Music and Cybernetics with Mark Johnson

This workshop will explore how cybernetics, originally defined as the science of “communication and control in animal and machine”, has always been deeply concerned with listening. Music has played an important role in cybernetics for this reason, with musicians from Xenakis to Eno and Oliveros all exploring cybernetic ideas in their creative output.

Using subtle and fine distinctions made through improvising with digital and analogue instruments, and singing (through Oliveros’ “Deep Listening”), Mark will open up an exploration of how living systems coordinate their viability through the finest distinctions at deep levels of recursion, from cells up.

Mark Johnson is a musician, cybernetician, technologist and educationalist. His work crosses boundaries between education, art and science. He currently works as an educational technologist at the University of Liverpool. He has pioneered work on educational cybernetics across a range of disciplines.

Free entry, donations welcome. All proceeds go to keep the space open and warm.