For the next session of THELEME Seminars (2023-2024), Konrad Sierzputowski (Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research, Berlin) will be presenting a paper on “Listening to Holograms: The Corporeality of Virtual Animated Bands”.

Respondent: Luísa Ribas (Professora Auxiliar, Faculdade de Belas Artes da U. Lisboa).

The session will take place on the 13th of March, from 3 to 4:30pm, in-person and online (room B112.D, FLUL Library; Zoom link).


Abstract:
Listening to Holograms: The Corporeality of Virtual Animated Bands

This research delves into the intertwined realms of animation and music, focusing on the rise of virtual animated bands as a distinctive cultural phenomenon. By navigating the intricate landscape of these digitally crafted musical collectives, I plan to present overlooked aspects of popular music theory, especially concerning the integration of material and corporeal elements within the musical experience. Virtual bands — such as Gorillaz, Hatsune Miku and Studio Killers — characterized by their ephemeral existence as mediatized entities, challenge traditional notions of musical performance. Their presence extends across various media platforms, from literary and cinematic realms to interactive gaming environments. My lecture attempts to uncover insights into contemporary musical practices and the evolving role of corporeality in artistic expression by closely examining the visual and auditory elements of animated bands popular between 2000 and 2020. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the lecture will present a nuanced interplay between reality and virtuality, enriching their understanding of the dynamic cultural landscape of the 21st century.


Konrad Sierzputowski: a music studies scholar, cultural critic, and researcher of contemporary LGBTQ+ culture. A graduate of the Faculty of Polish Studies at the Jagiellonian University. Sierzputowski is a recipient of the Foundation for Polish Science scholarship (2021), the Fulbright Junior Research Award at Columbia University Department of Music (2020), and the Kraków UNESCO City of Literature Award (2023). Currently, he is researching Polish queer humor at the Leibniz Center for Literary and Cultural Research in Berlin. He is also a translator and dramaturge for "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" (Capitol Theater in Wrocław, 2022) and a playwright of "Hamlet" (Polish Theatre in Bydgoszcz, 2024).