Séa.nce
- A Networked Glossalalia In the 19th century Etienne-Jules
Marey, Henri Bergson, Arsène d'Arsonoval and Marie Curie met to
investigate "the manifestations of yet undefined forces" through
scientific investigations using Marey's graphing instruments. These investigations
attempted to measure radioactivity and electric discharge of hysterics;
to study telepathy and levitation; and to hold Seances. What is the language of the networked Talking Board? As English has now become the preferred language of international networked communication it seems appropriate to let loose the many other alphabetic sounds that lie hidden behind this linguafranca, that have, in a way, become virtual. During the performance participants are networked through the virtual Ouija Board with other participants in remote locations. Players log-on and are given an avatar. They can ask questions of the Board. Through a system which relays the collective motion of the avatars, the planchette is moved around the board from letter to letter. When the planchette lands on a letter it responds with the sounds of the spoken alphabets randomly chosen from many languages. At the same time players type their comments, feelings, thoughts and ideas into the Message Box creating a corresponding textual cacophony. The result is a sort of networked glossalalia -- an audiolisation of the perpetual e.motion in the network.
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