Good Luck everybody!

If you're into Wodiczko..

As part of my Exilic exam I did a case study on Wodiczko and his work utilising technology to open up communication between 'locals' and the other. Alien Staff for example, is quite literally a staff with a video camera on top which tells the story of the exile supporting it below. The material is edited so that accent/grammar issues are removed, ensuring a better telling and indirectly, more freedom of expression for the exile.
From a multimedia viewpoint debates such as live v mediated through the use of the video camera, or technology overtaking the body or rather substituting it to open poor communications are relevant. Also as part of our course we looked at Kaye's article on Wodiczko; this was about his projections onto buildings, but maybe some examples of Wodiczko's political subversions through technology in other areas may be useful.
In case anyone is interested, the book that I used for Exilic is by Alan Read, Architecturally Speaking, (but be warned: its only a three day loan..)

TIme-based

Hi everyone,

Heres an article on 'time-based media art' on the tate modern website. Its quite simplistic but I think useful if your tackling the exam question, surrounding 'new-media in art'.

enjoy

Zac

Double Agent

This is just a belated advertisment for the Mead Gallery's Double Agent exhibit, a multimedia installation which combines sculpture, video art, film, audience participation and (if you show up on a Saturday) includes artist Donelle Woolford creating original works live in the gallery.

The link above goes to the official rubric (which is pretty basic) but it's an interesting installation, especially if you're considering looking at ideas of performance and performativity.

DJ Yoda (Again)

Just in response to Deans post.

I dont think this is taken from Dj Yodas current tour "Magic cinema show", But its a clearer illustration of his interaction between video and sound. He plays along side the famous 'dualing banjo' scene from deliverance, manipulating a prerecorded performance in real-time.

Zac

DJ YODA... VJ/DJ SET

Just thought that this was an interesting clip to show you all. It also links quite nicely with the powerpoint presentation that I was a part of...

I went to see DJ Yoda in Oxford a couple of weeks ago and he has apparently been working with a technology company in order to develop an exciting, new 'video-jockey' programme. His tour is called 'THE MAGIC CINEMA SHOW' and he effectively controls both video and music in order to create a... magical cinema if you like haha!

It was an amazing experience to go and see this live and I am considering going to see it again. Just thought I'd add it to the blog for people to have a look at.

The Girl with X-ray Eyes

The Girl with X-ray Eyes

Phillip Warnell's new film is being premiered in a
special event at Warwick Arts Centre on Thursday 8th May at 6pm

This is going to be a very unsual event that incorporates music, media and performance. As well as the film there will be a live theremin accompaniment (non-contact intrument often used in science fiction movies, and now very popular with musicians). Also, Steven Connor (Birkbeck) will speak on the popular fantasy of acquiring x-ray vision, and the Werner Herzog short documentary 'Bells from the Deep' will be screened (a rare screening on film).

Following the event (which starts at 6) there will be a reception in the Mead Gallery to launch the book 'The Girl with X-ray Eyes'.

admission for students is only £2.50 - but you need to book your ticket through the Arts Centre box office

Hope to see some of you there....

Genki Rockets

Hi all,

Just discovered a band called 'Genki Rockets' who claim to be totally virtual. Their lead vocalist is represented through a hologram of what is apparently a completely computer generated image. She is a fictional character who was apparently born in space, has never seen the Earth and is singing to us from the year 2037.

I know this is very similar to Gorillaz, but what's interesting about Genki Rockets is that they are run under a veil of supposed total anonymity concerning the artists behind the fictional character. The Gorillaz on the other hand are well known to be the lovechildren of Damon Albarn (of Blur fame) and Jamie Hewlett (illustrator of 'Tank Girl').


By not only hiding their physical forms but also their identity in performance, the performers remove any doubling effect between their actual selves and the representation. This arguably makes their fictitious, computer generated space girl Lumi 'real' and creates a totally virtual performance that can be seen as live because Lumi is the only facet of the band known to the public. There is simply no other element to her existence that could be noticed outside of her hologramatic appearance, and for that reason a video image of her is as live as a flesh and blood appearance, because these things in this context are the same.

This virtuality is reflected in their music, which is also highly computer augmented and synthesised. It's that sort of twee electro pop sound.

