Please distribute to others who may be interested... You are hereby invited to a seminar in our twelfth interdisciplinary series on Evolution, Complexity and Cognition <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/108> (ECCO 2016-2017) <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marjoriikka_Ylisiurua>
Time: Friday April 7, 14h-16h Place: *room * *D.1.07*, building D, VUB ------------------------------ THE MACHINE (pt. 1) Orion Maxted <http://www.ahk.nl/en/atd/graduates/2016/student/orion-maxted/> *Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)* Abstract: 1. [THE MACHINE], example video <https://vimeo.com/126358561>, is a theatre performance and thinking-together technology that I began in 2014. It involves giving actors simple formal/musical/linguistic rules so they can copy language from one to the other and apply transformations to the language, and create a stream of new language, new language combinations and new ideas. In the process of developing this work I realized that I was developing a working 'toy' cybernetic system, (albeit with a very 'fuzzy' one with various 'crutches' that performance allows), and that there are deep connections between cybernetics and theatre, in particular, improvised theatre, which has evolved all manner of rules to incorporate change, novelty, and 'keep going' on stage -- whilst also managing and challenging the system of the audience, aka observers. The simple version of the frame I have been giving my research is 'making computers out of people'. Initially there is something counter-intuitive about this artistic strategy, but it seems more and more to be a playful, and generative movement on the axis of technological development, demarcated as sign > information > algorithm > intelligence; and seems to open up many questions similar in type, I gather, to those proposed by GBI / ECCO. One of the things this type of methodology offers is the opportunity to feel ones-self 'inside' a cybernetic model. I also have felt, particularly at moments of peak performance (which is after many hours of practice with a group of people being the system) a tangible sensation of thinking together with the co-performers (/agents/components) -- a feeling of forming a single collective consciousness that we were all a part of but none of us could fully control. I intuit that this kind of subjective research would also be of interest to the GBI / ECCO. Also it seems that there are very interesting connections between this work and the work of the GBI / ECCO, for example the idea of challenge propagation, that could really be unpacked further. I would propose therefore to try to make the presentation as a workshop format, where I will try to recreate [THE MACHINE] with some of you*, **, ***, rather than trying to explain my strategies and notation in a more formal presentation, although I would do some of that whilst explaining the system. Afterwards we could have a more open discussion, I'd be very interested to hear from you, for example: how one might define the system formally; what ideas it sparks for you; where you see the connections with your own interests; pointers to help me navigate my research as a theatre maker in the space of systemics/cybernetics; what your subjective experiences were what developments and applications you might imagine. *its really very simple and fun no need to be afraid! **In this case, it might be a good if some of the group were available to start a bit earlier, to do some warm-up exercises, and get acquainted with the system, so the hour can go a bit smoother and be more of a demonstration. ***If some of you have musical, improvisation, performing experience or ambitions, do let me know. ------------------------------ Upcoming Seminars *April 14th* Sharon Wohl TBA *April 21st* Tjorven Harmsen Acceptance and Commitment Theory *April 28th* Marta Lenartowicz United Humanity Ledger as a UN-laid bedrock for the fair, sustainable, and creative future: A case for a global existential opportunity investment See also the ECCO/GBI calendar <https://www.google.com/calendar/embed?src=azMyN252aWluM2JoMnU3MXY5OGt2ZzliOGdAZ3JvdXAuY2FsZW5kYXIuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbQ> . You can add this calendar to your calendar application through here <https://www.google.com/calendar/ical/k327nviin3bh2u71v98kvg9b8g%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics> More info about the ECCO seminar program: http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/108 <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/108> -- Cadell ECCO Group (VUB) <http://ecco.vub.ac.be/?q=node/1> Email: [email protected] Website: https://cadelllast.com
