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(Syn)aesthetics and Performance
Friday March 15th, 5-6:30pm,
Studio 2, Jarman Building,
University of Kent, Canterbury
Josephine Machon, Senior Research Fellow, University of Middlesex
Framed by the ideas and questions proffered in Josephine's forthcoming
book, 'Immersive Theatres - intimacy and immediacy in contemporary
performance', this informal presentation will consider the
(syn)aesthetics of immersive performance. (Syn)aesthetics describes both
a style of performance and a mode of analysis for that performance,
drawing upon neuroscientific research to define its own terms of
analysis. It adopts and adapts specific terminology from neurocognitive
research into the condition of synaesthesia and uses the sensual language
of the science to help explain and describe the way in which we
appreciate certain types of visceral performance, of which the immersive
form is exemplary. (Syn)aesthetics draws attention to qualities of
experience undergone that can lead to a richly layered 'sense-making' of
the work, both in the moment and subsequent to the event. To illustrate
elements of immersive practice and clarify aspects of (syn)aesthetics the
discussion will focus on Lundahl & Seitl's 'Rotating in a Room of Moving
Images'; applying a (syn)aesthetic analysis of the work Josephine will
examine how intimate and (im)mediate embodied encounters enable a 'felt' appreciation of the concepts at the heart of this work.
Josephine Machon
Josephine Machon is the Senior Research Fellow in ContemporaryPerformance at Middlesex University, London. Her book on 'Immersive Theatresintimacy and immediacy in Contemporary Performance' (2013), which profiles the work of Lundahl & Seitl amongst other innovators of the form, will be published in May with Palgrave Macmillan. A chapter exploring ideas introduced in this seminar will be published with Methuen in Nicola Shaughnessy's edited collection, 'Affective Performance and Cognitive Science: body, brain and being'. Josephine is the also author of (Syn)aesthetics: Redefining Visceral Performance (2009, 2011) as well as being co-editor of the Palgrave Macmillan Series in Performance and Technology which includes the edited collections 'Performance and Technology: Practices of Virtual Embodiment and Interactivity' (2006), 'Sensualities/Textualities and Technologies:Writings of the Body in 21st Century Performance' (2010) and 'Identity, Performance and Technology' (2012).
14 Jan 2013 10:30