Post-apocalypse, empathy and animal life. “Do androids dream of electric sheep?” (1968) and “Arctic Eggs” (2024) | Horror Day 2026

In the 1960s, Philip K. Dick predicted that the last bastion of humanity would be the ability to empathize with non-human animals. In his novel Do androids dream of electric sheep? What separates man from non-man is tenderness towards dying species, individuals, a transiting world.

In the 1920s, I think we have fewer illusions. Crisis (culture, values, human species, climate...?) It causes cruelty. And cruelty is indifference. In Arctic Eggs, a grotesque, post-apocalyptic horror set in the near future, we fry an egg seasoned with a live cockroach in a pan.

Have we changed? Or has it just changed how well we understand ourselves? What responsibilities do we impose on ourselves? Where do we see our end? Dr. Eleonora Imbierowicz will try to answer these and other questions in a speech entitled: “Post-apocalypse, empathy and animal life. Do androids dream of electric sheep? (1968) and Arctic Eggs (2024)”.

The event is part of Horror Day 2026 — 12th Lower Silesian Horror Festival. The theme of this year's festival is POSTAPOCALYPSE. The full program of the event is available here HORROR DAY PROGRAM 2026.

⚠️ Information about sensitive content (trigger warning)

Horror Day 2026 will feature content of a drastic, disturbing and dark nature, including references to: violence, death, destruction and the disintegration of civilizations, zombies and other monsters, blood, wounds, cruelty, disasters, epidemics, and the themes of loss and suffering. Some events may contain drastic or disturbing images, descriptions, and audiovisual material.

The organizers recommend caution to people who are sensitive to this type of content.