Jamming Across Space and Time
With the establishment of Zoom and its rise during the 2020 pandemic, ‘live’ attendance is possible for events at the click of a link. The ease comes with benefits, but is it at the cost of losing an authentic experience?
30 years before Zoom, performances even with advanced technology was prioritized to be experienced live in-person. Kit Galloway & Sherrie Rabinowtz, were a teleperformance couple who found the exploration of the medium most inventive amongst the community. From there, Electronic Cafe International established community cafes in the 80s to bring people together to explore new electronics as a new way to experience the world through art and telecommunications. In the 90s, CalArts of Music became one of the centers for experimental, electronic, electro-acoustic, and computer music through means of advancing technology. This period came time for many challenges and discoveries to approach technology in performative ways. In the featured film of the event, a team worked on bringing a musical performance through technology. After several trials and errors, the performance came to life as the performer played the piano from the remote controlled hand.
This presentation highlights the concepts in class as the feat blended both the advances of artistry and technology at the time. Music was utilized for the performer to express and move along with his audience while showcasing the technology of doing so while being physically away from the piano. The event was interesting to learn what technology was like before it was so accessible and how they used the freedom of creativity to explore new outlets for it. As of the current day, performances lack the sense of connection and awe as we become quick to press record rather than to understand and appreciate the artistry. Both technology and art should be respected and lean toward invoking thought rather than a temporary awe.
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