Red Or Blue Pill: A Series of Panel Discussions through the lense of the Matrix Movies

Join us for diving down the Rabbit Hole! The Matrix series discuss some of the most profound issues such as the nature of free will, artificial intelligence, the nature of reality and social justice. Not to mention transforming movie making forever.

To dive into these conversations, the month of December, we will be having a series of conversations discuss the very ideas coming from physicists, philosophers, researchers in artificial intelligence, and social justice advocates. The first three panels will be divided in specific topics and then the 4th and final conversation will have all the panelists attending to provide their thoughts on the Matrix Resurrections. Stay tuned as how we organize the dates and topics may change.

Please note that most of the panelists will be members of the gender diverse community. The panels will also be occurring on the Zoom platform. Weather you have watched the movies before or need a refresher, we have got you covered. On the days of the first three panels, we will have a watch party at 11 am and then the Matrix 4 will be on Dec. 29th. Schedule will be below. If you can’t join us for the watch parties, The Matrix Trilogy is available on HBO Max and Netflix. I also recommend checking out the Animatrix.

Below are the times of all the events (Note: titles and date/times may be subject to change:

Dec. 4, 11:00 AM (PST):
‘The Matrix’ Watch Party

Dec. 4, 2:00 – 4:00 PM (PST):
Movie History & Social Justice Panel

Dec. 11, 11:00 AM (PST):
‘The Matrix Reloaded’ Watch Party

Dec. 11, 2:00 – 4:00 PM (PST):
Technology and the Future (Virtual Reality/ Artificial Intelligence)

Dec. 18, 11:00 AM (PST):
‘The Matrix Revolutions’ Watch Party

Dec. 18, 2:00 – 4:00 PM (PST):
Nature of Reality (Philosophy, Physics, Neuroscience)

Dec. 29, 7:00 – 9:00 PM (PST):
‘The Matrix Resurrections’ Watch Party

Dec. 30, 7:00 – 9:00 PM (PST):
Resurrections Panel (Full Panel)

Matrix Resurrections Release Date:
December 22, 2021 to both theaters and HBO Max (in Canada). (Please see individual theaters for their specific details).

Costs:
Free, Donations welcome.

Tickets:
Eventbrite link to be shared shortly.

Draw Prize:
1 year Subscription to HBO Max
We will name the winner at the start of Dec. 30th Panel

Who:
Anyone within the LGBTQI2S+ are welcome to attend. Allies can attend, if invited by a member of the community. Suggested age is 16+, due to the complex and in depth topics we will be talking about, but no one will be turned away.

Accessibility:
We intend to make sure this event is as accessible as possible. The event will be closed captioned and we are able to get a ESL or ASL interpreter if requested. If you have any other accessibility needs, please contact Corey.

PANELISTS

Dr. A.W. Peet (they/them)
A.W. Peet is a Professor of Physics at the University of Toronto. They hold a B.Sc.(Hons) from the University of Canterbury and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Their research expertise is in theoretical subatomic physics, and they investigate questions about the quantum nature of spacetime, using black holes as a theoretical laboratory. Their awards include a Radcliffe Fellowship from Harvard and a Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. They grew up in the South Pacific island nation of Aotearoa/New Zealand, and have lived experience of misogyny, ableism, and transphobia.
Contact info: https://ap.io/home/

Dr. Cael Keegan (he/him)
Cáel M. Keegan is a cultural theorist of transgender/queer media and literature. He is primarily interested in the aesthetic forms transgender and queer people have created and how those forms shape our popular lifeworlds. Keegan is the 2021-22 Fulbright Distinguished Research Chair of Arts and Social Sciences at Carleton University and Associate Professor of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at Grand Valley State University. He is author of Lana and Lilly Wachowski: Sensing Transgender (University of Illinois Press, 2018) and co-editor of Somatechnics 8.1 on trans cinematic bodies. His writing has also appeared in Genders, Queer Studies in Media and Popular Culture, Transgender Studies Quarterly, Mediekultur, The Journal of Homosexuality, The Journal of Cinema and Media Studies, and FLOW. Currently, he serves as Special Editor for Arts and Culture at Transgender Studies Quarterly.
Current faculty website:
https://carleton.ca/filmstudies/people/cael-m-keegan/
Book pages:
https://caelkeegan.com/lana-and-lilly-wachowski-sensing…/
https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p083839

Jessie Earl (They/She)
Jessie Earl is a YouTuber, video producer, journalist and writer. On her YouTube channel “Jessie Gender” she uses pop culture and geekdoms as entry points to educate about LGBTQ, transgender, and other social issues. She has also worked as a creator and writer for the LGBTQ magazines The Advocate and Out Magazine, as well as a video producer for Skybound Entertainment, Gamespot, Microsoft, the Seattle Museum of Pop Culture, and more. Most importantly though, she’s a giant Trekkie, so be careful not to mention Spock or she will talk your pointy ears off.
LINKS:
YouTube – Jessie Gender
Twitter – Jessie Earl (@jessiegender)

Holy Old Man Bull, aka Marcus Arana (he/him)
Is a retired Gender Identity Discrimination Investigator and Policy Analyst for the City and County of San Francisco, and an expert witness on gender identity policies for law enforcement. He is a former board member of the Native American AIDS Project and the Montana Two Spirit Society. Holy Old Man Bull is a bisexual transgender Two Spirit who spends his days puttering in his veggie garden, and spending quality time with his beloved partner Nancy and yellow Lab, Frankie. Marcus is Ohlone, Blackfeet, Mexican, Irish, and Scottish.

Stay tuned for more panelists.

Questions or concerns can be directed to: Corey Keith, corey.keith@tvine.ca

Land acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge that the team and all panelists are from the traditional territories of the Lkwungen (Lekwungen) peoples, traditional peoples across British Columbia and across Turtle Island. We would also like to thanks the traditional people’s for allowing us the ability to live, work, and play on their lands.