Lecture/workshop by Roy Ascott at Xindanwei, Shanghai
August 21, 2011, 14:00 – 18:00
Roy Ascott is one of the pioneers of what we call new media art or tech art now. Since the 1960’s he was applying ideas of cybernetics and network theory in his artistic and pedagogic practice, which as he states are both closely connected. However his main interest is not directed at the hardware, but rather the ‘software’, one could say the spiritual aspects of new media, and how new modes of interaction can be used to open new ways of thinking and understanding the world – and approach summarized in his ‘Groundcourse’ methodology.
Even though the event was originally announced as a workshop, it happened to be a lecture. Professor Ascott gave a general self-presentation. First he started by outlining a theoretical background defining terms like cybernetics, technoetics and moist media. Then he continued by telling the story of his career, from early days as an art student to later experiences as an art professor at miscellaneous universities, including how he set up the ‘Groundcourse’ and how it was received at that time. Basically, you can read that story here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_ascott or in one of the references at the bottom of the wikipedia page.
I would say that the lecture was too broad and too general. There were interesting bits inside of the lecture, some insights and opinions, but keeping more focus would definitely benefit the overall picture. The lecture name seemed to have been chosen randomly. Dropping names of his ‘famous’ students gave the impression that there is not enough substance and this kind of‘decoration’ is needed. Later on I realized that many of the lecture participants actually know professor Ascott because they are members of the Planetary Collegium research collective.. they must have heard these stories a number of times.
In the end, when professor Ascott wanted to conclude, the Chinese moderator actually asked for a ‘workshop’ as promised. Professor Ascott did not seem very excited about the idea, however, there was no escape as it was announced beforehand, so he tried to improvise and give instructions in a few sentences. Participants were to follow up on the ‘Groundcouse’ idea, work in groups and develop a ‘game’ where they would be acting as a single ‘body’ composed of single elements with unique restriction. Basically, all was possible and nothing forbidden. Most participants used it as a chance for discussion, or they did draw some images representing the collective ‘self’. The exercise in itself was not a bad idea, but it was a pity that professor Ascott showed no interest in facilitating this process and instead tapped away at his shiny Macbook. Maybe he was preparing his next presentation, or just checking e-mails, who knows.
On the whole, the lecture did provide some food for thought. It raised the question of the art-science relationship, and I found it interesting how professor Ascott linked cybernetic ideas with parapsychology and higher levels of consciousness, which reminded me of the guru in this domain – Timothy Leary. In addition to that, I find it always worthwhile to listen to eye witnesses who were there in the old days when ‘new media’ was still new