Agenda for the “Vocal Dischords” symposium at the RCA, March 2014

7 March 2014 | 10am – 5pm

Writers, critics, artists and scientists have been invited to explore the moments and conditions when the voice appears to detach itself from the body, seemingly acquiring autonomy.

Speakers include Sophie Scott, professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at University College London, who will discuss her research into the processing of emotional information in the voice; Brian Dillon will offer reflections on Billie Whitelaw’s 1973 performance of Samuel Beckett’s Not I; artist Lawrence Abu Hamdan will reflect on his research into the ways in which forensic speech analysis is used by the state; artist and writer Joe Banks will talk about Rorschach Audio, Illusions of Sound & Electronic Voice Phenomena; philosopher Nina Power will introduce and comment on machinic voices employed in public space today. Musician and writer David Toop will end the day with a presentation/performance.