Anyway, linkage:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genki_Rockets
www.genkirockets.com

and one of their videos:

A definition of granular synthesis

Here is a definition of granular synthesis in relation to what Ellie and myself were speaking about in our presentation , in relation to Laurie Anderson's Tape bow violin.

granular synthesis is the technique of breaking sound into tiny segments, called grains, and then playing them back in different ways. The computer rearranges the sound fragments into continuous strings or random clusters which are played back in overlapping sequences to create new textures. The grains are very short, a few hundredths of a second. Granular synthesis can sound smooth or choppy depending on the size of the grain and the rate at which they’re played. The grains are like film frames. If you slow them down enough you begin to hear them separately."

Bill Viola's Tristan und Isolde

This link sends you to the sound clip on Tristan und Isolde, that I wanted to play as part of the presentation. The whole interview is useful, but even the first 41 seconds (which is what I was going to use) give a fairly concise overview of the project. I'm sorry that it wasn't part of the presentation originally - I think they have been updating the site and chose today to shut down the links..!

Laurie Anderson

Dear all here is a link to a video 'Langauage is a Virus' which Ellie and myself will be referring to in tommorrows presentation. Just so you can all gain a further grasp and understanding into her work. In this video Anderson is commenting and scrutinising every day uses of modern language utilising screams of pain and over- dubbed Japense film tracks, thus commenting on the terror of communication as she sees it. Any views you have on this video or any of her work will be welcomed as we will refect on them in our write up.

Bill Viola videos

With apologies to Liz...

The Reflecting Pool

Anthem

Hopefully people will see what I was trying to say about the relaxing, meditative qualities of Reflecting Pool.

Videos From Powerpoint Presentation

Here are the two videos that wouldnt work on our ppt presentation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO5PCru_Z-E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=js7Scz6HpTg

The first link is to go with our case study of DJ Shadow. Take note of the equipment that he is using as well as his focus and immersion with his equipment

The second link is of a club in Ibiza showing game-play between the audience.

Sorry these didnt work on the presentation but now you can enjoy them from the comfort of your own home instead

Cheers
Dean and Zac

Short track

Dear Class.

This is a short track Dean and I made as part of our 'Digital Music Technology in Live Performance' Presentation. Its completely built from parts of; Beatles- LSD, Blondie-Rapture, Faster-Manic Street Preachers, Zdarlight-Digitalism and Zorba the Greek. The way it was constructed highlights some of the ideas in our presentation and should put things in a clearer context. Give it Listen!!!

Student Surveys

dear team,

I will distribute the School surveys in class next week but could you please take the time to complete this national survey too...

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/quality/categories/feedback/nss

best

ed

Video Art?

Hi all,

I was messing about on youtube earlier and came across a few videos by this guy called Lasse Gjertsen. He seems to have a lot of similarities with Martin Arnold in the fact that he takes video footage and edits it in order to make a new art piece (although Arnold seems to use found footage that already exists as its own separate entity) and thought that I'd put one of his videos up on here for discussion. He also has a video of himself beatboxing which is in a similar style and worth looking at. What does everyone think of this? Do you think that we can draw comparisons with some of the artists that we have looked at in seminars?

Dean and Zacs research project

Dear class

As part of our research project Dean and I would like it very much if each member of the group could post 1 song of your choice in the comment box, simply stating the artist and title of the song (nothing too obscure) of any musical genre. Thanks

Contact lense Technology

Here is one of many articles on the web about contact lenses being developed that provide computer-aided vision, exiting in terms of the ability to layer virtual worlds in front of the human eye with no obviouse screen or boundary. The technology of the AVIE and the neccesity of the screen seem to soon be obsolete????

Flash Mob Leamington

Just putting this up for anyone that didnt see the flash mob that we did in Tesco, Leamington. However, you may need a facebook account to access it... not sure though.

Sarajevo Story, at the Lyric Hammersmith Studio

Would anyone like to see Lightwork's latest show, Sarajevo Story, at the Lyric Hammersmith Studio, London, from 26 February - 15 March?

