PARSONS THE NEW SCHOOL FOR DESIGN | www.newschool.edu Art & Science Transdisciplinary Lectures: Pascal Gielen, Sociologist and Michael Hardt, Philosopher Organized by the School of Art, Media, and Technology at Parsons, this new lecture series reflects the increasingly transdisciplinary nature of scientific, academic, artistic, and cultural practices. Exploring subjects such as geophysics, systems theory, economics, and the physics of time, the lectures are presented in thematic pairs. Members of The New School’s acclaimed faculty alternate with outside scholars, experts, and artists. All lectures are open to the public. Art, Media, and Technology at Parsons | www.newschool.edu In a lecture and discussion, Pascal Gielen, professor of sociology of the arts at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, and Michael Hardt, instructor in the Literature program at Duke University, discuss the art world from philosophical and sociological perspectives. Gielen searches for possibilities for artistic freedom in what he describes as an economically exploitative art scene. Hardt asks whether art can be deployed in the democratic project of defending and sharing the commons. Pascal Gielen is the director of the research group and book series Arts in Society. He has written several books on contemporary art, cultural heritage, and cultural politics. In 2009, he co-edited the book Being an Artist in Post-Fordist Times and published The Murmuring of the Artistic Multitude: Global Art …
Open Canvas Special Edition – with Guest Robert Schoch June 30 2012 Discussion with Robert Schoch about various topics from easter island egypt Göbekli Tepe Dr. Robert M. Schoch, a full-time faculty member at the College of General Studies at Boston University since 1984, earned his Ph.D. (1983) in Geology and Geophysics at Yale University. He also holds an MS and M.Phil. in Geology and Geophysics from Yale, as well as degrees in Anthropology (BA) and Geology (BS) from George Washington University. Additionally, Dr. Schoch is a member of the Advisory Board, Ananda College of Living Wisdom. Dr. Schoch has been quoted extensively in the media for his pioneering research recasting the date of the Great Sphinx of Egypt using geological analyses, as well as for his work on ancient cultures and monuments in such diverse countries as Egypt, Turkey, Bosnia, Romania, Wales, Scotland, Mexico, Peru, Chile (Easter Island), and Japan. Dr. Schoch’s research has been instrumental in spurring renewed attention to the interrelationships between geological and astronomical phenomena, natural catastrophes, and the early history of civilization. Dr. Schoch has appeared on many radio and television shows and is featured in the Emmy-winning documentary The Mystery of the Sphinx, which first aired on NBC in 1993. He is a featured speaker at national and international conferences. Dr. Schoch is the author or coauthor of both technical and popular books, including the trilogy with RA McNally …
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Gielen’s lecture was interesting in that it highlighted the change from an efficient, factory-produced, labor-centered society to one that assigns more value to emotions and ideas. I thought the ideas about post-Fordism were spot-on.
Gielen’s lecture illuminates a new contemporary economy: an economy of ideas. In this new era of perpetual mediation and prolific production, the value of “things” is changing. We live in a highly mimetic landscape and in this complex territory there is a new economy to navigate. the post-Fordian labor structure proposes freedoms and issues, Gielen explores those concisely. One wonders how far this economy of ideas will take us, and how sustainable it is in a world crowded with concepts.
What struck me was how different each guy was in “performing” his knowledge/ideas. Fascinating + frustrating, in the best possible way! Gielen was linear, applying definitions, setting categories, providing text and diagrams. Hardt was circular, gesticular, pacing around the mic, and posing questions. I wonder if he answers his own question when he begins (~:41 min). We need the regular inclusion of artists with urban planners to problem solve across disciplines to imagine new creative cities.
I enjoyed how well Gielen explained what was necessary for Hardt to discuss the philosophical solutions to the problems that Gielen purposed about the post-ford society. It was interesting how well the two lectures complemented and contextualized each others points.
Gielen ended his talk by saying that the art scene promotes post-fordist labor and a new spirit of capitalism, essentially saying that the art world is a product of the system and ok with reproducing it. Hardt is wondering whether there exists within this art world a critique that proposes something new, in the tradition of the ancient scandalous cynics. I wonder which artists have work that is both “scandalous”, and proposes alternatives, rather than just doing one or the other.
