SAISERIT: A man with sight but no seeing

Abstract

The subject of this work is an interdisciplinary dance and video solo performance, involving additional audience audio-immersion, concerned with an exploration of close-mindedness; employing the definition of this trait as detailed by David Foster Wallace (2009).

The performance was presented on 16th July at the Media Factory in Preston, as part of the international conference "Transdisciplinary Explorations Into Performativity" [see Supplemental Material: Conference Brochure + Introductory Clip]

One of the theatres was emptied for the occasion, no seats or curtains. Access to the theatre was through the back door and exit through the front door. The whole theatre space was shared by audience and performer.The set up included:

- a general dim warm lighting plan and 6 movable floor light cans pointing towards the ceiling

- three projectors looping three different videos previously edited by video maker Matt Clarke [see Supplemental Material: Video Projection (number one) + (number two) + (number three)] echoing the material performed live by Giorgio de Carolis [see an extract of it in Supplemental Material: Rehearsal Footage in Studio]

- six wireless headphones playing David Foster Wallace's speech 'This is Water'.

The audience entering the performance space was invited to select their individual point of view, duration of engagement with the work and whether or not they wanted to listen to the audio through the headphones [see Supplemental Material: Entrance Map (Instructional Poster)].