Sarajevo Story is a devised multimedia piece and interweaves a number of elements. Its main narrative concerns an American couple - a judge serving in the Bosnian war crimes court in Sarajevo, and her husband, a sound designer based in London and making a major sound installation for the Prague Quadrennial. They meet regularly in cities that are a flight from each of London and Sarajevo - Budapest, Prague, Vienna... Their work leads to opportunities and discoveries that will test their relationship to breaking point.

Their daughter is about to marry an Irishman. The wedding is planned for a barn in Vemont. There are difficulties along the way.

The judge's Bosnian taxi driver tells stories about Sarajevo.

Drawing on verbatim witness testimony, a series of scenes trace one of the cases concerning the Bosnian conflict, handled by the international court in which the judge serves.

And the patron saints of actors, lawyers, travellers, lost causes and sudden death weave fleetingly through the piece.

Sarajevo Story features hyper-naturalist performance (in which a number of conversations are mediated by communications technologies), direct address, balkan dance, and all-through sound and video designs.

It deals with personal betrayals, conflict between those who are inseparable, the business of speaking/testifying/bearing witness/telling stories, the machinery of justice, the contingencies of love and truth, in an international setting. It is funded by ACE both for its R&D (last year) and London run.


Here is a link to further details:

http://www.lyric.co.uk/pl332.html

powerpoint training

dear class if anyone would like to do an intro to powerpoint please let me know asap if you want to do this course with IT services on Thursday 14th February 13:00 to 16:00 IT Services Training Suite

PS I don't think you need it but for those who are worried about using it you might want to do this to allay your anxieties... (its dead simple to use)

Square Map Of Q4

In a paper I came across a dance company called Bonachela Dance Company, who are putting on a show at the moment called 'Square Map Of Q4'. Amongst its physical and sensual components, it deals with the interraction between technology and dance. It is a combination of four individual sections, (Q1, Q2, etc) 6 dancers and bizzare body movements that are characteristic of Bonachela (the choreographer) and his technical critique. Their website (the link) explains,

'Bonachela has a reputation for pushing at the boundaries of what dance can be. In his new work, he explores the increasingly blurred borders between technology and classicism, the synthetic and the organic and between high art and popular culture.'

However, what caught my eye especially, was that they collaborated with lighting designer Alan MacDonald to create a 3-Dimensional effect on the peformance. The idea, apparently, is to use film as a source of light that gets subliminally filtered through the movement. You will see fleeting images, some of which will be as quick as a human blink, adding to the human/technological divide. If you blink, you will miss it. These sources of light would be a lot like the ones we saw in 'OR' by Dumbtype. They are images that, like when a shutter is opened on a camera, are imprinted on our minds until the next flash of illuminating light hits the stage. Photographs are on the website as well as a good few videos on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou1IC3OS7Ak
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-AIU8qaAKs
Rafael Bonachela's website hosts images and records of his work:
http://www.rafaelbonachela.com/web_english/web_content/portfolio/portfolio_choreographic/portfolio_proffesional.html
ESPECIALLY THESE PROJECTIONS:http://www.rafaelbonachela.com/web_english/web_content/photo_gallery/gallery/gallery_21.html

Course Outline Part II. Spring Term

Please Note change to weeks 4 and 7.


Week 1. Case Studies in Contemporary Multimedia Performance I
- contemporary Japanese video performance, Kyupi Kyupi, Dumb Type PH, OR and S/N
Reading:
- http://dumbtype.com/
- Cynthia Gedrich and Woodrow Hood, ‘Noise and Nudity: Kyoto’s Dumb Type’ Theatre Forum #18 (Winter/Spring 2001), 3-11.


Week 2. 15/01 Case Studies in Contemporary Multimedia Performance II
- Blast Theory: Kidnap, Desert Rain
Reading:
- http://www.blasttheory.co.uk
- Matthew Causey ‘The Screen Test of the Double: The Uncanny Performer in the Space of Technology’ Theatre Journal 51.4 (1999) 383-394

Week 3. 22/01 Case Studies in Contemporary Multimedia Performance III
- New Australian performance
- Artspace and P Space
- Monica Tikachek, The King Pins, Tony Schwensen
Reading:
- http://www.performancespace.com.au/
- Scheer, E. (2006) ‘Documents of Paradox: Negotiating Liveness in Video Art’ The Ends of the 60s. Performance, Media and Contemporary Culture, Peter Eckersall and E. Scheer eds., Sydney: Performance Paradigm. 128-35

