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- Convenor:
-
Autumn Brown
(University College Dublin)
Send message to Convenor
- Chairs:
-
Autumn Brown
(University College Dublin)
Amelia McConville (Trinity College Dublin)
- Format:
- Combined Format Open Panel
Short Abstract:
Exploring the violence, relief, and generative function of silence in a noisy world. This panel seeks to examine how technologies of silence have and continue to shape movements of both liberation and oppression.
Long Abstract:
Silence is rare. It can be in turns transcendent, transgressive, transporting, and terrifying. Throughout history silence has served as a technology of war and a means of resistance, a method of torture and a therapeutic practice. Quiet environments have served as novel experiences, places of sensory retreat, and ‘otherworldly laboratories’. Inspired by the passionate belief that “silence is not the absence of something but the presence of everything,” acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton has devoted his life to locating and conserving that gravely endangered sensorial experience of quietude. In contrast, after an uncanny experience in ‘Beranek’s Box’, or anechoic chamber at Harvard University, artist John Cage emerged with the belief that there was no true silence, only a potential space in which life's music becomes audible. Designed to stop the reflection of sound or magnetic waves– anechoic literally meaning free from echo, these chambers have caused many others great discomfort. Where silence can inspire a sense of ill ease, even dread, it can also be a generative, and wildly imaginative space or state in which dreaming, reflection, and creativity thrive.
Tracing the lineages both technological and cultural this panel invites applications to explore the past, present and future of silencing technologies, the transfers and transformations of knowledge regarding silence, and the ways in which these technologies have and continue to shape society. Applicants are particularly encouraged to explore how bounded environments, defined by technologies of control, have produced movements of improvisation and experimentation that redefined silence as a medium for art, science, and transcendence. We would also welcome pieces which examine or reflect on oppressive deployments of silence, in helping us to consider what is missing, rendered unspeakable, unthinkable, unimaginable. This panel invites papers, reflections, speculative responses, performances, and live experiments exploring technologies of silence throughout history and into the future.
Accepted contributions:
Session 1Eleanor Q. Neil (Trinity College Dublin)
Short abstract:
The northern third of Cyprus has been occupied by Turkey since 1974, forcing the archaeological record to remain incomplete with gaping silences. This paper will examine the ways in which this ongoing political stalemate silences the archaeological record and hinders our understandings of the past.
Long abstract:
Modern Cypriot history is marked by intercommunal violence and political maneuvering and has created a landscape fraught with silence. In 1974 a coup, sponsored by the Greek military junta with US backing, resulted in a Turkish invasion. Following UN interventions, a buffer zone was established and a population exchange was initiated: Turkish-Cypriots on one side, Greek-Cypriots on the other. An EU member state republic on one side, a de facto government answering to Turkey, cut off from the rest of the world on the other. Since 1974, the island has been divided, its communities segregated, and much of its cultural heritage marred by neglect and destruction.
The occupied territories remain closed to foreign archaeologists, resulting in a profound silence within the archaeological record, as sites remain inaccessible and vulnerable to looting and decay. The deliberate erasure of Greek-Cypriot presence in the north through renaming and neglect further amplifies this silence, leaving behind a fragmented heritage landscape and unresolved narratives.
This abstract explores the theme of silence as a lens through which to understand the complex interplay of politics, heritage, and community engagement in Cyprus. It highlights the enduring impact of historical events on collective memory and identity, while underscoring the imperative of acknowledging and confronting silence in archaeological discourse. Ultimately, it calls for a nuanced approach to heritage management that recognizes the multifaceted nature of silence and seeks to amplify marginalized voices in the narrative of Cyprus' past and future.
Angeliki Lima (University College Dublin)
Short abstract:
This proposal explores silence within marginalized communities, informed by fieldwork with former prisoners and Irish Travellers. From projects on prison education and out-of-school initiatives, we uncover how silence functions as both oppression and resilience by enabling resistance.
