Suzanne Ciani – The Diva of the Diode
Boon, H. 2023. Suzanne Ciani – The Diva of the Diode. Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research. Volume 21 (Issue 2, Women in Art and Science), pp. 193-209. https://doi.org/10.1386/tear_00116_1
| Title | Suzanne Ciani – The Diva of the Diode |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Boon, H. |
| Abstract | The world of synthesizers and synthesists is historically male-dominated. Women in synthesis tend to be obscured by males, and their contribution suffers from erasure. This article considers Suzanne Ciani within the contexts of art, technology, science and culture and her work in composition, performance and media. In particular, her National Endowment for the Arts report of 1976 is a groundbreaking document that details both her composition and performance process with synthesizers. Her composition approach has parallels with techniques drawn from serialism, yet performed and improvised live using machines. Her performances utilize quadraphonic techniques for spatialized performance as part of the composition and performance. She was the first woman to score a major Hollywood film in 1981. Her work in media and technology highlights a space that women have always worked in but have frequently not been acknowledged as doing so. Cian’s story reveals tenacity in the face of bias and rejection. It is a tale of someone who always has to claim her credentials, always legitimate her mode of expression and always counter the assumption that somewhere in her work there is a man. |
| Keywords | music technology |
| modular synthesis | |
| composition | |
| electronic performance | |
| music and media | |
| sound systems | |
| Journal | Technoetic Arts: A Journal of Speculative Research |
| Journal citation | Volume 21 (Issue 2, Women in Art and Science), pp. 193-209 |
| ISSN | 1477-965X |
| 1758-9533 | |
| Year | 2023 |
| Publisher | Intellect |
| Accepted author manuscript | File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1386/tear_00116_1 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published in print | Oct 2023 |
| Published online | 24 Jan 2024 |
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