2024-2025 FROM CONFLUENCE TO CONFLUENCE ~ Mayra A. Rodríguez Castro's seminar: Phantasy

Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex was not the only one. There are a thousand stories, as there are a thousand ways of reading. On our first confluence, we will study order words and models of interpretation. The seminar begins with reflections on Materialist Psychiatry, Realism, and Desire. Our interlocutors include Tiresias, Frederic Jameson, and Michael Foucault, This time, our gathering dissolves into the dreamlands of Yasutaka Tsutsui.

Saturday, December 7

10:30 - 13:00 — Study
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — The First Story 17:00 - 19:00 — Closing

Sunday, December 8

10:30 - 13:00 — Study
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — Thesis Workshop 17:00 - 19:00 — Screening

The Cosmic Bridge to the Dark Unknown Eternal

In the first chapter of Phantasy, Image Consciousness, and Memory, Husserl distinguishes between two types of phantasy. A first type, productive phantasy, is proper of artists — those who seek form through invention. A second category concerns historians — who give form to realities rather than things imagined. On our third confluence, we will reflect on the ‘form-giving’ principles of art, history, and musical composition. This time, we turn to the Frankfurt School, Sun Ra, and other Angels of History.

Friday, January 10

10:30 - 13:00 — Study
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — Presentations 17:00 - 19:00 — Thesis Workshop

Saturday, January 11

10:30 - 13:00 — Study
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — The Argument

1/2

17:00 - 19:00 — On Music

Sunday, January 12

10:30 - 13:00 — Study
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — Closing Readings 17:00 - 19:00 — Screening

SEMINAR 3: March 21, 22, 23 2025

In his Utopia, Thomas More describes an imaginary island society characterised by communal ownership, religious tolerance, and a rational political system. On this land, there is no private property, wealth is evenly distributed, and citizens work six-hour days, dedicating their free time to education and self-improvement.

In this fourth confluence, we will study models, social projects, and visions of Utopia. Our prototypes include the writings of Edmund Husserl, Édouard Glissant, Pierre Klossowski, Marquis de Sade, and the Brazilian psychiatrist Nise da Silveira.

Friday, March 21

10:00 - 13:00 — Islands
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — Horizons

Saturday, March 22

10:00 - 13:00 — Islands
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — Models

Sunday, March 23

10:00 - 13:00 — Guest Lecture
13:00 - 14:00: Lunch
14:00 - 17:00 — Closing

Guest: Emma Burgess-Olson

Emma Burgess-Olson aka Umfang is a music producer and DJ from New York City. She has a  particular interest in histories of electronic music, connecting webs from underground subcultures as they have moved into mainstream commodity, and mythologies of nostalgic past.

Her practice centers conceptual analysis of electronic music and abstractions of its physical histories. She has produced 6 albums and prefers to utilize inexpensive instruments & open source technology to toy with ideas of access and professionalism.

Umfang has performed in institutions and festivals in over 30 countries including Canada NYC, Lubov, Moma PS1 NYC, Southbank Centre London, Berghain Berlin. Her work has been covered in The New Yorker, Forbes, FACT, Resident Advisor, NPR, Pitchfork, and I.D. She holds a BFA in Textile Design from the University of Kansas.