SCA Research Working Papers

SCA Research Working Papers is a collection of texts related to the current research interests of SCA Academic Staff and current PhD and MVA candidates. The papers take the form of conference and symposium presentations, interviews, completed or in-progress research papers/findings, essays, and artist statements.

All material is copyright of the author, and written permission must be obtained for any reproduction in whole or in part. For more information see the University of Sydney copyright disclaimer.

Unless otherwise stated, all SCA Working Papers are in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format and compatible with Adobe Acrobat Reader 6.0 and above.

The Ghost in the Machine - Synthetic Photography and its Mnemonic Resonance

Michael Goldberg

In a ‘post-medium’ environment where no one mode of artistic expression has precedence over another, photography and video elements are to be found incorporated into contemporary painting and sculpture as well the digital arts. Thus, in this particular discussion rather than address a discrete notion of photography – of that emanating from the photographic apparatus for example – this paper will deal with the mnemonic resonance of the image to include those that are digitally-generated or, as they have been described by Lev Manovich, synthetic photographs.

This paper was presented at the 2009 College Art Association Conference in Los Angeles.

The Ghost in the Machine - Synthetic Photography and its Mnemonic Resonance.pdf 72K

Beyond the pale: psychotic art and the boundaries of genius

Colin Rhodes

Between 1930 and 1933, an exhibition of art by psychiatric patients toured nine German cities, mostly in art association spaces. It originated from the Heidelberg psychiatric hospital, whose large collection of psychotic art had already achieved fame outside of the psychiatric community through the publication of Hans Prinzhorn’s richly illustrated book, Bildnerei der Geisteskranken (Artistry of the Mentally Ill) in 1922. By revealing creative work produced by people institutionalized because of psychiatric illness and presenting it as art proper, the show aimed to remind the public of this group’s continued humanity in the face of psychological and physical suffering.

Beyond the pale.pdf 88.94K

*Please note that the file is compatible with Adobe Acrobat 6.0 and above only, the file is locked for copying, editing or printing by SCA and all information is copyright of the author.