8.5 Cyborg and posthuman performance

Cyborg and posthuman performance explores the fusion of human bodies and technology on stage. It challenges traditional notions of embodiment and reflects broader cultural shifts towards human-machine integration in everyday life.

Key concepts include the origins of the cyborg idea, the posthuman in performance contexts, and how these differ from traditional performances. Theorists like Donna Haraway and artists such as Stelarc and Orlan have shaped this field significantly.

Defining cyborg performance

• Explores the intersection of human bodies and technology in live performance contexts
• Challenges traditional notions of embodiment and human capabilities on stage
• Reflects broader cultural shifts towards human-machine integration in everyday life

Origins of cyborg concept

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• Coined by Manfred Clynes and Nathan Kline in 1960 to describe augmented humans for space travel
• Combines "cybernetic" and "organism" to represent a hybrid being
• Evolved from science fiction trope to critical theory concept
• Donna Haraway's 1985 "Cyborg Manifesto" popularized cyborg as metaphor for identity

Posthuman in performance context

• Refers to performances that explore existence beyond traditional human limitations
• Incorporates technological augmentation, artificial intelligence, or non-human entities
• Challenges anthropocentric views of performance and embodiment
• Examines how technology reshapes human experience and perception

Cyborg vs traditional performance

• Integrates technology as essential component rather than just prop or backdrop
• Blurs boundaries between performer's body and technological elements
• Often involves real-time data processing or biofeedback systems
• Challenges notions of liveness and presence in performance
• May incorporate non-human or AI-driven performers alongside human actors

Key theorists and practitioners

• Shaped the theoretical framework and practical applications of cyborg performance
• Influenced broader discussions on posthumanism in arts and culture
• Contributed to interdisciplinary approaches combining performance, technology, and philosophy

Donna Haraway's influence

• Wrote seminal text "A Cyborg Manifesto" (1985) exploring cyborg as metaphor
• Challenged binary oppositions (human/machine, nature/culture) in feminist theory
• Introduced concept of "situated knowledges" influencing performance theory
• Inspired artists to explore fluid identities and human-technology relationships
• Her work led to increased focus on body politics and technoscience in performance studies

Stelarc's body modifications

• Australian performance artist known for extreme body augmentations
• Created "Third Hand" (1980) robotic arm controlled by abdominal and leg muscles
• Suspended body with hooks in various performances (Suspensions, 1976-1988)
• Implanted "Ear on Arm" (2007) as living sculpture and internet-connected organ
• Explores obsolescence of human body and potential for technological enhancement

Orlan's surgical performances

• French artist using plastic surgery as medium for performance art
• "Carnal Art" manifesto (1990) outlined her approach to body as sculptural material
• Underwent series of surgeries (The Reincarnation of Saint Orlan, 1990-1993) broadcast live
• Incorporated religious and art historical imagery into facial modifications
• Critiques beauty standards and explores identity as malleable construct

Technology in cyborg performance

• Integrates various forms of technology to extend or augment the performer's body
• Challenges traditional notions of liveness and presence in theatrical contexts
• Explores new forms of audience interaction and immersion through technological interfaces

Wearable tech on stage

• Incorporates sensors, LEDs, and microcontrollers into costumes and props
• Enables real-time data visualization of performer's biometrics (heart rate, brainwaves)
• Creates interactive soundscapes or visuals responsive to performer's movements
• Examples include Imogen Heap's Mi.Mu gloves for gestural music control
• Troika Ranch's use of motion-capture suits in dance performances

Prosthetics and augmentation

• Utilizes both functional and aesthetic prosthetics to extend performer's capabilities
• Explores themes of disability, enhancement, and the boundaries of the human body
• Incorporates 3D-printed limbs, exoskeletons, or robotic appendages
• Artists like Lisa Bufano use prosthetic legs as expressive tools in dance
• Neil Harbisson's antenna implant allows him to "hear" colors in performances

Virtual and mixed reality

• Integrates VR headsets, AR displays, or projection mapping into live performances
• Creates hybrid spaces blending physical and digital realities
• Allows for remote or distributed performances across multiple locations
• Examples include Blast Theory's mixed reality games/performances
• The Builders Association's use of live video feeds and virtual environments

Themes in cyborg performances

• Explores the evolving relationship between humans and technology in contemporary society
• Challenges traditional notions of embodiment, identity, and human limitations
• Reflects on ethical and philosophical implications of technological augmentation

Human-machine integration

• Examines the blurring boundaries between organic bodies and technological systems
• Explores concepts of cybernetic feedback loops and human-computer interaction
• Investigates how technology extends or alters human sensory experiences
• Addresses fears and fascinations surrounding artificial intelligence and robotics
• Often incorporates real-time data processing or algorithmic decision-making in performances

Identity and embodiment

• Challenges fixed notions of gender, race, and species through technological interventions
• Explores how digital avatars and virtual bodies reshape concepts of self
• Examines the role of prosthetics and augmentations in redefining physical identity
• Investigates how online personas and data profiles contribute to fragmented identities
• Often incorporates themes of transformation, hybridity, and fluid subjectivity

Challenging biological limitations

• Explores potential for technology to overcome physical and cognitive constraints
• Examines ethical implications of human enhancement and life extension technologies
• Investigates posthuman concepts of consciousness upload or mind-machine interfaces
• Addresses themes of transhumanism and the potential evolution of the human species
• Often incorporates speculative or science fiction elements to imagine future possibilities

