Melanie sehgal

problems and problematics of relating

subjectivity – habits of thought

to look at where is the question

how to relate?
relating has become a problem

metaphysics of individualism
no intrinsic relations

in modernism, relationality comes after
relating always needs explanation

very much in the arts: you can create from yourself.
Bergson, whitehead (also Barad, Haraway)

inhereting individualism, it seeps in.
“we”

how to inherit this troubled legacy today

modern neglicence of relationality 

Kant asking how to relate 
(and who to relate to, what/who can be related to)


starting from the solipsistic selve.

Individualism as a presupposition

subjectivity (not) as a substance

for pragmatist, relations are not a problem at all.
A universe of relations
different intimacies.

William hames a world of pure experience


the subject is not an individual to start with (James)

solipsism needs/breeds scepticism

manual/recipe for relate

modes of relating. How do we relate. 
Ethics and pragmatics. Poisonous relations.
How did relating between practices become a problem (through modernism)

techniques are relational
the problem of knowledge production

need to rethink modes of knowledge production → thinking in relation

what format?

Considering ‘everything that goes into such an encounter’

interference between practices
techniques of diffraction

pitfall of documentation. Disruption of it.
Documentation =/ Representation (but it messes up)

diffraction is the encounter of waves
to replace representation --- 

diffractive documentation?

‘recording the history of interaction’

hearing a difference

specialisation is part responsible – because it never needed to look at its consequences ‘grooves’.
Training professionals in the sciences, maybe the most important invention?

Learning how to pay attention to certain things, not others

techniques are also apparatus
apparatus are about scoping, reigning the world in
“you can only know things when you reduce”

training into isolating and not-relating

perpetuating implicit assumptions (how?)
inadequacies of isolated spaces

two concepts of nature – perceived + nature as mediated. Nature bifurcation

response-ability

ecology of practices
the way of posing questions, the art of asking questions

calling something as a social construct as an insult

the diplomat

talking about practices


documentatio being part of the process

techniques for relating across assymmetry

what is a technique
an art, artistry
episteme – bringing art and knowledge together

it has purpose (so habit is not a technique). Capability for action. If it does not work, it is not a technique. Technique is a relatable itself.
Because they are realtional, they require ethos

they overcome modern-non-modern


relating can be poisonous. Collectivity not perse good
assymmetry

diffractive documentation?

two guys/experts bleeping