Visionary 1920s film containing imaginative astrophysical visualizations.

http://www.archive.org/details/Heavenly1920

'American Engineer' films

incredible opening image of radio telescopes, 'listening' for space sounds:
http://www.archive.org/details/American1956

part 2:
http://www.archive.org/details/American1956_2

part 3:
http://www.archive.org/details/American1956_3

part 4:
http://www.archive.org/details/American1956_4

Radiauteur Abstract

Abstract:

Sferic: Radio and Movement Improvisation

How is radio performed? The body is an antenna, both transmitting and receiving information. Sferic is an ongoing performance project involving an emergency crank radio and two dancers, one of whom wears an iPod transmitting a high pitched sine tone. The radio alternates transmitting static, picking up local radio stations, and locating the dancer in space through the tone. Radio becomes a third presence, shaping the two live performers’ interactions in the space. Sferics are broadband electromagnetic impulses that occur as a result of natural atmospheric lighting discharges. In this sense, radio is a micro phenomena of sferics: human originated electromagnetic signals that carry information content instead of ‘random’ impulses. Sferic plays between the extremes of communication and confusion, limitation and liberation.

thoughts on Sferic for Radiauteur

radio is 3rd external impetus/agency .... control v. lack of control
element of uncertainty --> probabilistic
control, demands performer attention
absent agent
attempts to choreograph control
embodied objectified uncertainty
observed v. compelled (foucault)
radio brings in outside information --> suggestive of state control, manipulation, agency
origins of information unknown -- connecting performance space to spaces far away, spaces close by, spaces unknown
practice element -->can you ever abdicate control over the body
initiations
resolutions
mini phenomena
performing absence, quiet, meditation
watching v. initiation
body response
there is no time
surrender of mind into movement

Input Output --- transfer of energy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7mlPXImxzE&feature=related

The relation between the two performers is interesting especially in the first 30 seconds or so... less interesting once they go into dance 'vocabulary' and physical stay connected. The distance is interesting. Watching energy and intent transferred over distance.

Shannon Entropy and Information Theory

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shannon_information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Mathematical_Theory_of_Communication

Sferic round 2

Some thoughts on restaging Sferic:

-performing absence
-layers of performance
-staging awareness
-proximity
-distance
-state of mind--meditative, focus
-the upward space, backbends, looking upward
-the floor, falling
-simplicity of scoring allows for interactions and heightened awareness