Idiosyncratic: The Formation of Artistic Voice Through Movement Research and Choreographic Processes
Location
Guzman 112, Dominican University of California
Start Date
4-17-2019 12:30 PM
End Date
4-17-2019 1:00 PM
Student Type
Undergraduate - Honors
Faculty Mentor(s)
Thomas Burke MFA and Kara Davis
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
This project seeks to answer how individual voices are formed through dance and choreography. The answer to this question was discovered through physicalized research and embodying concepts and tasks during my Senior Project choreography process. My dancers and I experimented with the idea of self vs. society: how do we differentiate our own artistic voices from those around us? How do we remain ourselves when we are so greatly influenced by society? Artistic voice greatly influences our identities as humans. The answers to these questions lie within personal aesthetics, the philosophical study of beauty and taste which is self-defined. According to philosopher Plato, art is imitation of reality and the mimicking of other art. Plato discusses different parts of aesthetics: beauty, imitation, and inspiration. As an artist and choreographer, I am imitating the dance and life processes I have experienced: different choreographic techniques, dealing with injury, world travels, and other artistic practices. These processes have both removed me and surrounded me in dance. Injury specifically removed me from dance for a semester of college due to hip surgeries that were necessary to continue dancing. This journey was a struggle that taught me how much I love dance and how situations can make you a new person and artist. Even when I am unaware of it, I am constantly influenced by observations I make daily. Is there such thing as original ideas? The information I have cultivated is imitated as Plato said. However, because it is being filtered through my own artistic voice it becomes my own work. I have also been greatly inspired by many processes and experiences. Does this inspiration cause imitation, or does it become an original idea? Ultimately, our individual voices, both artistic and personal identities, are influenced by those people around us and by our life experiences.
Idiosyncratic: The Formation of Artistic Voice Through Movement Research and Choreographic Processes
Guzman 112, Dominican University of California
This project seeks to answer how individual voices are formed through dance and choreography. The answer to this question was discovered through physicalized research and embodying concepts and tasks during my Senior Project choreography process. My dancers and I experimented with the idea of self vs. society: how do we differentiate our own artistic voices from those around us? How do we remain ourselves when we are so greatly influenced by society? Artistic voice greatly influences our identities as humans. The answers to these questions lie within personal aesthetics, the philosophical study of beauty and taste which is self-defined. According to philosopher Plato, art is imitation of reality and the mimicking of other art. Plato discusses different parts of aesthetics: beauty, imitation, and inspiration. As an artist and choreographer, I am imitating the dance and life processes I have experienced: different choreographic techniques, dealing with injury, world travels, and other artistic practices. These processes have both removed me and surrounded me in dance. Injury specifically removed me from dance for a semester of college due to hip surgeries that were necessary to continue dancing. This journey was a struggle that taught me how much I love dance and how situations can make you a new person and artist. Even when I am unaware of it, I am constantly influenced by observations I make daily. Is there such thing as original ideas? The information I have cultivated is imitated as Plato said. However, because it is being filtered through my own artistic voice it becomes my own work. I have also been greatly inspired by many processes and experiences. Does this inspiration cause imitation, or does it become an original idea? Ultimately, our individual voices, both artistic and personal identities, are influenced by those people around us and by our life experiences.