DRA 3907F: Collisions and Common Ground – art, technology, performance
actor Augusto Bitter tests the VR system 
dramaturge Ute Scharfenberg works with the actors
This interdisciplinary course explored the collision between the arts and technologies with all of its creative potential, unintentional collateral damage, compelling attraction, and complex social implications. Students hailed from Theatre, Information Science, Music, and Computer Science. The course involved seminar presentations of readings from both the technical and artistic perspective, research papers, and group productions at the end of each term. The students developed, realized and performed scenes adapted from Shakespeare’s Tempest, integrating a variety of interactive technologies.
Video excerpts of the end-of-year performance:
FIRST TERM
Sept 12th, 2018: Introduction to the course and William Shakespeare’s The Tempest:
Introduction of the course.
Introduction of students and faculty
Introduction to the first term play: The Tempest
Discussion of areas of particular interest for production:
- The Storm (opening scene)
- The Island (focussing on the representation of the island in one of various scenes throughout the play)
- Ariel (focussing on the representation of Ariel and his ‘magical’ works on behalf of Prospero)
Discussion of collaborative groupings.
Readings:
Read the entire text of the play
OR
Read summaries of all acts (Act I – Epilogue)
Sept 20th: Visit to Karan Singh’s Computer Science Class
Topics in Interactive Computing: Graphics, Interaction and Perception in Augmented and Virtual Reality AR/VR
Our course and this course will have a loose parallel relationship. Students in this course will be offered the option of developing projects that contribute to our scenes from The Tempest.
Prof. Kleber and David Rokeby will introduce our course to this class to give context for these potential collaborations. Our course’s students are encouraged to attend.
Sept 26th: The Tempest: Historical Productions and Class Brainstorming
We will be reviewing documentation of various historical and contemporary productions of The Tempest and then discussing ways of reimagining these scenes using new technologies.
Hands on demo:
interactive gestural sound (weather sounds)
Readings:
“Transforming Mirrors” by David Rokeby.
“Constructing Experience” by David Rokeby.
“Theatrical Continuities in Giorgio Strehler’s The Tempest” by Pia Kleber.
Oct 10th: Presentation of Initial Ideas for The Tempest
Student groups will present their initial ideas for the production of the selected scenes, to be refined technically and conceptually through group discussion.
Hands on demo:
projection mapping
Readings:
“How should we evaluate progress in AI?”, David Chapman.
“Materials vs Content in Digitally Mediated Performance.”, Mark Coniglio.
“Key Issues in Intermediality in Theatre and Performance.”, Freda Chapple and Chiel Kattenbelt.
“Multimedia theatre, 1911 – 1959” and “Performance and Technology since 1960”, Steve Dixon.
Oct 24th: Evolving Production Ideas
Students will present their evolving ideas for The Tempest scenes followed by group discussion, critique and further brainstorming
Hands on demo:
body tracking / avatar technologies / digital puppetry
Readings:
“Artistic Considerations in the Use of Motion Tracking with Live Performers: A Practical Guide.”, Robert Weschler.
“Gestural Materialities and the Worn Dispositif.”, Johannes Birringer.
“Oskar Schlemmer’s Programmatic Gesture Research.”, Sally Jane Norman.
Nov 7th: Reading Week
Since our biweekly classes falls within Reading Week, students are encouraged to continue developing their productions in their groups during this extended break.
Nov 21st: Preparing for Performance
We will be evaluating the scenes that have been developed and work to ready them for public performance and discussion.
Hands on demo:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Readings:
“Intelligence, Interaction, Reaction, and Performance,” Susan Broadhurst.
New Dark Age: Technology and the End of the Future, James Bridle.
“Human-Robot Interactions as Theatre” David V. Lu and William D. Smart
Dec 5th: Two possibilities: Performance or Prep for Performance
Depending on the state of readiness of the scenes, this class will either be for the public presentation of the scenes form the Tempest or as extra prep time for a public presentation on Dec 6th.
SECOND TERM
Jan 9, 2019: Re-evaluation of Miranda’s Birthday Party
- Discussion of the second semester
- Introduction of new schedule
- Analysis of the changed interpretation of The Tempest through technology
- Analysis of Ariel’s acting
- How can these technologies be used in The Tempest?
Jan 23rd: General Discussion of the Depersonalization of the Actor
- Gordon Craig
- Bauhaus: Schlemmer’s Triadic ballet
- Robert Wilson
- Robert Lepage
- Robotics
In-depth discussion of how these technical means can be used in some scenes from The Tempest.
Example Documentation: robotics
Readings / Seminar:
“From Automata to Automation:The Birth of the Robot in R.U.R.,” Kara Reilly.
Feb 6th: Presentation of initial ideas for the variations of The Tempest
Students’ initial presentations of their ideas for their respective scenes form the play.
Hands on demo:
drones and action cameras
Readings / Seminar:
“On Algorithmic Theatre,” Annie Dorsen.
Feb 13th or 27th (TBD)
In addition to further developing our productions, we will be looking at Performance and Data: How data can be gathered and used during rehearsal and performance to aid in the creative process. We will look at the explorations of Wayne Macgregor, Jennifer Walsh and Memo Akten.
Hands on demo:
Rehearsal augmentation
Readings / Seminar:
“Corporeal Literacy: New Modes of Embodied Interaction in Digital Culture,” Maaike Bleeker.
Feb 20th: Reading Week
Since our biweekly classes falls within Reading Week, students are encouraged to continue developing their productions in their groups during this extended break.
March 6th: Evolving Production Ideas
Evaluation of students’ scenes
Hands on demo:
Advanced Approaches to Interactive Audio
Readings / Seminar:
“Sharing the Stage with Media: A Taxonomy of Performer-Media Interactions,” David Z. Saltz.
March 20th: Gearing up for Performance
Continuation and critique of Students’ scenes
Group discussion reflecting on the challenges and possibilities raised by the technologies explored and used over the course of the two terms.
Readings / Seminar:
“Performing an Avatar: Second Life Onstage,” Kaisu Koski.
April 3rd: Public presentation of scenes from The Tempest
