Extra Credit Event 4 | The Book "Art As Social Practice"

On May 18th, I attended my last event at this quarter. The event is basically the discussion about the book "Art As Social Practice", and the host same time is the guest speaker is the author and editor of this book-Ms Xtine Burrough. Together with Margaretha, guest speakers hold a meaningful book discussion conference!

Book Discussion: ART AS SOCIAL PRACTICE

Ms. Xtine Burrough talking about the book in the event

Speaking of the book discussion conference, I personally have very very few experiences to talk directly to authors or editors of famous books. Perhaps this is due to the reason that those books I read are way too popular, such as Three Bodies written by Mr Cixin Liu. I guess it is extremely hard for a prevailing and famous author like Liu to attend a book discussion conference with his fans. Therefore, I feel really excited and passionate about talking directly, face to face, with an author about her book. It is definitely my priviledge to discuss about the intial incentives, logics, anecdotes, contents, as well as connotations behind the lines in the book with Ms Xtine Burrough.

Art As Social Practice: Unique Interview-Style Introduction Section

Author&Writing Backgroud Introduction

During the discussion conference of the book, author Ms. Burrough talked about the general purpose of writing this book. According to her description, this book is aiming to explore the specific ways which artists use their creative practices to raise consciousness, form communities, initiate changes, and bring forth social impact through new technologies and digital practices. A very impressive point made by Ms. Burrough is that she firmly believed that the field of art, literature, science, and technology is somehow interwined. The pathway of combination and integration is always there, just waiting for certain pioneers to discover. Actually, this is also a very important thesis of our Desma9 courses. The pursue of the intersection and combination between various fields, including liberal arts and sciences, is somehow illustrated in Ms. Burrough's idea. It is also worthy to mention that Ms. Burrough bring in the perspectives of social sciences as well! She believed that the characteristics of Arts, Sciences, and Societies exist a certain extent of connection, which is worthy for us to discover. 

"Grand Thesis" behind the Body Part of the Book

After introducing the fun annecdote and the very unique interview-style introduction of the book, Ms Burrough came back to the thesis and incentives behind the lines. She impressed me again with her ideas about utilizing artistics as method to change the society and technologies, make one's own effort to the society, which is absolutely the ultimate goal! All of these different fields, aspects, perspectives, can finally integrate for the purpose of contributing to the development, which is a grand point of view that impressed me a lot!

** The book discussion session is very interesting and rich with contents! The only flaw is that this is way too short! Presentations can be longer to elaborate more about details of writing behind the scene! Overall, I would like to recommend this event to my fellows and future generations! It will be meaningful and will not disappoint you!

Rating: 9.5/10

Word Count: 400

References:

Burrough, Xtine, Discussion About the Book "ART AS SOCIAL PRACTICE", 2022

Dallas Museum of Art, xtine burrough and Sabrina Starnaman
    https://dma.org/xtine-burrough-and-sabrina-starnaman

Peachpit, Author Bio-Xtine burrough
    https://www.peachpit.com/authors/bio/DD8D0615-9A96-4219-9EB9-757B47BC6C7F

Platform C.C., Xtine Burrough-Co-Directs SP&CE Media Lab
    https://platform.coop/people/xtine-burrough/

Routledge, Art as Social Practice Technologies for Change, Introduction Part
    https://www.routledge.com/Art-as-Social-Practice-Technologies-for-Change/burrough-Walgren/p/book/9780367758462

Tate, SOCIALLY ENGAGED PRACTICE: Socially engaged practice describes art that is    collaborative, often participatory and involves people as the medium or material of the work
    https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/s/socially-engaged-practice

Proof of Attendance & Email Registration Confirmation:

**(Comment: Sorry for the inconvenience that the registration confirmation email is received in Mandarin-Chinese. The translation of the email is basically titled as "Xtine Burrough Confirmation", with further information about zoom)