Formless as Water, Flaming as a Fire-Some observations on the Theory and Practice of Self-Determination

The concept of national self-determination is a highly contested concept from very outset. It is partly due to its dual parentage, namely nationalism and liberalism. Prior to 1945 it was only a political concept without legal binding. With the incorporation of the principle in the UN Charter it was universalized and legalized. However, there were two competing interpretations at the UN based on de-colonization and representative government. How to define self and what really determined remain highly controversial. How to reconcile the international norm of sovereignty of state and self determination of people became more complex problem with the tide of secessionist movements based on ethno-nationalism. The concept of internal self-determination came as a compromise; but it is also very vague and harbors a wide range of interpretations.

Formless being for flute, clarinet, bassoon, french horn, percussion, piano and string quartet

Thesis (D.M.A.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Revolving kaleidoscope : site-specificity and the part object in contemporary installation art

This practice-led research project explores the possibilities for restaging and reconfiguring contemporary art installations in multiple and different locations. By exploring ideas and art that demonstrate a kaleidoscopic approach to creative practice, this project examines how analysing artists' particular processes can achieve new understandings and experiences of installation art. This project achieves this through reflection on, and analysis of creative works made throughout the research, and a critical examination of contemporary art practices.

Liberty

In terms of critical discourse, Liberty contributes to the ongoing aesthetic debate on ‘the sublime.’ Philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) defined the sublime as a failure of rationality in response to sensory overload: a state where the imagination is suspended, without definitive reference points—a state beyond unequivocal ‘knowing.’ I believe the events of September 11, 2001 eluded our understanding in much the same way, leaving us in a moment of suspension between awe and horror. It was an event that couldn’t be understood in terms of scope or scale. It was a moment of overload, which is so difficult to capture in art. With my work I attempt to rekindle that moment of suspension. Like the events of 9/11, Liberty defies definition. Its form is constantly changing; it is always presenting us with new layers of meaning. Nobody quite had a handle on the events that followed 9/11, because the implications were constantly shifting. In the same way, Liberty cannot be contained or defined at any moment in time. Like the events of 9/11, the full story cannot be told in a snapshot. One of the dictionary definitions for the word ‘sublime’ is the conversion of ‘a solid substance directly into a gas, without there being an intermediate liquid phase’. With this in mind, I would like to present Liberty as a work that is literally ‘sublime.’ But what’s really interesting to me about Liberty is that it presents the sublime on all levels: in its medium, in its subject matter (that moment of suspension), and in its formal (formless) presentation. On every level Liberty is sublime—subverting all tangible reference points and eluding capture entirely. Liberty is based on the Statue of Liberty in New York. However, unlike that statue which has stood in New York since 1886 and can be reasonably expected to stand for millennia, this work takes on diminishing proportions, carved as it is in carbon dioxide, a mysterious, previously unexplored medium—one which smokes, snows and dramatically vanishes into a harmless gas. Like the material this work is carved from, the civil liberties of the free world are diminishing fast, since 9/11 and before. This was my thought when I first conceived this work. Now it’s become evident that Liberty expresses a lot more than just this: it demonstrates the erosion of civil liberties, yes. However, it also presents the intangible, indefinable moments in the days and months that followed 9/11. The sculptural work will last for only a short time, and thereafter will exist only in documentation. During this time, the form is continually changing and self-refining, until it disappears entirely, to be inhaled, metabolised and literally taken to heart by viewers.

Tracing Neoclassical Influences in selected solo and chamber music for the clarinet

