Colloquium – Rendering Research (Spring 2015)
Discussion, Reading and (Pr)o(b)ject Group
We can read media, artefacts, and language against one another. This colloquium, generally speaking, collects constellations of these types of objects of relevance to artists, designers, researchers, thinkers and makers. Some readings are of practical relevance as common points-of-reference, analysis or criticality — still others serve to inspire, delight and challenge the ways in which we approach practice (including writing) in technology, art, creativity, science and the design of experience.
In order to help encourage the reading of, and dialogue around, specific key texts we regularly hold a Colloquium at the Critical Media Lab. The group meets intermittently in the early evenings at the Lab, mostly on Wednesdays. These meet-ups are intended to take advantage of the multiple and diverse interpretations and cross-referencing available to collective readings. The intention of these sessions is to provide an entirely inclusive and open forum for different perspectives on the texts we take up. For the most part, we will read portions of chapters and essays, as well as present a creative project, intervention or exercise. It is not necessary to have prepared overly much prior to the Colloquium meetings, but you’re likely to get more out of each encounter, if you take a look at the materials in advance. Texts and discussions will be largely in English, but other main languages include German and French.
All are always welcome. Please see also the Critical Media Lab Philosophy.
The Challenge of Practice-Specific Theorisation and Discussion
It is key to understand that the intent of the colloquium is to “get the word critique back” from those who would take it as an exclusive purvey to those disengaged from practice, as well as those looking to ‘tear down institutions of knowledge.’ We are also really keen to make sure that the conversations serve as a ‘field report’ from the multitude domains and communities that we all represent — i.e.: that we not have only ‘meta’ discussions about what critique or research should be, but that we reflect this idea back into the practices we’re all most familiar with.
Rules of Engagement
1) Respectful disagreement should never be reprobative, but ameliorative and generous towards all present.
2) Although shaped as a substantiated academic forum, we invite all references and insights from all parts of lived experience: philosophy to pop culture, literature to online media.
3) Keeping in mind 2) — do not assume that other people know what you know (i.e.: No name dropping, and please refrain from unsubstantiated reference to unexplained arguments).
Format
1.5 hour sessions, from 9:15AM – 10:45AM — every-other Wednesday morning, at the Critical Media Lab
Contact
For further questions do not hesitate to contact Jamie Allen or Flavia Caviezel.
To get subscribed to the colloquium mailing list with reminders and the texts for each session please contact Moritz Greiner-Petter.
Rendering Research
The theme of the second spring research colloquium will revolve around how research is presented, its formats and formatting as data, texts, media, artefact and communiqué. If we presume the limits on knowledge to be manifested by these very formats, what do these orientations and ‘disciplines’ of thought do to the way in which we approach research and ‘experimentation’? How are these outputs translated and transferred to the ‘publics’ we presume to be their audience? What are the dynamics and repercussions of new forms of publication, output, visualisation and rendering of research?
Schedule, Topics and Hosts
#1 – 11.03.2015 – 9.15 amRendering Research / Introduction to the Colloquium
Jamie Allen, Flavia Caviezel
— Text: Derek P. McCormack (2008), Thinking-Spaces for Research Creation, in: Inflexions Journal 1.1
— Text: Elke Bippus (2013), Modelle ästhetischer Wissensproduktion in exprimentellen Konstellationen der Kunst, in: Forschungsskizzen, Flavia Caviezel, Beate Florenz, Melanie Franke und Jörg Wiesel (Ed.)
#2 – 25.03.2015 – 9.15 am
Rendering Experimental “Research” in 3D and 4D
Shintaro Miyazaki
— Text: Whole Earth Catalog (1968)
#3 – 08.04.2015 – 9.15 am
Staging Research Results: Academic Knowledge Transfer in Exhibitions and MOOCs
Jan Torpus / Jeanine Reutemann
— Text: The Research Exhibition: context, interpretation, and knowledge creation.
K. Niedderer, M. A. R. Biggs, M. Ferris. University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Design Research Society. International Conference in Lisbon. 2006
#4 – 22.04.2015 – 9.15 am
Demonstration Culture
Andreas Simon
— Text: Stewart Brand. The Media Lab: Inventing the Future at M. I. T. (1988) chapter 1 “demo or die” pp. 3-16.
#5 – 06.05.2015 – 9.15 am
Researching Media
Felix Gerloff / Leonie Häsler
— Text: Jonathan Sterne (2012), The Meaning of a Format.
#6 – 20.05.2015 – 9.15 am
The Aesthetics of the Diffuse
Christiane Heibach
— Text: Sandra Mitchell (2008), Komplexitäten – Warum wir erst anfangen, die Welt zu verstehen
— Text: Hermann Schmitz, Rudolf Owen Müllan, Jan Slaby (2011), Emotions outside the box – the new phenomenology of feeling and corporeality
— Text: Michel Serres (1998), Die Fünf Sinne
#7 – 03.06.2015 – 9.15 am
Changing Role of Designers in the Society
Claudia Mareis
— Text: Bruno Latour: A Cautious Prometheus? A Few Steps Toward a Philosophy of Design (with Special Attention to Peter Sloterdijk). Keynote lecture for the Networks of Design Meeting of the Design History Society. Falmouth, Cornwall. 2008
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