Tech Decay: Neptune Frost

This program imagines the post-tech era in which discarded technological materials take their own course, at times seeking revenge against their creators. Toxic and deadly mining of coltan used to power lithium batteries sets the scene in Neptune Frost (Saul Williams, Anisia Uzeyman, 2021). Core Dump — Dakar (Francois Knoetze, 2018) tracks the effects on humans scavenging and melting minerals for resale, and in A.I. Mama (Asuka Lin, 2020), recycled scraps of tech are assembled to revive forgotten dreams. These narratives surrounding postconsumer tech products shine a light on human efforts to create, control and destroy methods of communication.

Science Fiction Against the Margins, a PST ART: Art & Science Collide film series is presented by UCLA Film & Television Archive in partnership with UCLA Cinema & Media Studies Program.