The Heart Asks For Pleasure First – What happens when theatre artists lead interdisciplinary, discovery-oriented research projects?
HADES Seminar Series: Humanities in the Digital Age
We recently completed the second in our seminar series for the newly formed HADES group. This series brings together a wide range of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of Humanities and digital scholarship. We will hear from speakers on topics ranging from digital ethics and machine learning through to architecture and literary studies, but always with a focus on the crucial role that the Humanities play in helping to explain and shape complex human experiences. The series aims to challenge and extend understandings of digital research in the Humanities and present new and emerging work by scholars working across and between disciplines.
Second Seminar for 2021 series
Our May seminar was presented by Dr Robert Walton, Resident Artist in the School for Computing and Information Systems, Senior Lecturer in Theatre, Victorian College of the Arts. Robert presented on “The Heart Asks For Pleasure First – What happens when theatre artists lead interdisciplinary, discovery-oriented research projects?” (Thursday 20 May, 3:30-4:30pm, 2021):
Theatre provides communities with a means to gather and collectively speculate on the important questions of human life. The history of theatre is entwined with technological innovation and research into reality. This talk discusses arts-led interdisciplinary research via a sensitivity to theatre practice, specifically performing, directing, and dramaturgy, the staging and inner flow of an event. The events in question here are collaborative research projects and the artworks they produce. The talk thinks through current arts-led research projects in progress at The University of Melbourne: The Heart (2021) a 42-year AI performance and installation for Melbourne Connect, Child of Now (2021) a massively co-authored story about the next century performed by 14,400 Melbournians, and Sacrifice (2022) a live art experiment with a swarm of robot (in disguise as) standing stones.
Approximately 35 attendees contributed to a stimulating and exciting discussion. Thanks Robert!
We invite you to comment and add resources and the discussion below.
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