Long abstract:
This proposal aims to delve into the intricate dynamics of silence within marginalized communities. Drawing from two distinct projects—one on prison education in Ireland and Greece and another on out-of-school initiatives addressing educational disadvantage among rural Irish Travellers—we seek to illuminate how silence operates as both a tool of oppression and a source of resilience within these contexts. Through life history interviews and narrative inquiry, we aim to uncover nuanced narratives that reveal the multifaceted nature of silence, shedding light on its role in perpetuating systemic injustices while also serving as a means of survival and resistance.
This presentation will offer a rich account of how silence manifests in the lived experiences of individuals navigating the criminal justice system and nomadic lifestyles. By focusing on the voices of those directly impacted by social marginalization, the aim is to challenge dominant narratives surrounding silence and amplify the voices of marginalized communities. Through narrative elements and insights gleaned from our fieldwork, we hope to contribute to broader discussions on the intersectionality of silence and its implications for social justice and liberation movements.
By centering marginalized voices and incorporating insights from fieldwork, the aim is to shed light on the complex interplay between silence, agency, and resistance within marginalized communities. Through this exploration, we hope to advance our understanding of silence as a dynamic force within the broader context of social inequality and to foster meaningful dialogue around strategies for promoting social justice and liberation.
Amy Fahy (Maynooth University) Sadhbh Crean (Trinity College Dublin) Carrie Anne Barry (Maynooth University) Steven McCartney (Maynooth University) Fabiano Pallonetto (Maynooth University)
Short abstract:
This working paper employs a Quadruple Helix (Carayannis & Campbell, 2009), engaged research (Campus Engage, 2019), transdisciplinary (Wernli and Darbellay, 2016), investigating perspectives on the adoption of smart technology in the sustainable energy transition.
Long abstract:
Title: Exploring the Dynamics of Smart Meter Technology Adoption in Sustainable Energy Systems in Ireland: A Quadruple Helix Stakeholder Perspective
Background: Smart meter technology holds promise for enhancing sustainable energy systems, yet its adoption is influenced by multifaceted factors. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for effective implementation.
Aims: This research aims to comprehensively investigate the adoption of smart meter technology in sustainable energy systems.
Methodology: A quadruple Helix (Carayannis & Campbell, 2009), engaged research (Campus Engage, 2019) transdisciplinary (Wernli and Darbellay, 2016) approach was taken. 50 semi-structured interviews government, civil society, industry and academia were completed on perceptions around adoption of sustainable energy technology adoption.
Findings: Findings suggest aligning perspectives amongst stakeholders. Concerns around the lack of education and post-installation support for consumers were raised. Furthermore, socioeconomic backgrounds and age demographics were both reoccurring themes, specifically around technology being ‘imposed’ on both elderly communities, and those living in government housing, whereby the consumers had minimal exposure to navigating such devices.
Implications: Understanding stakeholder perspectives is crucial for developing fully-informed strategies that address the multifaceted challenges of smart meter adoption and provide user-friendly smart meter solutions. Civil society organisations can play a vital role in promoting public awareness and engagement.
Conclusion: By incorporating diverse perspectives, this research provides a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding smart meter adoption. Specifically, minority groups need to be at the forefront of any future plans regarding nationwide installation of technology, as opposed to assuming the role of silent compliance with national agendas.
Martin Clancy
Short abstract:
My contribution draws upon a blend of experiences and scholarly inquiry, focusing on music as a proto-language, the practice of meditation, and connections between artificial intelligence and human thought.
Long abstract:
My contribution draws upon a blend of experiences and scholarly inquiry, focusing on music as a proto-language, the practice of meditation, and connections between artificial intelligence and human thought. This exploration traces back to a childhood encounter with "Silent Music: The Science of Meditation" by William Johnston. My work considers AI-generated music's ethical and legal dimensions, reflecting on a future where technological advancements might eclipse our innate drive to create.
