User:Ssstephen/prototype/20231031
the performative quality of all seeing
to attempt to write about the undocumentable event of performance is to invoke the rules of the written document and thereby alter the event itself.
Peggy Phelan, the ontology of performance.
It's ok. It's ok if it gets altered. Don't worry. I opened notepad and changed the font to "WHOA!" 48 pt bold italic. Then I wrote the text for the flyer. Then I printed it as a pdf. Then I opened it in acrobat. Then I copied the page three times. Then I printed it to the HR printer. In the Acrobat print dialogue I selected the "multiple" option and printed it 4up. Then I walked to the printer. Half way I remembered I wanted to find nice paper. I came back and took a test page I was using yesterday in the plotter. Then I walked to the printer. On the way I saw Joseph and Aglaia. I talked to Joseph. I waved at Aglaia. Then I put the custom paper in the handinvoer of the printer. It recognised the custom size was A4, great. I press "OK" because great isn't an option. I put my card on the reader and select my document. I change the settings to use the custom paper, then I press "Print + Keep". It prints, great. I am not even asked my opinion on this event. I fold the paper and tear it carefully. Then I fold the two halves and tear them again so I have four flyers. I go back to Aglaia and give her one. And I give one to Irmak and Mitsi. We reschedule the performance for 18:26 because everyone needs to leave soon. We put some chairs around my desk. We sit down.
enter magic circle
I move the mouse to wake up my computer. I minimise the things already open on my screen; windows explorer, photo viewer, indesign. It makes me feel a bit nervous or exposed already that people are looking at my screen, but not much. I open chrome. I open gmail. From 15:42 til 18:26 when the performance started I received 8 emails. I think this is more than I would usually receive on a Tuesday afternoon but I'm not actually sure. Up until now I've been talking a bit but maybe it would be better if I didn't. So I ask the audience. They say yeah, no talking. And we should turn the music off. So we do. I sit back down and start opening the emails. Some are from clients. There are attachments and a OneDrive link. I open them to look at them as I usually would, but maybe this is a breach of privacy for them. I feel a little uncomfortable revealing who they even are. A member of the audience reads one of the sender's names aloud. I'm not sure if messages I receive are really mine to show people in this context, it makes me uncomfortable a little. I'm a little nervous still even in this context of a small group of close friends, not so much that it feels bad right now but I am imagining showing these to a bigger group. Some of the emails are automatically generated. One is from a hosting provider, about software updates. One is from a mailing list. Some are related to university. These maybe feel the most exposing as they are from people that the audience members know. In general I try to behave as I normally would answering emails. I skip or quickly skim through ones that seem boring and irrelevant. I move slower with ones that are interesting or important. I reply to some, mark some as unread to remind me to come back, just close others. When I have finished checking all the new mails, I close the browser window. There is a roaring round of applause. I take a bow.
exit magic circle
We talk a little bit about it. We agree it was boring, great. I say it felt weird. Mitsi is in a rush to go to the gym. The font was a bit too small and hard to read. It took until 18:31, a good length. We come up with the idea that if it doesn't take long enough, I could check my university emails too. On reflection I need to think more about whether that is something I want to do.