A total of 87 speakers and artists will come together in Sydney this August for the two-day Festival of Dangerous Ideas (FODI).
The annual festival, taking place mostly at Carriageworks with a few events at the State Library and UNSW Sydney, is hinged on experimental, left-field and potentially controversial ideas tackling numerous topics including identity politics, genocide, loneliness, and social media addiction. It was introduced in 2009 as a way for industry thought-leaders to test ideas and add to a collaborative community dedicated to exploring different perspectives on numerous social issues.
For its 2024 edition, FODI’s organisers have wrangled a melting pot of international experts, academics, innovative thinkers and bestselling authors, curating them into programs designed to provoke and challenge guests across August 24 and 25. It’s a lot to take in – over those two days, the program features a total of 88 sessions put together by festival director Danielle Harvey to dissect, discuss and hopefully solve the most impactful current affairs of our time, from cancel culture to geopolitics.
To help you navigate the stacked Festival of Dangerous Ideas program, Sydney Travel Guide has gone through and picked out 8 events we think will steal the show over the weekend, from Roxane Gay speaking on tribal warfare to Masha Gessen discussing the role of competing narratives in the media.
1. The War of the Narratives
Who: Masha Gessen, Hamish Macdonald
When: Saturday, August 24; 2:30pm
Where: Carriageworks
The War of the Narratives will be the only FODI appearance for Russian journalist and author Masha Gessen. Most known for her opinion column at The New York Times, Gessen will be on stage with Hamish Macdonald, discussing and analysing how media present historical conflicts and the competing narratives that play at the intersection of history, propaganda, and censorship. What happens when narrative becomes dogma? Hopefully this illuminating talk will give you more than a few things to mull over when it comes to responsibly consuming media in the modern age.
2. How to Have Dangerous Ideas
Who: Roxane Gay, Narelda Jacobs
When: Saturday, August 24; 12:30pm
Where: Carriageworks
How do we navigate a world run by tribal warfare? Revered cultural commentator Roxane Gay will be heading our way to lead a discussion on the dangers, discomfort and importance of dissent. Gay’s reputation as someone who consistently challenges accepted opinions and ways of thinking should provide some fascinating insights into how we stand our ground and fight for complex, difficult, and – to some – “dangerous” ideas.
3. Uncancelled Culture
Who: Roxane Gay, David Baddiel, Andy Mills, Megan Phelps-Roper, Tim Dean
When: Sunday, August 25; 2:45pm
Where: Carriageworks
4. The Case For Not Having Children
Who: David Benatar, Matt Beard
When: Sunday, August 25; 1:45pm
Where: Carriageworks
Philosopher David Benatar has done plenty of work in the nascent anti-natalism space, discussing the ethics of bringing new life into a modern world saddled with emerging social issues and a cost of living crisis. With more and more modern couples questioning the vitality of bringing a child into this world, we’re expecting this FODI talk to be one of the more challenging as it tackles the very core of existence.
5. The Machines Killing Our Kids
Who: Jean Twenge, Verity Firth
When: Saturday, August 24; 10:15am
Where: Carriageworks
The Machines Killing Our Kids is FODI at its blunt best, tackling the alarming issue of social media and the impact it has had on mental health over the past few years. Psychologist Jean Twenge will tackle pressing issues such as cyber bullying and suicide, as well as its close association with social media, framing smartphones as killing machines and trying to find ways society can regulate and mitigate such issues.
6. Positive Masculinity
Who: Tarang Chawla, Michael Flood, Anna Krien, Monty Badami
When: Saturday, August 24; 5:30pm
Where: Carriageworks
Positive Masculinity will stomp into the murky world of the online “manosphere” and probe questions about sexual assault, domestic violence and womens rights in the modern age. While discussions on these topics have traditionally been led by women, this particular FODI panel will explore ways that men can bring their perspectives (and action) to these tough issues and examine how current ideas of masculinity are being challenged by a generation increasingly concerned with diversity and rethinking regressive traditions.
7. Wrecking the World Order
Who: Avani Dias, Cheng Lei, Hamish Macdonald, Johanna Weaver, Matt Bevan
When: Saturday, August 24; 11:30am
Where: Carriageworks
Journalists and academics will come together for a thorough discussion on the current state of geopolitics and the rather eccentric bunch of world leaders tasked with steering us through various global crises. What does the destabilisation of long-established global alliances mean for the world moving forward? What does trade look like in 2024 and beyond? These are big questions, which is why FODI has put together a prolific cast to lead guests through these talks.
8. A Colourblind Society: Uncomfortable Conversations
Who: Coleman Hughes, Josh Szeps
When: Sunday, August 25; 4:45pm
Where: Carriageworks
American writer and podcast Coleman Hughes has built a name from his discussions on the modern social justice movement and complex issues of race relations. Have recent anti-racist movements like Black Lives Matter eroded the ‘colourblind’ spirits of the original civil rights movement? That’ll be just one of the thought starters tackled by A Colourblind Society while Hughes sits down with Josh Szeps to move away from divisive narratives and towards a more inclusive future.
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
When: Saturday, August 24 – Sunday, August 25
Where: Carriageworks, State Library, UNSW Sydney
More Info: festivalofdangerousideas.com
