Late breaking information

MUSICOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF AMSTERDAM

12/09/2016

Reasoning through Art: The Articulation of Embodied Knowledge

Colloquium Musicology
Prof. dr. Henk Borgdorff

Thursday 22 September, 15:30-17:00
Nieuwe Doelenstraat 16, room 3.01

Abstract:
My contribution will start with asking whether research by artists, so-called artistic research, is equivalent to academic research. Artists in their research often make use of insights, methods and techniques, which stem from social science, humanities or technological research, but it is not clear what artistic research itself has to offer to academia. In my talk I will develop a positive understanding of research in and through the arts, touching upon its epistemology and methodology, and addressing the form and relevance of its outcomes. I will point to four related issues that are pertinent to research in and through art: an advanced understanding of discursivity, of reasoning; the methodological relevance of material practices and things; innovative ways of publishing art in academia; and advanced forms of peer review. This will be illustrated by the workings of the Journal for Artistic Research and its associated Research Catalogue. Besides, it is key to the advancement of the artistic research field that we not only advertise and export our epistemological and methodological distinctiveness, but that we also join forces with others in our attempt to re-think academia.