For those of us who are involved with dancing and the body -- the notion of
authenticity is so often linked with conditions which we like to
characterize as un-mediated. I'm thinking here of recent comments on
notation/ motion capture as not being capable of recording certain features
of dancing, like the spirit/ movement quality, etc. Sometimes the language
we use for these efforts, motion 'capture' for example, seems to imply that
the technology is being used as some sort of container for the movement
material. 'Naturally' from the point of view of the dancer this container
seems inadequate. But what happens to the privilege that sublime movement
qualities are finding in our discourses about dancing if we re-formulate the
phrase 'motion capture' to be 'motion enhancement' -- most motion capture,
as performed in commercial contexts, is transformed into animation through a
series of software induced embellishments. In fact, if you are an animator
working with Motion Capture you are very happy to have a figure upon which
to work which moves with such a 'natural' quality. Our dancing 'spirit' is
re-authenticated for the media environment... and within this environment,
vis a vis my original Star Trek observation, 'authenticity' is as 'real' as
it is anywhere else.
Scott
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Scott deLahunta and Susan Rethorst
Writing Research Associates, NL
Sarphatipark 26-3, 1072 PB Amsterdam, NL
tel: +31 (0)20 662 1736
fax: +31 (0)20 470 1558
email: sdela@ahk.nl
http://huizen.dds.nl/~sdela/wra (WRITING RESEARCH ASSOCIATES)
http://www.art.net/~dtz (DANCE AND TECHNOLOGY ZONE )