Interesting discussion, I feel artist do have the power to produce change. Art is a form of media and media can completely alter a society. Even if an artist raises awareness in just a few people, this could initiate a change.
-Carrie
It is interesting to notice how Gielen got to the same conclusion than the conceptualists through a totally different route, the economic route: that art is more valuable in today´s economy for its capacity to propose ideas than for its ability to create objects. Hardt’s critique of critique is not new for artistic practice either, challenges to both authority and truth revealing have been made in recent art criticism and many of us are actually grappling with those challenges in our practice.
It was very interesting to listen both Gielen’s and Hardt’s discussion. I especially enjoyed Gielen’s discussion. I agree with two things what he says from his discussion. One is “every city needs art scene and a place where people can be creative,” and another one is “freedom makes you work.” I think “freedom makes you work” is true. Most of time, artists have choice to work on projects. Since that’s their own choice to work, they work hard and spend a lot of time working on projects.
Q: “Do you see artistic practices that operate on the level of biopolitical militancy?”
A:Yes
Creative Time’s exhibition Living in Form archives 20 years of socially engaged projects. Many of the works embody bio-political militancy by engaging in transformative public actions and interventions. By providing solutions and action plans Social Practice is liberated from the end game of critique.
I thought both were really interesting.
Keep going back to Pascal’s equation of idea.
Good Idea = New Idea + Appropriate Idea.
I am much more interested in knowing the things, people, events, projects, etc. that have helped shape new thought and am skeptical of ideas that claim to be completely original. Also, I kept thinking that the word relevant fit better than appropriate for me.
Michael Hardt’s part was interesting, but he seems uniformed about current art practices which are militant. There already are art practices today that are “dog’s life” like; that go beyond “critique” in the sense that they not only “critique” through revealing power structures, etc, but also propose alternative ways of doing things through militancy, i.e. through art projects which “seek to attack and transform” (as he says) by their presence and suggest a new way of living in the world.
I think artists do know more about “destroying this life to create a new life.” Though I don’t really identify with the use of the word “destroy.” I think of my artistic practice as a means of making changes in society by way of making changes in my own life and then sharing what I learn. Institutional Critique, for example, does often fail to provide solutions. I see Social Practice as the alternative of testing out new modes of being, creatively rather than destructively or militantly.
If you aren’t bold enough to create art (as an artist) that speaks to political methods, nothing will change or even be discussed unless you are bold enough to do it. An artist needs to be daring enough to speak out about things through their work in order for it to affect society. I do think art can change political mentalities over time, however, it may not be quick enough to change it when it needs changing.
~Jon Barba~
Hardt suggests that critique reveals the truth without overruling it, while pointing to alternative ideas. I’d say that this is critique in a pure form. But in practice, critique can become inflammatory, offer no new ideas, or do little more than “react”. It’s the responsibility of the person critiquing to do so effectively.
Hardt also recounts Foucault’s view that enlightenment is autonomy–thinking and speaking for yourself. So there’s a difference between having freedom and acting on it.
I think the discussion of the art world from a sociologist’s perspective was very interesting. Gielen mentioned that every city needs an art scene and a place where people a can be creative. I agree with his viewpoints he had about that. I thought it was funny how he said that you want to be “seen at the scene” because that is very true. I also gained a lot of information from the section where he went over Mental Mobility. I reminds of of being possitive and creative.
-Kirstin Estes-
I think Michael Hardt poses a really interesting question.
My first response is to think that yes, this is already happening, but that it happens in a variety of ways. I don’t know if one artist or project can change an entire system or create an entirely new system/form of human life, but I do think that one artist or project can create small new forms—a new form within a single community, or within a series of relationships.
Outstanding information from Dr. Schoch. (As usual.) His delivery is precise, detailed and fascinating to say the least. I’ve been following his career since his introduction to the Sphinx anomalies, and am constantly impressed with his command of his chosen subjects, and calm humble approach. In the face of nearly constant ridicule and abuse, he has set his sails and tiller on the star of truth, and has never varied his course. The man is a true scientific hero, and we need many more of him.