The Fascination with Spontaneity: From Occult Revival to the present

Event information

This series of five weekly talks will delve into the origins, development, and transformative power of spontaneity and improvisation in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, poetry, and film—from the 19th century through to the present day.

Why Spontaneity Matters: Why do improvisation and spontaneity still hold such cultural currency in the arts and beyond? What drives our fascination with the unplanned, the unpredictable, and the intuitive? These talks will explore these questions through years of research, teaching, and practice.

Seasoned improviser Sam Richards presents the five talks - with opportunity for Q and A and discussion.

Music, theatre, dance, visual art, literature will all be covered from the rise of modernism through the experimental movements of the 20th century to the present day, The talks will explore how improvisation and intuitive expression have shaped creative practice.

What to Expect:

Music: Freeform improvisation in jazz, experimental sound, and beyond.
Theatre and Dance: Improvisational theatre and the role of movement and intuition.

Visual Arts: Action painting, automatic drawing, "grab" photography and film

Literature: Automatic writing, Beat poetry, and the art of free expression.

These talks will delve into the occult revival of the 19th century, the beginnings of psychology, and evolving understandings of time and intuition. These ideas laid the groundwork for movements like Dadaism, Surrealism, the Beats and music improvisation all of which questioned traditional forms of creativity and pushed boundaries. Blavatsky, Charcot, Bergson, Freud and Jung all figure as key influences in the arts.

Each talk will be accessible, inviting participants to explore ideas, ask questions, and discuss matters arising…


Ashburton Arts Centre
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