In addition to the #NOW exhibition (filmschool.lodz.pl/en/news), the meeting with the book authors is another strong point of the programme of the Rybnik Festival of Photography and the Film School in Łódź which this year celebrates its 75th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of photography.

We invite you to a meeting devoted to the book PHOBOS EX MACHINA by Ewa Ciechanowska and Artur Urbański.

The book "Phobos ex Machina" introduces the reader to the experience of manipulation. The title refers to classical Greek mythology, where Phobos symbolizes the God of Fear. On the other hand, the term "Deus ex Machina" comes from the Greek tragedy, describing a situation when a special machine brought the deities to the stage, changing the course of events. "Phobos ex Machina" refers to the induced fear that transforms our beliefs and influences our actions. Based on dual-process theories, our moral judgments are the result of a competition between two types of thinking: fast, emotional, and automatic, and slow, intellectual, and reflective. "Phobos Ex Machina" takes the recipient through both emotional and intellectual experiences. Data and images have been carefully arranged to create a coherent narrative that tries to give a holistic picture of reality, suggesting that due to their nature, trees can pose a serious threat to people. Trees are widely regarded as symbols of innocence and goodness, gaining respect and favour around the globe. What would happen if we carefully analyzed the statistics of tree-related deaths? What would we discover by examining their potential suspicious activity and cryptic communication? Or should we start to feel fear in the face of trees? Even the most neutral photos of fallen trees, accompanied by selected facts, suggest a context related to tragedy and death. Who is the victim of falling trees in the park? Is it people who are at risk from a falling trunk or branch or the tree itself as a living organism? Is it the fault of the tree that crushed the car or the hurricane winds caused by climate change due to exhaust emissions? The answers that come to mind can be confusing.

The mechanisms used in the book to influence the perception of reality pose a real threat to a democratic society. In recent years, many significant events have been significantly shaped through social media activities. The most effective campaigns were personalized, based on the accumulated knowledge about our habits, needs and concerns. Content-presenting algorithms influence our beliefs by strengthening or weakening them, which distorts our perception of reality and affects choices that we later consider to be independent decisions.

The Phobos Ex Machina exhibition was presented in the main programme of the Hamburg Triennial of Photography in 2018, at the Biennale of Photography in Porto in 2019 and the gallery at 8, Ogrodowa Street as part of the Fotofestival in Łódź in 2021. As artists, we have no direct influence on the environment - the world, and what is around us, but we can create situations that open up space for reflection and communication. As Afredo Jaar put it: “Reality cannot be represented. We can only create new realities” In the album that you have in front of you, the Phobos ex Machina exhibition takes on a completely new form. However, it is invariably an invitation to reflect on the essence of our fears and anxieties.

The book is available at the bookstore of the Lodz Film School Publishing House: ksiegarnia.filmschool.lodz.pl/strona-glowna/286-phobos-ex-machina

Meeting: Saturday, 9, September 2 p.m.
Venue: Zabytkowa Kopalnia Ignacy - Szyb Kościuszko, Rybnik

Complete programme: festiwal.rybnik.pl/program