Whitney Laemmli on Making Movement Modern

Whitney Laemmli on Making Movement Modern

Author: Marshall Poe October 13, 2025 Duration: 1:01:42
Peoples & Things host, Lee Vinsel, talks with Whitney Laemmli, Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Science and Cultural Studies at the Pratt Institute, about her forthcoming book, Making Movement Modern: Science, Politics, and the Body in Motion. The book traces a technique for visualizing human movement, Labanotation, from its origins in expressionist dance, Austro-Hungarian military discipline, and contemporary physiology to its employment in factories and offices a half-century later. In this way, Making Movement Modern provides a beautiful example of following an object of study into many different, surprising, and unexpected worlds. The pair also discuss one of Laemmli’s new projects, which examines the history of Western ideas and theories that memory might be stored not only in brains but also in bodies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/performing-arts

Dive into the vibrant world of stage and screen with New Books in Performing Arts, a thoughtful series hosted by Marshall Poe. As part of the broader New Books Network, this channel operates as a genuine audio library, bringing detailed academic conversations directly to a curious public. Each episode features an author in deep discussion with a knowledgeable interviewer, unpacking the ideas and research within their latest publication. These aren't dry lectures, but lively explorations that get to the heart of what drives creativity and analysis in theatre, dance, music, and performance studies. You'll hear about the hidden histories of productions, critical theories applied to contemporary works, and personal journeys behind groundbreaking performances. This podcast makes specialized scholarship accessible and engaging, allowing anyone with a passion for the arts to listen in on conversations typically held within university halls. It’s a resource for students, practitioners, and dedicated enthusiasts looking to move beyond reviews and into substantive dialogue. The sheer scope of topics covered-from classical acting techniques to avant-garde digital performance-ensures there’s always a new perspective to discover. Tune in to expand your understanding of how performance shapes, and is shaped by, the culture around us.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

New Books in Performing Arts
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