Notations are sign systems. They offer legibility, they enclose sound, meaning and movement, enable repetition, expansions and digressions. According to György Ligeti, they can be instructions for playing, means of communication or “an end in themselves”. Since the 19th century, notations have been considered as especially technical, media-technical in origin: from telegraphy to photography, from phonography, cinematography and dactylography to binary codifications, notations or metrical systems cause and determine not only phases in creation, repetition and the reproduction of artistic works, but also possibilities of interpretation. As sign systems, notations are predisposed to translation.

This talk was given in connection with the exhibition, “Notations – calculus and form in the arts”, curated by Hubertus von Amelunxen together with the artist Dieter Appelt for the Akademie der Künste in Berlin 2008 and for the ZKM in Karlsruhe 2009.

Hubertus von Amelunxen is a Professor of Media Philosophy and Cultural Studies at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.

“On Notations”

a talk by Hubertus von Amelunxen

Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 at 7pm in the Bark Room (Orientation Room)

Parsons The New School for Design, 2 West 13th Street, NYC