This is the first experiment at Temporary by Convivial Mechanics. We hope that it will be the first of an irregular series of fireside chats. The format will be simple. People will bring their own cushions to sit on. They will bring a snack to share. We will bring a pretend fireplace. There will be a conversation between two people that will open out into a roomwide discussion. We will livestream the chat and make the video available for posterity at the convivial mechanics website. The topics will be connected, in one way or another, to the idea that we are "stories all the way down".

The first fireside chat will test the format and, if it works, we will return to propose a full series.

The pilot will centre around the work of Bryan Alexander, and specifically his interest in uncanny valley memes, which you can find here. You can find out more than you will want to know about Bryan at bryanalexander.org. He is in Helsinki for a week and we want to hear what he has to say about the fact that "we haunt every medium we make".

The part of the host will be played by Owen Kelly.

Goals:

1. to create a format for sharing ideas while eating snacks; 
2. to provide a venue for different ways of approaching the idea that we have no self; 
3. to bring together speakers and listeners who would not normally meet each other; 
4. to arrange for the differences between speakers and listeners to melt away.

Convivial mechanics names a hypothetical branch of science and artistic research that explores the existence of natural limits on human behaviour, both material and social; researches the implications of conviviality for cultural democracy; and applies this to the design, construction and operation of digital tools that will serve the aims of a reborn and convivial sufficiency.