Techniques of Transformative Inquiry: Technological Mediations Aaron Finbloom
Wednesday, October 17, 2018 at 6 PM – 7:30 PM in the GEM Lab (FB 630.15)
Aaron's research creation practice involves designing platforms for transformative inquiry, which operate at the intersections of philosophy, theatre and pedagogy. He creates performative, embodied frameworks for transformative inquiry which are drawn from a wide variety of relational techniques – therapeutic (psychodrama, circling, psychoanalysis) and contemplative (quaker meetings, socratic dialogue, community of philosophical inquiry). His most recent research trajectory involves exploring ways in which these interactive performances, games and conversation scores can be embedded into digital technology interfaces utilizing diverse software platforms such as: Google docs/sheets, step.works, and Ableton Live. For the Works-in-Progress (WIP) workshop at the GEM Lab he will discuss the theoretical framework of his research, showcase 2-3 pieces (which will involve active participation) and devote ample time for discussion. Aaron Finbloom is a philosopher, performance artist, musician and co-founder of The School of Making Thinking (SMT), an artist/thinker residency program and experimental college. Much of Finbloom's creative practice functions as an attempt to expand the scope of philosophy’s pedagogy via structured conversations, dialogical games, improvisational scores, contemplative audio guides and performative lectures. Finbloom has taught philosophy at Suffolk County Community College, curated dozens of courses playing with radical pedagogy for SMT, and led numerous interactive workshops at places which include: EMERGE Residency Program, The Performance Philosophy Conference, Elsewhere, Topological Media Lab, Senselab, matralab, and The Darling Foundry. He holds an M.A. in Philosophy and Art from SUNY Stony Brook and currently a PhD candidate in Interdisciplinary Humanities at Concordia University with advisers Sandeep Bhagwati Erin Manning, Nathan Brown. - Patrick Brodie