Modified Future Expand

What kind of future body modification can we get through appearance, function, brain interfaces, and genes?

The amazing report on body modification culture from Japan, the birthplace of cyberpunk! 

In 2023, I gave a class here on the 30 Years History of Body Modification in Japan, accompanied by my own book, *Modified Future*. This time, I would like to expand the future chapter of this book and discuss the future of body modification. This lecture explores how futuristic imagination has been transformed into real world body modifications through four key themes, while offering prophetic insights into the future.

Part 1: Tattoos, with their fusion of machine and body imagery, gave birth to biomechanical styles. Furthermore, techniques like dotwork, abstract designs, and blackouts―which cover large areas―foreshadowed the future of body design. Featuring Xed LeHead, Yann Black and Guy Aitchison etc.

Part 2: Implants. Steve Haworth’s metal mohawk and various kinds of subdermal implants inspired by Science fiction. Later, microchips and magnetic implants became more common, and attempts were made to implant electronic devices with bio-safe coatings into the human body.

Part 3: Neuralink and Brain-Computer Interfaces.

Trepanation, the practice of making holes in the skull, was revived in the 1960s. Today, in the 2020s, advancements are accelerating with the emergence of Neuralink, aiming for practical application within five years.

Part 4: DIY Gene Therapy by CRISPR-Cas9. I will present the most recent information on this controversial subject from a journalist’s perspective, and discuss the futuristic aspect of body modification in the age of artificial intelligence, which I have been involved in.

by: Ryoichi Keroppy Maeda
Slot 14 : Sat. 7pm-8:30pm