Week 4. 29/01 Towards a posthuman performance
- Stelarc: Movatar and other actions
- Critical Art Ensemble
- What is post-humanism?
- Cybernetics
Reading:
- Gabriella Giannachi, ‘Cyborg Theatre’ in Virtual Theatres: an Introduction
- Edward Scheer ‘Performing Indifference, An Interview With Stelarc’ Performance Paradigm Journal of Performance and Contemporary Culture. #1, (March 2005) www.performanceparadigm.net


Week 5. 05/02 New cultural media
- Hacktivism and digital politics, activist sites, flashmobs
- Digital performance
- The production of identity in Blogs and Myspace
Reading:
- Rebecca Schneider, ‘Nomadmedia: On Critical Art Ensemble’
TDR: The Drama Review - Volume 44, Number 4 (T 168), Winter 2000
- Jon McKenzie, ‘Hacktivism and Machinic Performance’ in Performance Paradigm Journal of Performance and Contemporary Culture #1 March 2005 http://www.performanceparadigm.net/
- Michael Rush ‘Digital Art’ in New Media in Late 20th Century Art, 168-217.
- John Potts and Andrew Murphie from ‘Digital Aesthetics’ in Culture and Technology, 66-83.


Week 6. Reading week

Week 7. 19/02 Video Installation and time-based art
- Bill Viola confessional video,
- Martin Arnold, Cinemnesis
- Guillermo Gomez-Pena
Reading:
- Gabriella Giannachi, ‘Towards an Aesthetic of Virtual Reality’ in Virtual Theatres: an Introduction
- Michael Rush ‘Video Installation Art’ in New Media in Late 20th Century Art, 116-167

Week 8. 26/02 Performative Architectures
- Rafael Lozano-Hemmer. UnderScan and BodyMovies
- Diller and Scofidio: ‘The Blur Building’ 2002
- Krzysztof Wodiczko ‘Projections’ various 1991
Reading:
- Nick Kaye, from Site-Specific Art. Performance, Place and Documentation, 33-41.
- http://www.art-for-a-change.com/Krzysztof/krzy.htm
- http://www.designboom.com/eng/funclub/dillerscofidio.html

Weeks 9,10. 4,11/03 Powerpoint presentations
- Individual and small group consultations with lecturer (summaries due)
- rehearsals
- Presentations and discussion

DanceForms: Lilac

I particularly liked this piece because it was on of the few on the site that showed group movement and, though I know next to nothing about dance, I can see this being useful to a choreographer as it would enable them tailor large scale dances to the particular demands of a performance space at the earliest possible stage of the creative process. I also think the subtle difference between the movements of the male and female dancers is also a great example of how delicate and realistic this programme can be.

Slow Walk

Hello

this annimation couldnt get any simpler, a figure walking slowly. I think its interesting in terms of focusing on detail. I think the software and technology is helpful in stripping movement down to its most basic and natural level. I can imagine that being very useful for a chreographer, finding rhythmes and styles to basic movement in order to eloborate later. rather like a painter starting with a blank canvas. A dancer would already have a specific way of moving due to his or hers physique and dance training and the software can create a focused artistic vision without any dillusion or misconceptions by dancers themselves. In turn through the clarity of the digital animation other inputs and variations could be discussed.

Something Interesting...

Thought that anyone who was doing there essay on the i-cinema projects might like to have a quick gander at this. Quite interesting in terms of interaction and how computer use may change very drastically in the near future... links with T_Visionarium etc.

Cartwheel Motion

This clip is probably one of the simplest clips from the character motions website. The simplicity was the main thing to draw me to this clip because everything was focused entirely on the moving image of the dancer.

I'm afraid that my knowledge on dance is very limited so I cant really comment so much on the body but am commenting more on the actual technology. The simplicity of the moving image allows for little distraction and helps the viewer to concentrate fully on the image without disturbance. I can see how this could be an effective tool for a professional dancer or choreographer in order to help them to configure dances before they even enter the studio. Very effective