My curiosity about AI and consciousness brought me to a retreat in 2022, which illuminated the role and absence of silence in our lives. Devoid of music and conversation, this retreat provided a backdrop to contemplate the essence of silence in the digital age.
A recent visit to celebrate my aunt's home revealed an unexpected connection: her book club's current read, "The Hours of the Universe," featured indices from thinkers like Heidegger and Lovelock—scholars my research independently gravitate towards. This encounter sparked a reflection on how "Silent Music" and related themes have subtly shaped my intellectual curiosity throughout the years.
After more than four decades, I'm poised to revisit "Silent Music" and its resonances with contemporary discussions on AI, consciousness, and silence. My aim is to share reflections rooted in a lifetime of working in music, and embracing moments of silence. This, underpinned by the acknowledgement that this re-engagement may reshape the insights I bring to the panel, underscores the evolving nature of our understanding of silence. Who knows what revelations this revisitation will bring in the quiet spaces between?
Sarah Bloem (Linköping University)
Short abstract:
Drawing on a diary-interview study with autistic participants, on their sensory and emotional worlds, this paper combines critical phenomenology and feminist STS, to examine how autistic participants use silencing technologies to renegotiate societal norms about presence and withdrawal.
Long abstract:
The concept of neurodiversity refers to the idea that there is no single “healthy” type of mind, neurocognitive functioning, or being-in-the-world. This notion challenges the biomedical model of autism as a mental disorder based on traits and behaviours located in the individual bodymind, as well as stigmas of autism as a disaffected and disembodied retreating into the mind. The neurodiversity movement renews questions into what kind of health care, accommodation and social change would be meaningful for autistic flourishing and calls for a more thorough engagement with autistic lived experience in knowledge production about autism. The movement also brings attention to sensory aspects of autistic experience, beyond autism as isolated mindedness.
Drawing on a neurodiversity perspective, I carried out a diary-interview study with 15 autistic adults in the Netherlands, focused on our sensory and emotional worlds, which have narratively been pushed to the margins of theories on autism. Participants took part in a two-week diary, in which they wrote and created images, and/or a follow-up interview. In this paper, I integrate perspectives from critical phenomenology and (feminist) STS to examine how autistic participants in my study use silencing technologies to renegotiate societal norms about presence and withdrawal. Participants use earplugs and noise-cancelling headphones to regulate (over-)stimulation. These technologies enable sensory retreat, but simultaneously facilitate social engagement. Examining how silencing technologies mediate autistic sensory and emotional experiences, therefore helps me to problematise what it means to be present and focus, and when and where it is considered appropriate to withdraw.
James Garforth (University of Edinburgh)
Short abstract:
This talk will discuss what is not said in conversations around teaching for Responsible AI in academia. These silent topics, while likely less palatable to technologists, are a necessary next step in making sure the field of AI is behaving responsibly.
Long abstract:
Responsible AI development is becoming an increasing priority for governments, industry, and research institutions, with degree and professional development programs starting to include elements of Safety, Responsibility or Ethics. But these conversations tend towards some topics more than others.
Concerns focused on engineering, such as verification and security, are perfectly palatable to technical scholars as more problems they can solve with more technology, and are readily added to curricula. Topics that force engineers to consider what their creations will be used for, or by whom, are avoided, and any discussion that might frame technology as at all impotent, such as where the solution requires consulting with and respecting the expertise of other disciplines, is engaged with sparingly.
Against a backdrop of practical skills development that encourages continuous creation of new projects, new features and more complexity, students are left unprepared to criticize or meaningfully refuse development, or to leave space to listen to others attempting the same.
For a truly Responsible field of AI to develop, our education programs need to be joined up and talking with non technical experts, able to understand each other and incorporate our translated expertise into development practices. Our students need to be empowered to be hesitant, critical, and to listen, and educators teaching them must act as exemplars of this difficult, but necessary practice.