The musical period of Neoclassicism began in the 1920's, between the first and second world wars. It was initiated by French composers and eventually spread to other countries. One of the most important themes to emerge from the movement was to escape from the formless, rather emotional music of the Romantic era and instead, emphasize balance, order, objectivity and clarity in musical form. Many popular clarinet repertoires are enjoyed by performers and listeners because the music is enjoyable to play and easy to listen to. In particular, classically influenced clarinet music is quite interesting because it features musical elements from both the past and contemporary musical styles. For instance, some composers have integrated preexisting, more traditional styles of composition with lighter styles of modern culture such as popular music and Jazz. It is difficult to discover purely neoclassical clarinet repertoires even though many composers created their pieces during the neoclassical era. What we most commonly find are both neoclassical and non-neoclassical influences in compositions from that time period. Thus, I aim to trace the influence of neoclassicism in selected clarinet repertoires that exist today. It is my hope that increased awareness and knowledge about accessible clarinet music may encourage the general public to develop a deeper interest in a wider sphere of clarinet music, beyond what is considered popular today. The works performed and discussed in this dissertation are the following: (Recital I) Duo Concertante by Darius Milhaud; Sonata by Leonard Bernstein; Sonata for Two Clarinets by Francis Poulenc; Duos for Flute and Clarinet, Op. 34 by Robert Muczynski; Dance Preludes by Witold Lutoslawski, (Recital II) Sonatine by Arthur Honegger; Time pieces by Robert Muczynski; Suite for Clarinet, Violin and Piano by Darius Milhaud; Sonate for Clarinet, Flute and Piano by Maurice Emmanuel; Tarantelle for Flute, Clarinet and Piano, Op. 6 by Camille Saint-Saëns, (Recital III) Sonatina by Joseph Horovitz; Suite from L'histoire du Soldat for Clarinet, Violin and Piano by Igor Stravinsky; Contrasts for Clarinet, Violin and Piano by Béla Bartók The recitals that took place on December 1, 2012 and on April 25, 2013 were performed in the Ulrich Recital Hall of the Clarice Performing Arts Center in College Park, Maryland. The recital that took place on November 2, 2013 was performed at the Gildenhorn Recital Hall of the same performing arts center.

La série Aux Abattoirs de la Villette (1929) : le point de vue du photographe Eli Lotar par-delà la revue Documents et la philosophie de Georges Bataille

Ce mémoire étudie la série Aux Abattoirs de la Villette photographiée par Eli Lotar en 1929. Il montre comment elle a été assimilée par l’histoire de l’art au texte « Abattoir » de Georges Bataille, aux côtés duquel ont été reproduites trois photos du corpus sous la rubrique Dictionnaire critique de la revue Documents. Cette emprise théorique sur la série est mise en perspective au regard de la démarche artistique d’Eli Lotar et des autres photomontages dont elle a fait l’objet ensuite. Le premier chapitre insiste sur la formation d’Eli Lotar et introduit son séjour à La Villette en lien avec la thématique de l’abattoir dans l’entre-deux-guerres. Il analyse ensuite la fortune critique d’Aux Abattoirs de la Villette qui s’appuie sur la philosophie de l’informe chez Georges Bataille. Le deuxième chapitre analyse le photomontage de la série fait par E.L.T. Mesens dans Variétés (1930) et le photoreportage reconstitué par Carlo Rim dans Vu (1931). Selon des points de vue et un travail formel différents, tous deux accentuent la dimension humaine de l’industrie d’abattage animal. Le troisième chapitre fait apparaître le regard posé par Eli Lotar sur le site de La Villette en tenant compte de ses préoccupations socio-artistiques à travers ses collaborations auprès de Germaine Krull et Joris Ivens. Finalement, il dresse une analyse comparative de la série avec la toile Abattoir d’André Masson, le poème Porte Brancion de Raymond Queneau et le film Le sang des bêtes de Georges Franju pour renforcer les spécificités du médium photographique.

Encore ; suivi de Les « monstrueuses anomalies » du Bleu du ciel

Encore est le récit d’une jeune femme hantée par un avortement qui lui semble n’avoir jamais eu lieu et pourtant se rappelle sans cesse à elle, comme un mauvais rêve. C’est l’histoire de son désir, écrite contre la domestication de son corps, et par laquelle elle tente de se réapproprier le néant de son ventre et d’y faire apparaître les traces de sa mémoire. Mon essai porte sur Le Bleu du ciel de Georges Bataille, dont j’ai voulu interroger les « monstrueuses anomalies » — expression qu’emploie Bataille lui-même dans la préface de son livre. Comment faire un monstre de récit, comment transgresser la loi d’un genre réputé sans contrainte ? Mon projet aura été de mettre en évidence, plutôt que la monstruosité de l’histoire racontée, le travail, ou la besogne, dans l’écriture de ce récit, de l’informe et de la chance, termes que j’emprunte à Bataille et soumets au jeu de sa fiction.

