For this SSTRAPP three day weekender, Inigo and Maeve are joined by Seth Ayyaz, who is a sound artist, composer-performer, psychiatrist and transdisciplinary theorist. This is the first of two workshops surrounding the publication of Ghost Semantics.
The title of the workshop is based on an incredible piece that Seth wrote for the book, which does a deep dive into listening, crossing sound studies, critical theory, psychology, contemporary psychoanalysis, neuroscience, machine learning and experimental sound art.
Seth offers a way of thinking (and composing) listening through his proposal of a biopsychosocial systems approach to the complexities of sound.
In the theory sessions in the morning, led by Seth and Inigo, we’ll present some of the key ideas in Seth’s text, including explanations of what he means by the biopsychosocial condition of listening, mentalizing sound and experimental phantasmogenesis.
They will use their usual diagramming method for discussing and working through the ideas.
In the afternoons Seth and Maeve will lead us on a practical exploration of the sonic possibilities unleashed by these ideas in the presence of an ambisonic mic, participant’s mind-bodies, and a mass of synthesizers, pedals, acoustic instruments, digital sound software, etc.
A possible way into this practice will be offered through Seth Ayyaz’ graphic score Batroun Concrète, which was commissioned for a residency at Batroun Project Space in Lebanon.
The workshops will begin from what Seth calls a ‘not knowing’ stance: listening becomes a tool to engage uncertainty through curiosity, to discover and disclose what objects and sounding mind-bodies are capable of in the real-time presence of one another.
Besides respecting Bidston’s accountability agreement (tldr don’t be a dick) there are no requirements for attending, everyone is welcome, whatever their knowledge, abilities, etc., and theory and practice should be accessible for those with no background in them.
They recommend arriving at Bidston sometime on Thursday so you’re ready to start working on Friday morning, but if you can’t make it then you can still join later.
It is possible to participate with or without accommodation. We will do collective meals together, which is also an optional extra cost. The cost for participating in the workshop are as follows:
Workshop fee: On a sliding scale from £20-£30 per day, or £60-£90 for the total three days.
Accommodation fee: On a sliding scale from £30-£40 per day, or £90-£120 for the total three days. If you’re struggling financially, e.g. on benefits, get in touch and it may be possible to reduce the cost.
Meals fee: £15 per day
If you’d like to join, please get in touch by sending an email to sstrapp@proton.me
