Carnegie Mellon faculty share their artistic and research projects funded
by Center for the Arts in Society faculty grants. Talks are scheduled
Noon-1:00 PM. Bring your own lunch; beverages and dessert provided.
Wednesday,
September 12
12:00
Noon
CFA 303
Omer Akin, Professor of Architecture Can Architects Write?
Architectural education is significantly influenced by writings of
name architects featured in course syllabi, trade journals, and public
lectures. The most influential examples of these also reveal troubling
weaknesses. These writings, affectionately known as archibabble, are
often full of unhelpful pontification, insoluble rhetorical riddle,
and plain old bad English. Thus, these extremely talented name architects
end up misleading their enthusiastic followers, including students
and beginning professionals, who are placed in the unenviable position
of choosing between hero worship and reason. This project is aimed
at judging the value of several key architects’ writings through
syntax and content analysis. Findings will be included in a public
lecture entitled “I am not Rem Koolhaas.”
Wednesday, October 24
12:00 Noon
CFA 303
Andrew Johnson, Associate Professor of Art PED.Rio
Andrew Johnson will share images of PED.Rio, the sixth incarnation of interactive, community-responsive projects developed by PED, a collective founded by Johnson with artists Millie Chen and Paul Vanouse in 2001. Invited to participate in FILE-Rio 2007, the Electronic Language Festival in Rio de Janeiro, they also lectured on the creative process at the accompanying symposium. The project was based at the Telemar Cultural Center and included in the exhibition catalogue.
PED.Rio used tandem bicycles in pedal-activated guided tours that engaged riders in the historical, material and cultural connections between the two hemispheres of North and South America.
Wednesday, November 14
12:00 Noon
CFA 303
Beryl Schlossman, Professor of French Art, History, and Images of the Feminine in Baudelaire's Paris
"Art, History, and Images of the Feminine in Baudelaire's Paris" provides a central theoretical focus for a major application of comparative and historical techniques for the study of European literature, art, and culture. Schlossman's goal is to enhance the understanding of early French modernism through an interdisciplinary approach to Baudelaire's use of visual images in his literary art. Her project explores the relationship between Baudelaire's works and the fine arts, and Baudelaire's impact on modernism. It examines the influence of French literature and culture on theory in light of Walter Benjamin's theoretical treatment of Baudelaire and Paris during the Second Empire. She will discuss her recent research trip to Paris.
