dmitry (Ed) Kaliningrade: KB NCCA pp. 64–65.
  • "Transhuman Statement" in ARTISTS' MANIFESTOS, New York: Penguin Modern Classics.
  • "The Aesthetics of Transhumanism" in TIF English Journal. Institute of Media Arts, Yonsei University.
  • "Human Enhancement to the Extreme: a New Role for Art and Its Media" in INSIDE [arte e siencia] Editoria LxK Pub. Impressao Europress, pp 312–217.
  • "Human Enhancement Aesthetics" in D'ARS, N. 198, Italy, Giugno, pp. 35–37.
  • “Bringing Art/Science and Design Into the Discussion of Transhumanism”. The Global Spiral, Winter Special Issues.
  • “The Mediated Technological Singularity: Human Use as a Passport to Technological Innovation”, in New Realities: Being Syncretic. Wein, New York: Springer. pp. 306–309.
  • Nano’s Neo Normal in Nanotechnology Now. Sep 19. .
  • Nano-Bio-Info-Cogno Skin in Nanotechnology Now. Jan 19.

2008[edit]

2007[edit]

2006[edit]

  • "Strategic Sustainable Brain". Nanotechnology Perceptions: A Review of Ultraprecision Engineering and Nanotechnology, Volume 2, No. 1, March 27. Collegium Basilea, Pub. Institute of Advanced Study, Basel, Switzerland.
  • "The Perfecting of Man" in AnOtherMan, Issue 3, Autumn/Winter.
  • Wisdom (Meta-Knowledge) through AGI / Neural Macrosensing. Consciousness Reframed 2006 Conference Paper.

2005[edit]

  • “Global Design” 1st Annual Workshop on Geoethical Nanotechnology, Terasem: Vermont.
  • “Sustainable Futures,” Death And Anti-Death: Fifty Years After Einstein, One Hundred Fifty Years After Kierkegaard. Charles Tandy (ed), Volume 3. Palo Alto, California: Ria University Press.

2004[edit]

Interviews[edit]

2012[edit]

2011[edit]

2010[edit]

  • "Stem cell wars” in New Scientist (Aug 8).
  • “Media, Culture and Technology” on Techcrunch.tv.
  • “Profile of Natasha Vita-More” on Singularity Weblog.
  • “The Singularity,” Dutch Film & Television Academy.
  • "Transhuman and Human Enhancement," Le Monde.
  • “Ethics and Law of Singularity,” Ilabs.
  • “The Audacious beauty of our future – Natasha Vita-More, and Interview” in Polytopia ezine, (Feb 8).

2009[edit]

  • “Natasha Vita-More and Bruce Sterling at SXSW” for Tomorrow Museum, 3/9/09.

2008[edit]

2007[edit]

  • “The Anti-Aging Movement” for Nutraceuticals World, (Sept).

2006[edit]

  • “20 Questions with Natasha Vita-More” for Tin Foil Music.
  • “Interview with Natasha” for Meme Therapy.
  • “Interview with Natasha Vita-More” for Neofiles #38, with RU Sirius.
  • MondoGlobo #38, RU Sirus.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ http://www.natasha.cc/laweekly.htm
  2. ^ http://www.memphis.edu/alumni/
  3. ^ http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0405.html
  4. ^ Baard, Erik (2006). Cyborg Liberation Front. Retrieved 2009-01-17. 
  5. ^ a b Wilson, Cintra (21 October 2007). "Droid Rage". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-11. 
  6. ^ http://humanityplus.org/about/management/
  7. ^ http://gregladd.bizland.com/store/page1.html
  8. ^ Natasha Vita-More (2008-06-25). "Transhumanism & Transhumanist Arts for the Future!". Transhumanist.biz. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  9. ^ "Extropy Institute Contact". Extropy.org. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  10. ^ "Memphis Brooks Museum". Brooksmuseum.org. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  11. ^ "WIFV". WIFV. 2010-10-13. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  12. ^ "Telluride Film Festival". Telluride Film Festival. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  13. ^ "Environmental Film Festival". Dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org. 2010-03-28. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  14. ^ "Evolution Haute Couture: Art and science in the post-biological age — on exhibit in Kaliningrad from today". Corporeality.net. 2008-08-08. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  15. ^ "Nanotechnology Now - Nanotechnology Columns". Nanotech-now.com. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  16. ^ "Global Spiral :: Home". Metanexus Institute. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  17. ^ "Taylor & Francis Journals: Welcome". Tandf.co.uk. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  18. ^ "Natasha Vita-More on NeoFiles". Technoccult.com. 2006-05-03. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  19. ^ "Natasha Vita-More Interview LaSpirale". Natasha.cc. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  20. ^ Golden, Garry. "Natasha Vita-More: Transhumanism on the Rise". Memebox.com. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  21. ^ http://www.tinfoilmusic.net/artists-at-edge/1637-20-questions-with-natasha-vita-more-part-2
  22. ^ "Scenario: Natasha Vita More - Future". Future.wikia.com. 2010-10-25. Retrieved 2010-10-30. 
  23. ^ "Primo Guide". natasha.cc. 2005. Retrieved 2011-11-07. 

External links[edit]

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