Abstract: “We might think of choreography in terms of ‘rehearsal’; that is, as the working out and working through of utopian, nevertheless ‘real’, social relations.” Andrew Hewitt
A cross-disciplinary exploration of choreography & (web)code. By ‘rehearsal’ it is meant a sort of temporary stage for experimenting with web design tools which follow choreographic methods and thematic concerns. This format is very similar to a open workshop, open to any participants curious to explore the use of choreographic techniques to generate newness in design, new modes of thinking composition matters, participation, relations and articulations between bodies and technologies. Traditionally, a rehearsal is a built in process, a space and time for developing ideas and work acknowledging unexpected and unpredictable results. Another important point about the ‘rehearsal series’ is to break the distancing between mind/body, self/other, subject/object, discovery/invention. Enhancing the idea of process over product: processes of becoming, becoming structures, becoming codes and scripts.
This project focus on the use of Free/Libre Open Source (Floss) models/ philosophies technologies, questioning how may creative coding practices interfere deeper with interface design and information displays — when considering new (choreographic) vocabularies, embodiment and new movement perception possibilities.
The flexibility of code allows for a combination of possibilities, not only for the live performance setting, but also for the use of the code itself by other designers, just as in any choreography that can be re-interpreted, re-created and adapted. The code serves as a generative tool for new possible outcomes in the creation of graphics for interfaces and a way of playing with the choreographic logic. Therefore, this method promotes disciplinary openness, by sharing ideologies and methodologies and questioning structures of collaboration and of intellectual property.
Choreographic thinking and methodologies address questions of unpredictability, indeterminacy, immateriality, spatial and temporal paradoxes that can inform design on how to respond to the digital logic. As in as considering the indeterminate interactions between scripts, machines and users, and the complex inter-relations, dependencies and contingencies of design. In short, its performative stance.
Learning Outcomes: - Building process: small groups are created for sharing knowledge, mind mapping and nurturing collective discussion on the topics, references and experiences during the day.
- The outcome is a piece of ‘choreographic code' — all participants are invited to contribute to the choreographic code by translating the ideas discussed in the session into html/css/javascript functions or as prototypes developed in other formats.
