Presenter: Ann Elias

The paper explores early 20th century aquatic science, the optics of underwater space, popular culture, and surrealism. Discussed are links between exquisite corpse and underwater refraction and between surreality and underwater distortions that happen at the interface of water and air. The paper addresses scientific interest in the puzzle of whether humans and fish see alike, popular culture interest in how fish visualize anglers, and artistic interest by the Surrealists in alternative modes of physical and conceptual vision. By examining how imagination was brought to the scientific study of the perceptions of freshwater fish, the paper decenters the human as the locus of objectivity.

This event will be held online via Zoom.

Other seminars this semester:

29 October      Stephanie Swanson ‘The Triumph of Death in Trecento Italy’

Ann Sutherland, ‘Two expatriate Australian painters: two continents’

5 November    Scholars Forum: ‘At home in the World’

Chair: Kate Davidson, Contributions by: Donna Brett, Kate Davidson,  Mark De Vitis, Mary Roberts

19 November  Scholars Forum: ‘Museums as sites of civil society: Conversations with audience in the 21^st century’, Chiara O’Reilly, Anna Lawrenson, Lee-Anne Hall