Re-membering(s): Being There and Then, and Here and Now

Sue Hawksley

Abstract

This paper considers questions of embodied perception, memory and cognition from a choreographic perspective, through an account of the making and performing of remembering(s), a performance work comprising a series of improvised miniatures in contemporary music and dance.

re-membering(s) investigates the interfaces between performers, between dance and music, and between performers and audience in live improvised performance. What is transmitted? What is lost? What are effective choreographic means to apprehend, frame and articulate the fugitive impressions and traces of what happens in the danced-moment? re-membering(s) emphasises the activities of looking, listening, remembering and reporting, engaging aleotoric compositional methods to present performance strategies and situations pertinent to an inquiry into embodiment.

This paper discusses aspects of the creative process and context of this piece, focusing primarily on the choreographer’s and dancers’ perspectives, and on the role of the interdisciplinary collaboration in the evolution of the work.

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Four Twos - Becoming Immortal - Demons, Decepticons and Devils

Tolulope Onabolu

Abstract

“He who became aware of how genius is produced, and desired to proceed in the manner in which nature usually does in this matter, would have to be exactly as evil and ruthless as nature is. - But perhaps we have misheard. ”1

“If anyone wanted to imagine a genius of culture, what would the latter be like? He would manipulate falsehood, force, the most ruthless self interest as his instruments so skilfully he could only be called an evil, demonic being; but his objectives, which here and there shine through will be great and good. He would be a centaur, half beast half man, with angel’s wings attached to his head in addition”2

In the Michael Bay film ‘Transformers’, Earth is invaded by Megatron and the evil Decepticons to find The Cube (the Allspark with the power to give life and create worlds). Optimus Prime and the Autobots have discovered that The Cube is on Earth - have come to stop Megatron and the Decepticons from getting to it first and to save Earth from domination by the Decepticons who will use the cube to turn every electronic object into robotic life forms. What ensues is a battle between good and evil amidst classical and delirious3 architectural references.

In the Paul W.S. Anderson film, Alien vs. Predator, Alien(s) are bred on Earth as game for Predator(s) using human hosts – Predator(s) come to earth for this seasonal hunting sport. If Alien(s) succeed in outmanoeuvring Predator(s) thus making host of humanity, Predator(s) use a self-destruct mechanism to execute a total purge; if on the other hand Predator(s) win, humanity isspared and they leave to return again. However, in order for this enterprise to prevail, the Predators enslave humanity, impart scientific knowledge on them, teach them to prepare the hosts, build great temples and weapons, and guarantee them relative tranquillity - here we recall aresemblance to architecture and the sacrifices of the Aztecs to their demon-gods.

Beyond the battles of good versus evil, or of lesser and greater evils, we have a representation of a certain attitude towards aliens (foreigners, immigrants, students, ‘deviants’, etc.) and their place relative to health (infection of the host in alien, the cancerous researcher in Alien vs. Predator, the transformation of mechanical and electronic devices in Transformers into Decepticons, etc.) identity and security in a theatre of the weak.

With reference to Alain Badiou, the paper will argue the truth of this representation; it will argue that - as in human subjectivity - the battle between Alien and Predator, not the effective usurpation of one by the other is the agonistic productive force upon which concrete subjectivity is dependent and that the event of the demon-god, devil or tyrant (Megatron or Predator) in its blind brutality is the ‘necessary condition’ for a continued agonistic struggle.

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The role of green space development in renewing a degenerating neighbourhood, a case study from Tehran, Iran

Omid Rismanchian

Abstract

Tehran is the capital city of Iran, occupying some 700 square kilometres in area and with a population of almost 12 million in the city and province. It is located in a semi-arid area and has developed dramatically during the last five decades. As most of the cities in Iran are located in semi-arid regions, open and green spaces are not very common in traditional urbanization patterns. Generally, the only green space to be found in the cities of Iran was the Persian garden which was on private property and not opens to the public. Throughout the modernization era the inattention to open and green spaces continued and many cities like Tehran can be found in the region. Recently, Tehran municipality has set six objectives for the city’s spatial development of which two are directly concerned with green space. The question is that how the municipality can develop open and green space in such a densely built-up city. One of the movements which has attracted the authority’s attention for several decades is ‘revitalization’ of old neighbourhoods. The main characteristics of these low income neighbourhoods are: being vulnerable to earthquakes; low quality of access; insufficient open space; lack of green space; high level of corruption and crime; and high density.

Many studies have been conducted about the values of green and open spaces and their environmental, economic, social and health benefits. This paper aims to highlight the role of green spaces in stimulating the local economy and attracting private sector investment; enhancing people’s satisfaction with their neighbourhood; improving access by focusing on pedestrians and reducing the level of crime in these low income neighbourhoods.

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