Prof. Daniel Belasco Rogers & Prof. Sophia New
Attention & Absorption – online, offline and the corporeal consequences
Analog block seminar, English/Deutsch, 2 SWS, 2 ECTS
Monday – Thursday, 21. – 24.2.2022, 10-18 h, Hardenbergstr. 33, room 310

The seminar is full, no registration possible anymore.

Together with the participants of the workshop, the guest professors of Studium Generale, Sophia New and Daniel Belasco Rogers (plan b), will reflect on what draws our attention in times of digital and online distractions, as we return to partial presence with restrictions. Referring to short critical extracts on the subject by scholars such as Julia Bell and Byung-Chul Han, we come “Back to the Present” to collectively investigate what is happening with our attention in the current climate. Informed by the physical and theoretical work of Pauline Oliveros and Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, we come “Back to Presence” through exercises of attunement and perspective shifts through practices of listening and moving. We will seek activities that we find absorbing as a means of channeling attention away from quick clicks, swipes; likes and dislikes. At the same time, we will ask what digital processes are a good use of our time? What digital content informs us and invigorates creative work? Rather than rejecting one in favour of the other, can we find a balance or a continuity between our online and our offline world?

A block seminar of four days, partly in presence if restrictions allow, as well as online catch-up sessions and individual exploratory tasks. 

Requirements for the ungraded Studium Generale credits: Regular, active attendance and documentation (sound, video, writing etc.) of individual reflection during the workshop.

The British artists Sophia New and Daniel Belasco Rogers have been based in Berlin since 2001 and working together under the name plan b since 2002. They start a guest professorship at the Studium Generale in Autumn 2020. “Our work crosses the boundaries between visual art, new media, performance, installation and socially engaged practice. It has been shown in festivals, exhibitions, theatres and on the streets of many different cities. We consider what we do to be site specific and relationship specific. Alongside participatory and performative projects we also have developed strategies to share our practice in educational contexts on a number of different courses in Germany and abroad.” More information on https://planbperformance.net.