Ultra-red's School of Echoes: Democracy Through Intimate Listening
On 19 January 2021, Afterall published an essay by Cristina Ribas that explores Ultra-red's 'School of Echoes' initiative as a framework for fostering democratic intimacy through collective listening. Established in 1994 in Los Angeles, Ultra-red has been implementing Schools of Echoes for approximately two decades, promoting empathy and analysis via sound objects. Ribas connects this to the educational theories of Paulo Freire and Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed. She also discusses SOELA, a partnership with the Los Angeles Tenants Union since 2012, which addresses gentrification in Boyle Heights. Additionally, the essay mentions 'Vogue-ology,' a project from the early 2000s focused on HIV/AIDS in gay communities. Ribas asserts that democracy necessitates 'responsible listening' and reflects on her interactions with Ultra-red in London (2009), Porto (2010), and São Paulo (2017).
Key facts
- Essay published by Afterall on 19 January 2021.
- Written by Cristina Ribas, originally part of ArtSchool 2020 in partnership with Central Saint Martins and Museu de Arte de São Paulo.
- Ultra-red founded in 1994 in Los Angeles, now active in L.A., New York, London, Torbay (UK), and Berlin.
- Current members include Dont Rhine, Elliot Perkins, Sabrina Apicella, Elizabeth Blaney, Michael Roberson, Walt Senterfitt, Chris Jones, Ceren Tuerkmen, Manuela Bojadzijev, Janna Graham, and Robert Sember.
- School of Echoes is a long-term project for Militant Sound Investigation, creating pedagogical spaces for listening and analysis.
- SOELA (School of Echoes Los Angeles) founded in 2012, works with Los Angeles Tenants Union (Unión de Vecinos) against gentrification in Boyle Heights.
- Project 'Vogue-ology' (early 2000s) investigated HIV/AIDS impact on gay communities with House Ball community and New School in New York.
- Ultra-red's practice references Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy and Augusto Boal's Theatre of the Oppressed.
- Ribas participated in Ultra-red sessions in London (2009), Porto (2010), and São Paulo (2017).
- Essay argues that collective listening produces democracy through intimacy and empathy.
Entities
Artists
- Cristina Ribas
- Dont Rhine
- Elliot Perkins
- Sabrina Apicella
- Elizabeth Blaney
- Michael Roberson
- Walt Senterfitt
- Chris Jones
- Ceren Tuerkmen
- Manuela Bojadzijev
- Janna Graham
- Robert Sember
- Paulo Freire
- Augusto Boal
- Cornelius Cardew
- Ricardo Basbaum
- Eliane Fontana
- Diogo de Moraes
- Barbara Szaniecki
- Dmitry Vilenski
- George Floyd
- Galo
Institutions
- Afterall
- Central Saint Martins
- Museu de Arte de São Paulo
- Ultra-red
- School of Echoes
- SOELA (School of Echoes Los Angeles)
- Los Angeles Tenants Union (Unión de Vecinos)
- New School
- Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA London)
- Fundação Serralves
- Museu Lasar Segall
- House Ball community
- Journal for Aesthetics and Protest (JOAPP)
- dpi Feminist Journal of Art and Digital Culture
Locations
- Los Angeles
- New York
- London
- Torbay
- Berlin
- Boyle Heights
- Porto
- São Paulo
- Rio de Janeiro
- Portugal
- Brazil
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Germany
Sources
- Afterall —