“S.O.W : Self, Others, We and the in-between spaces .”
A practice as research by Foteini Kotsopoulou
Draft proposal.
Taking in consideration Fridja & Mesquita ‘s definition that “Emotions…are, first and foremost, modes of relating to the environment: states of readiness for engaging, or not engaging, in interaction with that environment”, the starting point of my research is located on my interest to investigate and explore the physiological aspects of the specific human emotional behaviors of crying and laughter as well as their relationship with the environment in order to create the space for a “One to One” experiential performance. Through this exploratory process I seek for different answers on my main research question and its sub/questions:
What kind of physical space in a state of constant transformation can I create with the material I collect before, during and after a specific artistic research? How do I get in this intimate physical space accessible only in a “One to One performance”, where emotional responses are constantly provoked, influenced, manipulated and subverted? In which level and how can , the relationship between body /environment, performer/participant, self /others, be challenged in that space?
An essential characteristic of this research is my role as a researcher who observes and analyzes the collected data regarding my self and others’ experience, as performer in “One to One” experiences and as a creative maker of a visual-sound transformable space where these experiences will take place. This multiple roles implicate the need to move in a flexible way within different areas of exploration and examination.
In fact during the process of research, I will be looking at the areas of
1. Psychoanalysis, in order to understand better the nature and the “desnaturalization” of crying and laughter.
2. Somatic practices in order to investigate and explore the physicality of crying and laughter.
3. “One to One performance”, as a way to converse and connect intimately with the audience and to find different forms and possibilities for interaction.
4. Visual art and technology. Photography and video become basic tools of practice during the research on crying and laughter.
The final aim of this research is to create a transformable space where “One to One” performance will take place. However, the performance is part of the whole process, it is what really matters and is more relevant in my case. In fact my focus as a researcher, thinker and artist is on the process, the exploratory “odysseys” journey as I name it, rather than the production of a final artwork/piece.
But in order to navigate safely in this journey a concrete and rigorous methodology is needed . In calling for multiple forms of observation, analysis and representation, the methodology of my research draws on middle ground-qualitative approaches, like Crystallization. Following Ellingson´s suggestion that “crystallization provides one effective approach to richly describing our findings and to making both overt and subtle manifestations of power in analytic, narrative/artistic, critical genres”., I will try to see my research through a Richardson’s crystal that “reflects within themselves, creating different colours, patterns, and arrays, casting off in different directions.”
More specifically, I intend to proceed to my research by using: a) heterophenomenology to pursuit information regarding embodied experiences of others through observation and interviews, b) autoethnonography performance for a self reflection and witnessing of inward and outward self-experiences c) elements of transactional analysis,a neo-Freudian theory of personality with phenomenological base, to investigate how the responses on physical experiences are structured. I would like to point out that the input to use this kind of approach came out after the encounter with Faye Johnson, art-counsellor, currently living in Lincoln , with whom I had an interesting conversation if crying and laughing are partially constructed behaviours rather than only natural human emotional responses to external stimuli. Probably she is going to contribute in the research as an expert in the field of psychology and counselling.
In a practical way I will divide the research in 3 sectors. The sector S (for “Self”) and the sector O, (for “Others”) collect documented material and information from the experimentation, exploration and observation phases. The sector W (for “We”) collects the artistic/creative material of each “One to One” performances inside the transformable space that it will be created for each participant based on the material of the two previous sectors.
Some of the methods I plan to use through my research are:
-diary-video/photo documentation of myself during the somatic exploration of crying and laughing.
-use of a blog, during the research process, to collect, reflect and share the out coming materials and results.
-records of sounds (laughter and crying).
-reading of texts in relation to the topic from psychoanalytical, philosophical point of view, as source for further questions and inspirations.
-creation of body- maps and mind- maps.
-interviews for collecting information about the personal experiences of laughter and crying.
-collection of exercise based on movement and/or voice inspired form different somatic practices, for physical exploration (for example exercise from laughing meditation or laughing yoga, etc).
Before mentioning some of artists and thinkers who influences me in certain aspects of my practice, I would like to underline some conceptual questions-linked with the previous theoretical module of the MA/MFA: CLA- that I would like to keep on investigating and deepening, like: the construction of subjectivity and empathy as a way to annihilate the existence of the Other.
Several artists, researchers, theorists and thinkers influence the development of my research and nourish my work through their practice. For example on an artistic level, I find the “One to One performances” of artists like Susana Mendes- Silva very interesting and inspiring , who is an artist interested in models of gestures, encounters, and communication of everyday life and in “the spaces, of inter-human relation, that one can “open” within the communicational media.” . Also, Maria Chatzichristodoulou’s writings on intimacy, performance, technology, and new media are a helpful tool for a deeper understanding of certain aspects of my research. Regarding the use of the video and the photography within the research I am inspired by different visual artists like the Spanish artist/photographer Cristina Nuñez, who uses the method of self portrait in order to convert emotions into art and to explore unknown aspects of the self.
References.
Ellingson, L. (2008). Engaging Crystallization In Qualitative Research : An Introduction / Laura L. Ellingson. London: SAGE.
Oatley, K. (2006). Understanding emotions / Keith Oatley, Dacher Keltner and Jennifer M. Jenkins. Oxford: Blackwell 2006.
Zerihan, R. (2009). One to One Performance, by Rachel Zerihan. Retrieved 07 24, 2013, from Live Art Development Agency: http://www.thisisliveart.co.uk/resources/Study_Room/guides/Rachel_Zerihan.html
Shaughnessy, N.(2012) Applying Performance: Live Art, Socially Engaged Theatre and Affective Practice. London: PALGRAVE MACMILLAN.
Wood, J (1997).The Virtual Embodied : Presence, Practice, Technology / Edited By John Wood, n.p.: London: Routledge .
Chatzichristodoulou M. , Zerichan R. (2012). Intimacy Across Visceral and digital performance. London: PALGRAVE MACMILLAN.
Askenasy, J. J. M. ( 1987). The functions and dysfunctions of laughter. Journal of General Psychology, 114, 317– 334
Lutz T. (2001). Crying : The Natural And Cultural History Of Tears n.d., n.p.: London: Norton
Rachel, G n.d. Mirror Mirror: The role of self-monitoring and sincerity in emotional manipulation. Personality And Individual Differences, 51, pp. 981-985, ScienceDirect.
Indicative web resource:
Zerichan R.(date unknown). Intimate Inter- actions. Returning to the Body in One to 0ne performance. (Online) Available from: http://people.brunel.ac.uk/bst/vol0601/rachelzerihan/zerihan.pdf (Accessed: 07.24.2013)
About Cristina Nuñez.
http://www.self-portrait.eu/home/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=2 (Accessed: 07.24.2013)
About Susana Mendes-Silva
http://www.susanamendessilva.com/ (Accessed: 07.24.2013)