Aesthetics of posthuman performance

• Develops unique visual and auditory languages to represent cyborg and posthuman bodies
• Combines organic and synthetic elements to create hybrid aesthetic experiences
• Explores new forms of beauty and grotesquerie through technological interventions

Blurring organic vs synthetic

• Incorporates materials that mimic or merge with biological tissues (silicone, latex)
• Utilizes projection mapping to create illusions of technological skin or interfaces
• Explores biomimicry in costume and set design to blur natural and artificial
• Incorporates living organisms (plants, bacteria) alongside technological elements
• Often features ambiguous bodies that resist clear categorization as human or machine

Cyberpunk and futuristic elements

• Draws inspiration from science fiction aesthetics and dystopian imagery
• Incorporates neon lighting, holographic projections, and retro-futuristic designs
• Explores themes of corporate control, surveillance, and technological dependence
• Often features gritty, industrial settings contrasted with high-tech elements
• Utilizes electronic music and glitch-inspired soundscapes to create futuristic atmosphere

Glitch and malfunction motifs

• Incorporates intentional errors, static, and digital artifacts into performances
• Explores themes of technological vulnerability and the beauty of imperfection
• Utilizes data corruption or system crashes as metaphors for human frailty
• Often features performers struggling against or embracing technological malfunctions
• Incorporates glitch art techniques in visual design and sound composition

Critical perspectives

• Examines the philosophical and ethical implications of cyborg and posthuman performance
• Explores how these performances challenge or reinforce existing power structures
• Investigates audience responses and the cultural impact of technologically-enhanced bodies

Transhumanism in performance

• Explores artistic representations of human enhancement and technological evolution
• Examines ethical debates surrounding genetic engineering and cognitive augmentation
• Investigates how performance can speculate on future forms of human existence
• Often incorporates themes of immortality, mind uploading, and artificial superintelligence
• Critiques or celebrates transhumanist ideologies through embodied performance

Ethical considerations

• Addresses concerns about privacy and consent in performances using personal data
• Examines potential exploitation or objectification of technologically-modified bodies
• Investigates ethical implications of creating hybrid or genetically engineered performers
• Explores issues of accessibility and exclusion in technology-dependent performances
• Often incorporates audience participation to engage with ethical dilemmas directly

Audience reception and interaction

• Examines how cyborg performances challenge traditional spectator-performer relationships
• Investigates audience responses to technologically-augmented or non-human performers
• Explores new forms of interactivity enabled by sensors, AR, or networked devices
• Addresses issues of empathy and identification with posthuman or artificial entities
• Often incorporates real-time feedback loops between audience and performance systems

Cultural impact and significance

• Examines how cyborg performances reflect and shape broader cultural attitudes towards technology
• Investigates the role of posthuman performance in imagining and critiquing possible futures
• Explores the influence of cyborg aesthetics and themes on mainstream media and popular culture

Reflecting technological anxieties

• Addresses fears of technological dependence and loss of human agency
• Explores themes of surveillance, data privacy, and digital identity theft
• Examines concerns about artificial intelligence surpassing human capabilities
• Investigates anxieties surrounding body modification and genetic engineering
• Often incorporates dystopian scenarios or cautionary tales about technological progress

Redefining human capabilities

• Explores how technology extends sensory perception and physical abilities
• Examines the potential for cognitive enhancement and expanded consciousness
• Investigates new forms of creativity enabled by human-machine collaboration
• Addresses the blurring boundaries between natural and artificial intelligence
• Often incorporates demonstrations of superhuman abilities or extra-sensory experiences

Cyborg performance in popular media

• Examines representations of cyborgs and posthumans in film, television, and video games
• Investigates how cyborg aesthetics influence fashion, music videos, and advertising
• Explores the impact of social media personas and digital avatars on everyday performance
• Addresses the role of cosplay and fan cultures in embodying cyborg characters
• Often incorporates analysis of iconic cyborg figures (Terminator, RoboCop) in pop culture

Future directions

• Speculates on emerging technologies and their potential applications in performance
• Examines how cyborg and posthuman performances may evolve in response to societal changes
• Investigates new theoretical frameworks for understanding technologically-mediated performance

Emerging technologies in performance

• Explores potential applications of brain-computer interfaces in live performance
• Investigates use of soft robotics and shape-changing materials in costume design
• Examines integration of artificial intelligence as co-creators or autonomous performers
• Addresses potential of gene editing and synthetic biology in creating living artworks
• Often incorporates speculative design and prototyping of future performance technologies

Posthuman performance spaces

• Explores how virtual and augmented reality reshape concepts of theatrical space
• Investigates potential for performances in zero-gravity or extreme environments
• Examines use of smart materials and responsive architectures in set design
• Addresses potential for distributed performances across physical and digital realms
• Often incorporates elements of installation art and immersive environments

Cyborg performance and AI

• Explores collaborations between human performers and AI systems
• Investigates use of machine learning in generating scripts, choreography, or music
• Examines potential for AI-driven avatars or holographic performers
• Addresses ethical considerations of AI authorship and creativity in performance
• Often incorporates real-time generative systems or evolutionary algorithms in live shows