The Pleasures of Uninhibited Excess
Film Directed by Leslie Asako Gladsjo and Jonathan Reiss
SRL founder Mark Pauline will be present to introduce the film.
This is a filmed documentary of a performance by Survival Research Labs, a performance group that stages what the group calls ‘ritualized interactions’ between robotic creatures. Survival Research Laboratories was conceived of and founded by Mark Pauline in November 1978. Since its inception SRL has operated as an organization of creative technicians dedicated to re-directing the techniques, tools, and tenets of industry, science, and the military away from their typical manifestations in practicality, product or warfare. Since 1979, SRL has staged over 45 mechanized presentations in the United States and Europe. Each performance consists of a unique set of ritualized interactions between machines, robots, and special effects devices, employed in developing themes of socio-political satire. The fact that this socio-political satire often looks like a battle of some sort has frequently resulted in calls to the police and even to the Federal Government (in War of the Worlds fashion, people believe that we’re under attack). Humans are present only as audience or operators.
The film is being shown in conjunction with Center for Theoretical Inquiry in the Humanities CTIH 600 and Cultural Studies C701 Theory for Troubled Times.
To register for the event: https://events.iu.edu/bloomington/event/171386-survival-research-laboratories-the-pleasures-of
Survival Research Laboratories founder, Mark Pauline, will virtually introduce the film via Zoom @ 7pm EST after which attendees can make their way to Vimeo for the virtual film screening. After the screening, viewers can then make their way back to Zoom for a post-screening Q&A.
PLEASE NOTE: You must register in order to gain access to the virtual introduction/Q&A and film screening. The virtual introduction/Q&A and film screening will take place on two different platforms, Zoom and Vimeo. You will receive links and instructions via a confirmation email after registering.
For more information, please contact Joan Hawkins jchawkin@iu.edu or Jamie Thomas