A diverse and thoughtful program
The Panoptic festival of Mataró, directed by Elisenda Triadó and Roc Domingo, is celebrating its sixth edition until this Sunday, June 2, 2024. This festival stands out for its diverse program and its reflection on the relationship between leisure and changing work environments. With a wide variety of themes and reflections, the festival seeks to explore the compatibility between technological development and the prevalence of social freedoms.
Spaces and activities
The Panoptic festival takes place in various spaces in Mataró, such as the Old Mataró Prison, Bar Cafè Nou and Foment Mataroní. These places host film screenings, exhibitions and other activities related to the visual arts and thought. The aim of this edition is to reflect on the tensions and confusions between productive and unproductive time, as well as to bring together different perspectives to achieve a breadth of views.
Reflection on technology and power
The festival has begun with the screening of the film “Modern Times” by Charles Chaplin, which raises the question of the automation of production processes. This idea is one of the fundamental premises of the festival, which seeks to explore the implications of digital technology in today’s society.
The panopticon as a metaphor
The name of the festival, Panoptic, refers to the Old Mataró Prison, which has a panoptic architecture. This architecture is a metaphor for the philosophical theory of the panopticon, according to which we are all watched at all times by the machine of power. This reflects the festival’s intention to generate reflection and dialogue about the role of technology and power in our society.
Highlights of the festival
One of the outstanding screenings of the festival has been “Midnight Traveler”, a documentary filmed with smartphones that narrates the three-year journey of an Afghan family seeking refuge in Europe. This film highlights the difficulties and dangers that immigrants face and questions the simplifications that are made of this problem in political and media discourse.
The value of video games
The Panoptic festival has also organized other activities, such as “The video game club”, which has explored the different dimensions of video games and their implications in culture and work. In addition, an exhibition entitled “The Transparent Factory” by Marc Villanueva Mir, which examines the relationship between video games and work, has been held.
conclusion
In short, the Panoptic festival in Mataró is an opportunity to explore issues related to technology, work and culture. With a diverse and reflective programme, the festival invites reflection and dialogue on the challenges and opportunities presented to us by today’s society.