[-empyre-] : "E/motion frequency deceleration" (M Weiss) Movement 1

[Johannes Birringer]

[1] First reflection, Mov.1 (last part),  from Michael Weiss.

- - -
Research  with / through / of  Body & Mind


At the very day the Choreolab ended, I went on to an interdisciplinary seminar of
four days which happened to be a scientific forum, consisting of so--‐‑called ΄senior
fellows΄ from natural sciences and one artist as well as a group which was named
΄junior fellows΄ (students and post-docs) from various disciplines. 

Interestingly enough with regard to the topic of the choreolab (deceleration), its core theme dealt
also with time. Although it was inspiring in its own right, I would like to critically
highlight the following: Coming from the intense experience of Choreolab, the shift to
this forum was a revealing experience as to compare it with the nature of the
lab: The scientific seminar’s focus rested entirely on cognitive abilities,
furthermore the culturally encoded systems of body restriction and movement (while
sitting) were striking for me, not to mention the formations of hierarchical zones (e.g.
senior fellows sitting amongst themselves at the seminar and eating apart from junior
fellows during the meals; only the former was changed at the end of the seminar due
to comments from the junior fellows’ side to the organizers). This is―as already
mentioned―not to say that there weren’t many inspirations during this seminar;
they definitely existed. But the level of dissociations, e.g. between body/mind,
thought/feeling or cognition/intuition―to name but these few―, was as fascinating
for me in its intransigence deriving from a socio-cultural and academic history told
therein as it was saddening.


In comparison, the Choreolab offered a sophisticated interplay and interchange
between body – and – mind, thought – and – feeling as well as cognition – and – intuition.
Therefore, every day of the Choreolab―according to my perception―happened to be
lived – ‑danced – ‑felt – thought – moved by entering the full potentials of research in their
entirety rather than trying to pursue them in their partiality. 


- - - 

Due to its small scale, however, this essay cannot be the forum to present and discuss the many arts-based
research methods which were utilized during Choreolab.

With regard to the metatheme,  I became keenly aware of how
deceleration in its motion and emotion, sound and silence, action and inaction is a
most powerful and transformative process to be grounded within one’s body – and – 
mind personality by reaching out to fundamental socio‑political as well as
philosophical questions. That is why I consider the format of a choreolab to be a most
essential contribution to questions we continuously should be asking in order to
grow as individuals and collectively towards unfolding the creative potential of an
inherent stillness to be found in deceleration which is―to my understanding―illuminating, 
transforming, and healing, personally as well as it could be collectively.

- - -


Michael Weiss
Vienna



(relayed by moderator)



To subscribe via  the World Wide Web, visit
       http://lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au/mailman/listinfo/empyre

Send your own posting to: 
       empyre at lists.cofa.unsw.edu.au