Experimenting the Human: Art, Music, and the Contemporary Posthuman

Experimental music reflects the contemporary posthuman condition, where science and technology decenter human agency, with time moving forward for some while standing still or moving backward for others. It reflects on this state through its interdisciplinary involvements in postwar science, technology, and art movements, addressing the social and technological conditions that support such a pursuit.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 13 January 2023
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

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Experimental music has the power to reveal profound insights into the complex and multifaceted nature of being human. In his book Experimenting the Human, G. Douglas Barrett argues that experimental music speaks directly to the contemporary posthuman condition, a state characterized by the displacement of human agency amidst the uneven temporality of postwar global capitalism. While time moves forward for some, it appears to stand still or even move backward for others, creating a sense of disjuncture and uncertainty. Some individuals perceive themselves as already posthuman, while others endure the lingering consequences of being perceived as less than fully human.

Experimental music reflects on this state through its interdisciplinary engagements with postwar science, technology, and art movements. Rather than seeking to transcend the human, experimental music focuses on the social and technological conditions that enable and support such a pursuit. Barrett traces the tendency of experimentalism throughout its historical entanglements with cybernetics, delving into the intimate analysis of artists such as Alvin Lucier, Pamela Z, Nam June Paik, Pauline Oliveros, Laetitia Sonami, Yasunao Tone, and Jerry Hunt. Through a unique fusion of music studies, media theory, and art history, Experimenting the Human offers fresh perspectives on what it means to be human in the 21st century.

In this book, Barrett explores the ways in which experimental music engages with the posthuman condition, challenging traditional notions of human subjectivity and agency. He argues that experimental music provides a means to explore the boundaries between human and nonhuman, blurring the lines between the organic and the artificial, and questioning the boundaries between the physical and the digital. By engaging with the posthuman, experimental music offers a means to reimagine the human experience and to explore new possibilities for human flourishing in a rapidly changing world.

One of the key insights offered by Experimenting the Human is the idea that the posthuman is not a fixed or universal condition, but rather a fluid and dynamic state that is shaped by a range of social, cultural, and technological factors. Barrett argues that the posthuman is not a future or distant possibility, but rather a condition that is already present and evolving. He suggests that the posthuman is not a threat, but rather an opportunity for human beings to reimagine themselves and their relationships with the world.

Another important aspect of Barrett's book is his exploration of the interdisciplinary nature of experimental music. He argues that experimental music is not solely a product of the arts, but is also deeply influenced by science and technology. By engaging with postwar science and technology, experimental musicians are able to create new forms of expression and explore new modes of perception and understanding. Barrett's analysis of the work of artists such as Alvin Lucier, who used neurofeedback to create music that responds to the brain's electrical activity, and Pauline Oliveros, who experimented with radio astronomy to create music that reflects the patterns of the universe, demonstrates the ways in which experimental music can bridge the gap between art and science.

In addition to its interdisciplinary nature, Experimenting the Human offers a critical engagement with the politics and ethics of the posthuman condition. Barrett argues that the posthuman is not a neutral or apolitical condition, but rather a condition that is shaped by a range of power dynamics and social inequalities. He suggests that the posthuman is not a utopia, but rather a site of struggle and resistance, where human beings must confront the challenges posed by the displacement of human agency and the uneven temporality of postwar global capitalism.

Overall, Experimenting the Human is a groundbreaking book that offers a rich and nuanced exploration of the posthuman condition. By engaging with the interdisciplinary nature of experimental music, Barrett provides fresh insights into what it means to be human in the 21st century. Through his intimate analysis of the work of a range of artists, he demonstrates the ways in which experimental music can challenge traditional notions of human subjectivity and agency, and offer new possibilities for human flourishing in a rapidly changing world. Whether you are a music scholar, a media theorist, or simply someone interested in the complex and multifaceted nature of being human, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the posthuman condition in all its complexity and diversity.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 154 x 230 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226823409
Edition number: 1