Rhythm Science by Paul D. Miller



I finished reading Rhythm Science by Paul D. Miller (aka DJ Spooky) today. It's part of the MIT mediaworks pamphlet series.

It's fair to say right away that I'm a big fan of Paul D. Miller. I own 10+ CDs by his alter ego DJ Spooky, and have seen him perform both conventioal DJ sets and an avant-garde film remix. At the "Rebirth of a nation..." show I was able to hear him speak with a UofC prof and the audience about the film, which gave me some insight.

Rhythm Science is at once an autobiographical sketch, a meditation on the philosophical ramifications of turntablism and an appreciation for the wondrous complexities in the modern world. It is smart -- and in the spirit of turntablism tries to broaden our horizons by connecting disparate ideas/sounds/beats/vibes/sensations...

It's good food for thought. Be careful not to dismiss it as pseudo-intellectualism, because there's something real there. Beneath the textures on the surface is an appreciation of how agency can be wrested from the structures beneath.

Posted: Wed - December 15, 2004 at 09:52 PM      

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