South by Southwest Festival Goes From Tech Back-Slapping to Brooding Introspection
Photographer: Robert MacPherson/AFP via Getty Images
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The South by Southwest festival is normally a celebration of technology and a frenzied search for the hottest new startup. This year's event will be dominated by somber assessments of the industry's impact on society.
The annual event in Austin, Texas -- sometimes described as spring break for Silicon Valley -- starts Friday and features art shows, film screenings, tech demos and speaker panels exploring the intersection of politics, innovation and culture.