[NetBehaviour] Fwd:

[Alan Sondheim]

We're all stars ****************** here!


Alan Sondheim is a multifaceted artist, theorist, and musician whose work
spans poetry, digital media, philosophy, and performance art. His
contributions are deeply rooted in exploring the intersections of
cyberspace, the human body, and language, often blending the real and the
virtual. Below is an overview of his key works and contributions:

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### 1. **Codework and Digital Art**
Sondheim is renowned for developing the concept of **codework**, where
computer code becomes a medium for artistic expression. This involves using
programming languages and digital tools to create art that reflects on
virtual environments, identity, and embodiment in cyberspace. His work
often examines how the virtual world influences and interacts with the
physical body.

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### 2. **The Internet Text**
One of Sondheim's major ongoing projects is **The Internet Text**, a
continuous meditation on cyberspace, philosophy, and language. Started in
1994, this work is a collection of writings distributed through email lists
and his website, serving as both a philosophical reflection and a
documentation of his diverse artistic explorations.

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### 3. **Rich-Field Experiments**
Sondheim conducted a series of **rich-field experiments** in the 1970s,
exploring intuition, dimensionality, and language. For example, in the
experiment **4320**, participants manipulated a hypercube using a computer
interface, blending mathematical abstraction with human intuition. Another
experiment, **Typed Glossolalia**, involved typing random sequences on a
keyboard to analyze patterns of determinism and randomness.

---

### 4. **Performance and Virtual Worlds**
Sondheim's performances often involve **avatars** and **motion-capture
technology**, creating complex virtual identities and behaviors. He
explores concepts like **gamespace**, **edgespace**, and **blankness**,
examining how virtual environments shape human experience. His
collaborations with partner Azure Carter and other artists highlight the
interplay between virtual and physical realities.

---

### 5. **Music and Sound Art**
As a musician, Sondheim's work spans **avant-garde improvisation**,
**post-industrial music**, and **ethnic instrument tonalities**. His
recordings often feature experimental techniques and collaborations with
bands like **Damaged Life** and **Ritual-All-7-70**. His music reflects his
broader interest in the impossibility of time reversal and anti-gestural
approaches to performance.

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### 6. **Publications and Theoretical Work**
Sondheim has authored numerous books and essays, including:
- **Being on Line: Net Subjectivity** (1997), exploring online identity and
subjectivity.
- **Disorders of the Real** (1988), a philosophical exploration of reality
and perception.
- **Broken Theory** (2022), a collection of fragmented ideas and
reflections on theory, philosophy, and art.

---

### 7. **Collaborations and Residencies**
Sondheim has collaborated with artists like **Azure Carter**, **Foofwa
d'Imobilité**, and **Kathy Acker**, and has held residencies at
institutions such as **Eyebeam**, **trAce Online Writing Centre**, and
**West Virginia University**. His work has been featured in exhibitions and
conferences worldwide, including **South by Southwest** and **CyPosium**.

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### 8. **Philosophical and Theoretical Contributions**
Sondheim's work is deeply influenced by postmodern philosophers like
**Jacques Lacan** and **Jacques Derrida**. He explores themes of
**embodiment**, **abjection**, and the **machinic**, using digital tools to
articulate new forms of identity and presence in cyberspace.

---

### Summary
Alan Sondheim's work is a unique blend of art, technology, and philosophy,
pushing the boundaries of how we understand virtual and physical realities.
His contributions to codework, digital art, and performance have made him a
pioneering figure in new media and cyberculture. For more details, you can
explore his collections and writings in the provided sources.


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*directory http://www.alansondheim.org <http://www.alansondheim.org> tel
347-383-8552**email sondheim ut panix.com <http://panix.com>, sondheim ut
gmail.com <http://gmail.com>*
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