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163: Nicolas Bourriaud: Critical Engagements
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This reading group will involve a close reading of Nicolas Bourriaud’s two major texts: _Postproduction_ and _Relational Aesthetics_, which have become foundational in much of contemporary art and art history. We will also read reviews of Bourriaud’s texts in order to see the range of criticisms and receptions. This class will be critically engaged with the texts, their receptions, and their deployments in the art world. All materials with the exception of _Relational Aesthetics_ will be made available on-line. Date: Sundays: August 10, 17, 24, and 31st from 7-9pm (4 meetings) |
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This class is now in the planning stage, after deliberation at The Public School committee meeting 05.
This class will meet Sundays: August 10, 17, 24, and 31st from 7-9pm (4 meetings).
darn, out of town until sept…. i hope this class goes again in the fall:)
Hi everyone,
Just a reminder that this course is approaching quickly and if you don’t have a copy of _Relational Aesthetics_, it would be good to pick one up.
Skylight (on Vermont) and MoCA Bookstore should have copes — as well
as Amazon and other on-line sources ((http://www.amazon.com/Relational-Aesthetics-Nicolas-Bourriaud/dp/2840660601/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217611565&sr=8-1).
“Postproduction” is available online:
http://aaaarg.org/nicolas-bourriaud-postproduction
It would be nice to scan and upload “Relational Aesthetics,” but there is only one chapter online:
http://aaaarg.org/nicolas-bourriaud-relational-form
Also, we’ve located a copy of “Art Safari: Relational Aesthetics” (30 min) which you can read about here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/documentaries/features/art-safari1.shtml
Robert, perhaps this could be screened immediately before one of the scheduled meetings?
What do you mean “screened” immediately before one of the scheduled meetings? How can I watch this BBC special “ART SAFARI: RELATIONAL ART: IS IT AN ISM?”
Below the salutaltion are on-line places one can order the book, _Relational Aesthetics_, but you must order it NOW to get it in time.
I am trying my best to get a brief (email) interview with Nicolas Bourriaud … fingers crossed: it is a time issue.
Robert
http://www.alibris.com/booksearch?qwork=-284066060&matches=7&author=Bourriaud&cm_sp=works*listing*title
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/2840660601/ref=pd_bbs_sr_olp_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217625999&sr=1-1
One line of flight …
If individuals taking the “Bourriaud: Critical Engagements” course are highly, or, better put, relationally interested in Bourriaud’s use of Felix Guattari’s concept “aesthetics” — not to mention other concepts as well (for example/s, see _Relational Aesthetics_, p. 31+ and 79-104), then please (re-read and) bring Guattari’s _Chaosmosis_ to the reading group because we will go over this text (specifically pp. 98-118, “The New aesthetic Paradigm”). Indeed, it appears (in its appearing) that Guattari will be a philosopher(-artist) we will need to reckon with (in all of the senses, and more than I thought). We will engage in lines of flight …
here is one “place” one can get the (rather hard to find) text, _Chaosmosis_: http://www.amazon.com/Chaosmosis-Ethicoaesthetic-Paradigm-Felix-Guattari/dp/0253210046/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217889239&sr=1-1
So, indeed, the reading group will be a thoroughly relational reading group, which will also be deeply critical and/in its engagement/s) that will fold many subjects and subjectivities together, or, better put, interlace various materials in a manner that is aesthetic, which in no way excludes the ethical, political, and poetic-al.
Finally, for now, Ranciere is in the shadows … the “aesthetic regime” can be understood as a nodal point (?) that is part of this “constellation” that consists (with varying intensities, greater and lesser flashes) “relational aesthetics,” “postproduction,” “Bourriaud,” “chaosmosis,” “Guattari,” “aesthetic regime,” “Ranciere” …
What do we call this constellation, which can been constructed? What does it look like, or what does it produce, or should we speak of “co-”? So, what does this constellation co-produce? Is this reading group an artwork? an instantiation of a “relational aesthetic” and/as a “politics of aesthetics”? How to think the class / reading group in relation to “Relational Aesthetics” and all the relations (folds?) that will take place in the space of the group?
Below is a tentative “syllabus” for the Bourriaud Reading Group. The readings for the first meeting will not change, but there may be modifications for the other meetings. Please email me if you have any questions and/or concerns: robtsum@gmail.com
Robert Summers, Facilitator/Moderator
Bourriaud: Critical Engagements
The Public School: August 10, 17, 24, 31 (all Sundays) from 7-9pm
Description: This reading group will involve a close reading of Nicolas Bourriaud’s two major texts: _Postproduction_ and _Relational Aesthetics_, which have become foundational in much of contemporary art and art history. We will also read reviews of Bourriaud’s texts in order to see the range of criticisms and receptions. This class will be critically engaged with the texts, their receptions, and their deployments in the art world.
