If you can’t handle me at my Britney, you don’t deserve me at my Berlioz

Project Leads: Benji Jeffrey and Rose Dagul

Number of participants: 10

Duration: 3 days

Project Description: 

In this project we will examine pop music and the culture of contemporary art as tools for dispensing
universal philosophies and empty nothings. We will do this twofold: by discussing the transcendent
quality of music as well as the limits and possibilities of language. We will look at the concept of ‘high’
and ‘low’ culture and expose the depth of the trash and the shallows of intellect.
By the end of the week we will all take part in a group performance.

We will be joined on Wednesday and Friday by Rose Dagul who is a lecturer on the Popular Music
course at Goldsmiths and co-director of The Surround – an experimental DIY sound and performance
platform.

Each participant should be happy performing, writing and engaging with the group. This project is
heavily participatory and relies on attendees being open and willing to fail.
Benji by no means sees himself as an expert, he is a facilitator. Make sure you come to this project
willing to share as well as learn.

This workshop will end in a public performance.

Timetable:

Day 1 (Monday)
AM:
An introductory talk with screenings of works that inspired
this project. This will include works by Nathaniel Mellors,
serpentwithfeet, Monster Chetwynd, S Club 7, Triple Canopy, Andy Warhol,
Paul Kindersley, Umberto Eco and Liz Magic Lazer.
Walk to Westfields, where we will talk about the works presented, and high/low culture in general. Inspired by ‘“The Last Stop ofDesire”: Roland Barthes Goes Shopping’, chapter 4 of Mikita Brottmans book ‘High Theory/Low Culture’.
PM:
My highs and my lows – each participant will present two things: a text, a song, an image, a video
etc. One from ‘high’ culture and one from ‘low’ culture. As a group we will
discuss all the ‘things’ brought to us.
Briefing on the rest of the week

Day 2 (Wednesday)
AM:
Presentation by Rose Dagul on her practice which moves between music, performance, video and event curation as well as her work on the popular music course at Goldsmiths.
Participants will take part in a critique of texts/lyrics/music/dance etc.
PM:
A private performance of Terry Riley in C (participants are welcome to
invite others to take part in this)
Discussion on what the form of the final presentation will take and how best to construct the work.

Day 3 (Friday):
AM:
Rehearsal time. Benji and Rose will act as directors for the performance.
PM:
First full run through of the performance
A Second critique focusing on the collective work the group has put together
ahead of the final performance.
7PM Perform to public. All welcome!