Science/Speculative fiction in literature and cinema has established itself as a critical mode of inquiry by raising questions on the implications of new (digital) technologies and alternative, future ways of living. Many artists and designers are also crafting, visualizing, and (re-)interpreting fictions, speculations, and imaginaries in order to shape, challenge, and discuss predominant cultural, social, and technological narratives.

For your main project in this class, you will be exploring how fictional narratives, speculative scenarios, and imaginaries of alternative worlds can be built through performative dimensions in your art and design practices. Based on initial learnings from quick experiments, take-aways from our bi-weekly reading circle, and a deeper recherche into a topic of your choice, you will be developing an individual or collaborative, time-based project that is inspired by, makes use of, embraces, and/or breaks with the aesthetics, strategies, and principles of speculation, fiction, and imaginaries we collectively encounter throughout our class.

Although fictions are often presented, delivered, and narrated through words and spoken language, we as designers and artists should see it as a challenge to explore alternative media, contexts, and forms of delivery— in this case, through the means of performative practices— and may even challenge the assumption of fiction as narration itself.

The process of developing your projects is structured by a series of smaller assignments that you should take as opportunities to progress within your project and create plateaux. Experiment with different tools and strategies for making and thinking; explore various aspects within your topic. Try out different modes of presentation and storytelling, etcetera.

We will discuss the intermediate steps of your specific projects on the occasion of 3 rehearsals throughout the semester, as well as in plenary sessions and individual feedback meetings.

Finally, we plan to present your projects in a collectively organized performance evening after the end of the semester. We advise you to consider this format when developing your projects.

PS { fiction does not necessarily equal science fiction 😉 }

This was a joint seminar by Henrik Nieratschker and Prof. Dennis P Paul.

see blog for additional information.