TORONTO, Digital Journal — The age of the sun. Environmental activism through litigation. Peacekeeping as a national priority. Flying cars. Oral sex as art. Tech design made simple. These ideas are but a handful of mind-ticklers that enlightened guests of ideaCity04. Assembling 55 speakers to lecture at the University of Toronto’s Isabel Bader Theatre, media mogul Moses Znaimer proved that nourishment through intellectualism satisfies our hunger for perspectives both diverse and unique.
For three full days of lectures, musical and comedic performances and schmoozing sessions, attendees (who Znaimer dubbed “idealists”) absorbed the potent words from the likes of environmental lawyer Robert Kennedy Jr., architect Jack Diamond, retired major general Lewis MacKenzie and personal computer inventor Mers Kutt. The lectures were unscripted and often accompanied by fascinating audio/visual presentations or high-res photos. At the best of times, words became clarion calls for change — ideaCity is all about shifting your perspective to see the world in a more refreshing light.
Demystifying preconceptions was one of the strong themes emerging from the annual conference. A blunt explanation of investing from equity research analyst Francois Parenteau went past dividends and profit margins. He attacked financial predictions by saying, “I don’t believe forecasting is in the realm of human possibility.”
 |
Audience interaction and participation stimulated good conversations at ideaCity04. — Photo: djc Features |
Writer, actor and filmmaker Sook-Yin Lee tore down linear thinking by not only stripping off her pants and shirt but also by inviting attendees to participate in a musical orgy of squeals, basketball dribbling and speech-reading. If it sounds strange, you’re in the right frame of mind, but the audience couldn’t get enough of Lee’s experimental lecture, applauding maniacally as she girlishly waved good-bye at the end of her 20 minutes.
On more serious notes, retired major general Lewis MacKenzie imparted lessons on Canada’s recently-pathetic peacekeeping record, adding how politicians should beef up the country’s defense corps.
Stem cell research was also spotlighted with a refreshing perspective from 19-year-old science wunderkind Eva Vertes, whose cancer research experience prompted her to say, “We can’t label stem cells as bad because there is great possibility for future good if we learn more about them.” Vertes was one of many scientists and technologists who insisted that future innovation could spawn impressive possibilities.
Lou Hawthorne, CEO of Genetics Savings & Clone, introduced pet cloning as an idea worth embracing, despite any stigmas that critics might propose. His company has successfully cloned a cat — that, funny enough, looked nothing like the “original” — but is still working out the difficulties of cloning dogs. Cloning pets, Hawthorne says, can save you the pain of having to part with a beloved friend — but it will cost $50,000 to do so.
Paul Moller introduced another idea that took off at the conference: flying cars. Even saying the word “Skycar” can make you itch with excitement, and that’s exactly what its inventor is anticipating. Moller presented intriguing footage and promo videos of his personal vertical takeoff vehicle. The Skycar elicited several “oohs” and “ahhs” from the entranced audience. The Skycar will likely be available in 2010, Moller says, but the sneak peek prompted Znaimer to exclaim, “Paul, make sure you save one for me.”
Two legendary surnames also evoked immense reaction at ideaCity. Robert Kennedy Jr. angrily critiqued corporate greed for causing what he called “pollution-based prosperity.” Speaking through his laryngitis, Kennedy, a lawyer who sues polluters of North American rivers and lakes, stressed the importance of environmental policy, even mentioning how the U.S. November election may propel him to Canada, “if the bad guy continues to be in power.”
Severn Cullis-Suzuki also wants to bring her father’s brand of environmental recognition into the public sphere, albeit with a heavy dose of her generation’s frustration. As powerful as her ideaCity lecture was, it was later overshadowed by footage of her rousing speech at 1992’s Rio Earth Summit. She was 12 years old at the time and battled the “adults who would dictate the future of children.”
Robert Bateman also spoke of his relationship with nature, using his paintings to explain the subliminal majesty of it. Bateman’s paintings (which eerily resembled photos) spoke volumes on sustainability and preservation.
 |
Multimedia and slide presentations engaged the audience and evoked creative discussions during breaks between sessions. — Photo: djc Features |
The artistic realm was well represented at ideaCity, with Terry Mosher, better known as Aislin, walking us through the process as a political cartoonist for Maclean’s.
Another famed illustrator, Anita Kunz, was a speaker at ideaCity04. She has illustrated satiric covers for The New Yorker and Saturday Night and a wonderful portrait of Znaimer for an early edition of Digital Journal. Kunz spent part of her 20 minutes unveiling her latest work — an alphabetized book of animal-human combinations.
The most endearing artistic personality belonged to graphic designer Chip Kidd, whose wry sense of humour turned a straight-forward talk on book covers to a cheeky account of working with picky publishers.
Then there were ideas that expounded on theories that could only come from experts in the field. John Ince lectured on our shameful views of sexuality and “genitality” (my favourite made-up word of the conference). Paul Lewis discussed how American humour changed after 9/11 and science writer Dan Falk attempted to explain the physics of the world with one unified theory. Bryce Rutter implored us to see how the design of everyday objects is unmanageable to the point of frustration and lawyer James Lockyer hypnotized the audience with his experience defending the wrongfully convicted.
Far from just a symposium of provocative thinking, ideaCity04 also stressed mingling with the presenters. Between sessions, 45-minute breaks allowed great thinkers to schmooze with inspired idealists, as the Q&A period became more than just a hands-up yes-you-in-the-back affair. Architects hobnobbed with CEOs, journalists found time to informally question scientists, and friendships formed beside Apple laptops or coffee machines.
ideaCity04 was one of those conferences that made you feel a strange sadness after the final speaker walked off the stage. “How can I go back to my nine-to-five career after listening to such inspiring ideas?” you ask yourself. But therein lies the beauty of this neuron-charging gathering: Znaimer wants us to hold these ideas close, to remember their caution flags and alarm bells. The resulting 362 days of the year cannot just be a time of obsolescence. ideaCity teaches us to seek out information that hides in far-flung corners. ideaCity teaches us the value of individual talents spreading their insights into our field of vision, if we choose to look.
Other participants at ideaCity04 included: violinist/pianist Ariel Kwan; Environics CEO Michael Adams; operational therapist Ted Stout; deep-sea explorer Joseph MacInnis; Mars researcher Darlene Lim; Space Elevator inventor Brad Edwards; astrophysicist Jaymie Matthews; scientist Alexander Tsiaras; filmmaker Alexandre Trudeau; columnist Paul Wells; National Post chairman David Asper; animal-human communications expert Irene Pepperberg; Baroque ensemble I Furiosi; children’s author Robert Munsch; writer Cleo Paskal; director/producer Ken Finkleman; investigative journalist Henry Aubin; treasure hunter Dan Blankenship; Shakespeare activist group ShakespeareWorks; architect Jack Diamond; military surgeon Richard Satava; author Gabor Maté; photographers Frederic Brenner and Edward Burtynsky; guitarist Jimmy Bowskill; PC inventor Mers Kutt; BodyMedia CEO Astro Teller; theoretical physicist Fotini Markopoulou-Kalamara; pianists Richard Greenblatt and Ted Dykstra; Olympics committee member Dick Pound; arts advocate Lola Rasminsky; cultural theorist Laura Kipinis; thumb piano player Achilla Orru; comedy troupe Second City; men’s clothing guru Harry Rosen; and jazz musician Jane Bunnet.
