Academy Of Ideas

Debate at the Battle of Ideas 2015 (http://www.battleofideas.org.uk) With the rise of fantasy and sci-fi, geek culture is now mainstream. Yet trailing its success has come vicious infighting amongst fans. 'Gamergate' moved quickly from a dispute between game developers and journalists to a row over gamers' attitudes towards women. Dr Matt Taylor's choice of a bawdy shirt overshadowed his work in landing the Philae lander on a comet. The rise of social media has led to 'calling people out', harnessing the power of public shaming. 'Social Justice Warriors' have provoked sub-cultures such as 'Sad Puppies', who reject perceived politically correct orthodoxies. How are the frontlines of the culture wars changing? SPEAKERS Allum Bokhari (columnist, Breitbart) Serena Kutchinsky (digital editor, Prospect) Dr Maren Thom (researcher, film, Queen Mary University of London) Jason Walsh (journalist; foreign correspondent, CS Monitor) Milo Yiannopoulos (technology editor, Breitbart)