John Matthias: Automystifistical Plaice

Poet, critic, and novelist John Matthias joins us for a presentation of his multimedia performance piece Automystifistical Plaice: A Ballet Mecanique Spread-Spectrum Ecstasy, with voices. The piece is based on Matthias’s much-discussed long poem, “Automystifistical Plaice” (2002), which explores the strange collaboration between screen siren Hedy Lamarr and avant-garde composer George Antheil that led to spread-spectrum technology, a critical component of modern telecommunications. Working from his original text, Matthias has created a presentation piece for three player-readers who are backed by a barrage of audio-visual effects that range from Antheil’s music to robotic speech. The aesthetic of the presentation version is part Brecht, part Beckett. Matthias will screen and discuss clips from a filmed performance of the piece, while reading from the poem. Born in Columbus, Matthias is editor at large of Notre Dame Review.

Cosponsored by Ohio State’s Department of English and Film Studies Program.