O Estado demiurgo: Alberto Torres e a construção nacional

En tant que précurseur d'une modalité d'institution building au Brésil, Alberto Torres sceptique quant à l'habileté et à la possibilité d'action d'autres agents a planifié l'Etat comme constructeur de la Nation et comme organisateur de la société brésilienne, celle-ci selon lui considérant en cours le processus de transplantation qui l'aurait initiée.

Potpourri : Conjeturas y cavilaciones

Potpourri, la primera novela de Cambaceres, suscitó un importante debate moral acerca de los asuntos que trata, del estilo en que está escrita y de la displicencia de su narrador, a quien se asoció -sin mediaciones- con su autor. El artículo aborda ese estilo que en general se impugnó para proponer que es precisamente en la supuesta falta de forma y en el desapego a las convenciones, tanto como en la indolencia del narrador, donde radican su potencia narrativa y su carácter experimental. Siguiendo este hilo conceptual, se indagan ciertos aspectos específicos: el anonimato, el silbido, el chisme y los secretos a voces, y la arquitectura de la página

Algunas notas sobre Bajo este sol tremendo, de Carlos Busqued

Tópicos invocados en la pregunta acerca de las manifestaciones más perturbadoras de la violencia asumen en la primera novela de Carlos Busqued una tonalidad sumamente inquietante, al escapar al tratamiento psicológico o la reflexión sociológica para situarse en una zona de indistinción entre sujeto y objeto, naturaleza e historia, figura y fondo, animal y humano: formas informes que traen noticias de un mundo subterráneo cuya violencia termina siempre por imponerse. Calibrar aquello que se juega en la experiencia de un límite traspasado y sus figuras -sintomático de la experiencia social del presente- es lo que proponemos explorar en este trabajo

Potpourri : Conjeturas y cavilaciones

Potpourri, la primera novela de Cambaceres, suscitó un importante debate moral acerca de los asuntos que trata, del estilo en que está escrita y de la displicencia de su narrador, a quien se asoció -sin mediaciones- con su autor. El artículo aborda ese estilo que en general se impugnó para proponer que es precisamente en la supuesta falta de forma y en el desapego a las convenciones, tanto como en la indolencia del narrador, donde radican su potencia narrativa y su carácter experimental. Siguiendo este hilo conceptual, se indagan ciertos aspectos específicos: el anonimato, el silbido, el chisme y los secretos a voces, y la arquitectura de la página

Algunas notas sobre Bajo este sol tremendo, de Carlos Busqued

Tópicos invocados en la pregunta acerca de las manifestaciones más perturbadoras de la violencia asumen en la primera novela de Carlos Busqued una tonalidad sumamente inquietante, al escapar al tratamiento psicológico o la reflexión sociológica para situarse en una zona de indistinción entre sujeto y objeto, naturaleza e historia, figura y fondo, animal y humano: formas informes que traen noticias de un mundo subterráneo cuya violencia termina siempre por imponerse. Calibrar aquello que se juega en la experiencia de un límite traspasado y sus figuras -sintomático de la experiencia social del presente- es lo que proponemos explorar en este trabajo

Potpourri : Conjeturas y cavilaciones

Potpourri, la primera novela de Cambaceres, suscitó un importante debate moral acerca de los asuntos que trata, del estilo en que está escrita y de la displicencia de su narrador, a quien se asoció -sin mediaciones- con su autor. El artículo aborda ese estilo que en general se impugnó para proponer que es precisamente en la supuesta falta de forma y en el desapego a las convenciones, tanto como en la indolencia del narrador, donde radican su potencia narrativa y su carácter experimental. Siguiendo este hilo conceptual, se indagan ciertos aspectos específicos: el anonimato, el silbido, el chisme y los secretos a voces, y la arquitectura de la página

Algunas notas sobre Bajo este sol tremendo, de Carlos Busqued

Tópicos invocados en la pregunta acerca de las manifestaciones más perturbadoras de la violencia asumen en la primera novela de Carlos Busqued una tonalidad sumamente inquietante, al escapar al tratamiento psicológico o la reflexión sociológica para situarse en una zona de indistinción entre sujeto y objeto, naturaleza e historia, figura y fondo, animal y humano: formas informes que traen noticias de un mundo subterráneo cuya violencia termina siempre por imponerse. Calibrar aquello que se juega en la experiencia de un límite traspasado y sus figuras -sintomático de la experiencia social del presente- es lo que proponemos explorar en este trabajo