Presentation for Embodied Cognition: Practice Based Research in Doctoral Programmes

1. Presentation forEmbodied Cognition: Practice Based Research in Doctoral Programmes University of Winchester 30th April, 2013

2. Themes nature and extent of technological interactivitiy in performance practice the particular importance of embodiment in the use of these the evolution of new critical modes of understanding performance based on revisiting of the phenomenological tradition the study of the emergent discipline of neuroaesthetics nature of temporality in contemporary performance works in whatever medium

9. Portrait: Self-portrait while drawing,2002

10. NucleArt 2000-2002Human cell with painted chromosomesFrame from video-installation, projected onto 3D screens

11. ‘Border-Crossing Digital Arts and Social Science: New Methodological Approaches to Embodiment’ A collaboration between the London Knowledge Lab, University of London (the PI for the project); Royal College of Art, the London College of Fashion and myself currently based in the Centre of Contemporary and Digital Performance, Brunel University ESRC Funding approx £190,000 Start date 1st August 2013.

12. Key innovative features: close interdisciplinarity, bringing together experts in digital embodiment, methodological innovation across performance, fashion, information experience design and technology-mediated interaction an exciting experimental interdisciplinary methodological environment it will develop and work with a unique data set of interdisciplinary methodological case studies it will engage in deep exploration of practice-based research across the arts and social sciences it will lead to innovative holistic methods for researching embodiment

13. The project’s aim: To map, exploit and extend the synergies between the digital arts and social sciences; to develop an innovative methodological framework capable of capturing a more holistic understanding of embodiment

14. Research methods: An Ethnographic study will be conducted across four sites over one year consisting of 6 case studies: 3 in the arts (performance, fashion, design) and 3 in social sciences (medical simulation, mobiles for education, online games). Each case study site has been selected because it: offers a hub of methodological innovation undertakes innovative research in digital embodiment works with advanced digital technologies differs in its methods and purposes

15. Outputs include: online self-learn course on researching at the boundaries of arts and social science, online papers (such a paper possibly published in my journal Body. Space & Technology) edited book collection possibly in Palgrave’s Series ‘Studies in Performance and Technology’ edited by myself training resources workshops produced to develop innovative methods to research digital embodiment and build awareness and capacity in interdisciplinary arts and social science methods online performance

16. Empathy and Performance Investigating areas of post-Kantian theory and their relevance to digital performance and art practices Empathy Aesthetic approach (Aristotle, Vischer, Lipps, Merleau-Ponty, Heidegger) Neuroaesthetic approach (mirror neurons) – Gallese, Rizzolatti and Craighero