Required Texts: Bourriaud’s Relational Aesthetics and Post-Production; on-line reviews and commentaries
Optional Texts: Clair Bishop, ed. Participation, Félix Guattari, Chaosmosis, Jacques Rancière, The Politics of Aesthetics, and Michel Foucault, “Friendship as a Way of Life,” and “Sexual Choice, Sexual Act” from Ethics
Requirements: Come to each meeting having read the material/s—this will enable a more engaged and deeper discussion of the text/s and ideas. On that note, please feel free to bring in anything (images to texts) that you believe will add in some way to the discourse
Meetings
Meeting 01(Aug. 10): Watch a brief BBC documentary on art, artists, and “relational aesthetics,” general overview of “relational aesthetics” and its precursors. Discuss Bourriaud’s Relational Aesthetics pp. 7-40
Meeting 02 (Aug. 17): Claire Bishop, “Antagonism and Relational Aesthetics,” October 110, Fall 2004; Grant Watson, “Response to Claire Bishop’s Paper on Relational Aesthetics,” Circa 114, Winter 2005; Bourriaud, Relational Aesthetics, pp. 79-104 and, as an optional reading, Guattari, Chaosmosis—esp. pp. 1-32 and 98-118. We may have a possible gust who will speak on Guattari.
Meeting 03 (Aug. 24): Bourriaud, Relational Aesthetics, pp. 49-78; and, as an optional reading, Foucault, “Friendship as a Way of Life,” and “Sexual Choice, Sexual Act” from Ethics. and Ranciere’s The Politics of Aesthetics.
Meeting 04 (Aug 31): Bourriaud, Post-Production.
hey Robert,
Just to clarify…participants should come to the first meeting having read: Bourriaud’s Relational Aesthetics pp. 7-40…correct?
Yes, exactly. If the participants could come having already read from Bourriaud’s _Relational Aesthetics_ pp. 7-40, then we will all (roughly) be on the same page. And we can go from there.
Please let me know if you have any other questions and/or concerns. -Robert (robtsum@gmail.com)
Good day,
I am not sure if chapter 6 (”The New Aesthetics Regime” — pages 98-118) in Guattari’s _Chaosmosis_ will be posted on-line at http://aaaarg.org/library — but it will (nonetheless) be read and discussed in relation to Bourriaud’s _Relational Aesthetics_ — specifically pages 86-104 of the latter text. We will also (again) be going over Guattari’s notion of “molecular revolutions” and “molecularity” as it is surfaced in Bourriaud’s _Relational Aesthetics_ on page/s 31+.
As you will have noticed from the first meeting — as well as the ones to follow — this class on Bourriaud’s _Relational Aesthetics_ and _PostProduction_will itself be relational to other texts and issues in aesthetics and politics. That said, please bring the _PostProduction_ text to class all the time (as well as any and all other texts one may wish to share and show the connections and/as relations) — as some may want to refer to specific sections/selections.
Now, as a back up, or reversal, please (re-)read the “introduction” to _PostProduction_ (the first 10 pages?) and Jacques Ranciere’s “The Emancipated Spectator_, which one can find both on http://aaaarg.org/library …
Finally, maybe we can add an additional class — so five classes? How to pay for this? I know of someone who will pay the additional cost if all (or most) are willing to have an additional class, which will focus heavily on intertwining on _Relational Aesthetics_ and _PostProduction_ (as well as other texts) — if not completely and solely foregrounding _PostProduction_, given it has been overshadowed by the former text. Of, course we can briefly discuss this at the commencing of the second class.
Questions?
-robt
–
Robert Summers, PhD/ABD
Art History + Critical Theory
Dept. of Art History
University of California, Los Angeles
e: robtsum@gmail.com
alt. e: robtsum@ucla.edu
Good day Bourriaudians (and Deleuzoguattarians and antagonists — all you rouges!),
For the next meeting — class three (3) — we will “finish” discussing (fixating on?) _Relational Aesthetics_. Specifically, we will be discussing “Joint Presence and Availability: The Theoretical Legacy of Felix Gonzalez-Torres” (pp. 49-64). And, in relation to this section of Bourriaud’s text we will have read, and will discuss, the two (2) Michel Foucault essays (”Friendship as a Way of Life” and “Sex, Power, and the Politics of Identity”), which will be posted on aaaarg.org shortly — which Bourriaud draws on to make his case. Also, we will have read, and we will discuss, from _Relational Aesthetics_, “Post VCR Art” (pp. 78-75) and “Towards a Policy of Forms” (pp. 79-85). C’est tout!
For the second half of the class we will (re-)read the “Introduction” to _Postproduction_ and pp. 17-27 of said text. I think it would be good if people brought JPGs or sent me JPGs of art that can be read as foregrounding “relational aesthetics” and/or “postproduction”. Also, please try to come to the “Watching Vaginal Davis” screening at Telic this week (see the Public School website for more info). As I have argued before I think she enacts an aesthetics of existence (see Guattari and Foucault) and a modality of relational aesthetics and postproduction. It would be good if we could all talk about her and/as her work in relation to Bourriaud on the next meeting — if only briefly and, of course, this is a deep investment on my part.
PLEASE let me know if you have any questions, comments, and/or concerns. You may always email me at robtsum@gmail.com
Thanks for being a brilliant an engaged bunch of intellectuals! I look forward to the remain time/s we have to-gether: relationally and aesthetically …
-robt
PS: Ranciere’s “The Emancipated Spectator” would be good additional reading — this can be found on aaaarg.org
Robert Summers, PhD/ABD
Art History + Critical Theory
Dept. of Art History
University of California, Los Angeles
e: robtsum@gmail.com
alt. e: robtsum@ucla.edu
i added the foucault texts to aaaarg. as always you can find them here: http://aaaarg.org/category/relational-aesthetics