International conference about technology, memory and experience

From the 25th until the 29th of May 2011 Theatre Studies at Utrecht University presents in collaboration with art festival Festival a/d Werf the 17th edition of the Performance Studies international Conference. Entitled 'Camillo 2.0: Technology, Memory, Experience', this year’s conference will research the performing arts as a perspective on the relations between technology, memory and experience.

Technological developments allow more people access to more information than ever before. Additionally, they make it possible to store and share experiences, inputs, and topics of conversation. These technologies alter what and how much can be stored, but also transform how memory is shaped, how the stored can be experienced, how our and other’s memories are entangled in the here-and-now, and – in the end – even how we think and imagine.

The conference's title refers to the Italian philosopher Giulio Camillo, who developed in the 16th century a 'memory theatre' – a wooden construction that was meant to allow the spectator access to all existing knowledge.

During a five-day program more than 400 international artists and academics will present their work. There will be lectures by renowned academics from different disciplines such as Alan Read, Rebecca Schneider, Mieke Bal, Jill Dolan, Joe Kelleher, Freddie Rokem and Shannon Jackson. Moreover, more than half of the program is filled with other forms of presentation such as demonstrations; installations; (lecture) performances; workshops; interviews; and discussions.

Several program parts of the conference will be public events. Other than the performances that are part of Festival a/d Werf, these concern for example a lecture by the South-African writer Jane Taylor (known for her theatre play Ubu and the Truth Commission); a series of lectures on Giulio Camillo’s 16th century Memory Theatre in relation to contemporary developments of media technologies and neurosciences (with amongst others philosopher Peter Matussek); interviews with Kris Verdonck and other participating artists; and performances in public space. The exact program, time and place will be announced on the website http://psi17.org. The program parts open to the public are free of charge as long as there is room available. Registered participants will be given priority.

Camillo 2.0: Technology, Memory, Experience is the 17th edition of the world conference Performance Studies international (PSi), a worldwide network organisation on Performance Studies. The research conducted under this umbrella term is interdisciplinary per definition and is strongly rooted in the interaction between theory and practice.

practical info
date: 25 > 29 May 2011
venues: can be found in the programme
for registration: click here
for more information: http://psi17.org