Conversations around Cinema for the Ear - Alexis Bhagath- Nov-07 .1830 hrs

We know what to expect: We wait outside, or arrive in a hurry, to get our ticket. Past the coca-cola and popcorn, we enter the hall, taking our seats among the other people. Everyone chats while the lights are on matters of their daily lives. A hush falls as the lights go down. Trumpets blare. The projected image begins and we fall deeply into watching.

But what if the house lights went down and everything remained... dark? What if we feel instead into deeply listening? Could there really be a cinema for the ear?

This evening's presentation will explore questions around a "cinema for the ear" with Alexis Bhagat. He will present clips of examples of sound art that claims to be "cinematic," as well as, for comparative purposes, film sound without the picture. (Participants are encouraged to bring DVDs or VCDs of movies that they think have particularly interesting or compelling sound! We'll listen to as many as time permits.)

In the interest of vocabulary, Michel Chion's theories of "audio-vision," and listening modes will be compared with artist Raphael Lyon's much stricter theories of "audio perspective." (Chion is a noted French composer and sound designer. Lyon is a film sound editor and researcher on the tradition of radio-drama from the US.) What do such theories tell us about sound as an artistic material? And what might they tell us about the cinema hall as a possible "standard virtual space," like e.g. the concert hall or FM radio?

Through listening and discussion may we together dream up some possible futures for artistic engagement with cinema in the dark.

ABOUT THE PRESENTER:
Alexis Bhagat is a sound artist and writer from New York. He is the editor of "An Atlas of Radical Cartography" and "Sound Generation." He is collaborating with Khoj on AUDIENCE, an exhibition of sound art works that will premiere in New Delhi next March and then travel to cinema halls around the world.
www.nadalex.net