PROJECT 4: The Fluxus Score

OBJECTIVE: To pursue and define the concept of the artist’s tool, to explore surreal or altered states of consciousness, to consider chance operations in developing participatory time based performances.

GOAL: To create and lead a group performance scenario, or situation, using a clearly delineated score.

PROCESS:

  1. What is a Fluxus Score? Watch the videos in the References. Do the readings.
  2. Answer these questions for yourself:
    1. How do you define “technology / tools” for yourself?
    2. Can tools be used to express human concerns?
    3. How is the meaning of your artwork affected (reinforced / diminished) by the use of technology / tools?
    4. How do we distinguish the world of dreams or the unconscious mind from the “real” world?
    5. How have artists interacted with other disciplines to understand the unconscious mind?
    6. What would be some ways of explore the theme of dream worlds in your own artwork?
  3. Select a tool / object that can be used as a “tool”.
  4. How could you choreograph how people use this tool to alter their perceptions / help them think different / enter a surreal space / perform a ritual.
  5. Break your performance into a sequence of steps. This is your score. There should be at least 3 and no more than 15 steps.
  6. Scores should take 5-10 minutes to complete.
  7. Consider if you want a chance element involved. (See John Cage / Merce Cunningham)
  8. Consider any other props / costumes you may need for this piece. Also consider how the score will be presented. On paper tacked to a wall? On cards in a box? Played through a computer’s speakers? Etc.
  9. Present and film your piece. Be prepared: we will be “performing” these scores in the classroom, your peers will be the participants.

READING: On Fluxus, From Participation to Interaction

VOCABULARY: Score, change operations

REFERENCES: Yoko Ono, John Cage, Alan Kaprow, Marina Abramovic, Merce Cunningham, Cut Piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sc47KfJjcI, Rhythm 0: http://vimeo.com/71952791