Dear all,
When we first went online with our program of "networks, art, &
collaboration" we included the comment "*no lectures."
Many responded positively and at the same time the question then was
how to present if you can't use these traditional conference formats.
It's challenging not to read from your notes, to be brief - leaving ample
time for questions, and to focus on the questions raised by the chair person
of the particular session. Yet this is what we ask of all of us for this
event.
I was always looking for a conference without lectures and panels.
The rigid structure of panels and the non-communicative form of the key-note
speaker feed into the celebrity system reinforcing hegemonic paradigms that
get in the way of a lively exchange of ideas, and genuine dialogue.
Conferences are great places to get inspired, provoked, debate,
learn, make new friends, meet future collaborators, party intensely, dance,
and then carry this debate on in the sauna or stream room.
Some formats:
Live blogging, talk-shop, open microphone (very short audience presentations
or comments), party (drinking, dancing, smoking), workshop, collaborative
-performative- presentations, demo sessions, artist presentations (showing
projects *in process to invite people in the audience to collaborate),
coffee-break, open space (professionally moderated, closed door once a group
has formed). Do you have additional ideas for formatting engaging
communication in a conference context?
Best,
Trebor