Survival Research Laboratories, The Pleasures of Uninhibited Excess (1990, USA, 47 min)
This is a filmed documentary of a performance by Survival Research Labs, a performance group that stages what the group calls ‘ritualized interactions’ between robotic creatures. Survival Research Laboratories was conceived of and founded by Mark Pauline in November 1978. Since its inception SRL has operated as an organization of creative technicians dedicated to re-directing the techniques, tools, and tenets of industry, science, and the military away from their typical manifestations in practicality, product or warfare. Since 1979, SRL has staged over 45 mechanized presentations in the United States and Europe. Each performance consists of a unique set of ritualized interactions between machines, robots, and special effects devices, employed in developing themes of socio-political satire. The fact that this socio-political satire often looks like a battle of some sort has frequently resulted in calls to the police and even to the Federal Government (in War of the Worlds fashion, people believe that we’re under attack). Humans are present only as audience or operators.
Survival Research Laboratories founder, Mark Pauline, will virtually introduce the film via Zoom @ 7pm EST after which attendees can make their way to Vimeo for the virtual film screening. After the screening, viewers can then make their way back to Zoom for a post-screening Q&A.
The Theory for Troubled Times Film Series is free and open to the public.
Register to watch here: https://events.iu.edu/
For more information, contact Joan Hawkins (jchawkin@indiana.edu)