Coming to Know: Digging

Digging is a mode of capitalist modernity. To accumulate the past as an object of knowledge, the archaeologist digs into the earth. Sound too is buried under layers of time. Can it be excavated? What tools would be needed? And what senses activated? When listening becomes a way of digging, there might be nothing to accumulate. Sometimes someone hears something, even though the sound itself is lost or faded.

Over three weeks, the digital discourse series Coming to Know responds to three modalities—tuning, recording, and digging—proposed by the exhibition A Slightly Curving Place. A conversation with a key contributor to the exhibition will focus on practice. For the panel, scholars, archaeologists, and historians will each present a concept that responds to the exhibition. An exchange between them will open up to a public discussion.

4 pm
Introduction
by Nida Ghouse and Brooke Holmes

4–5.30 pm
Conversation
Umashankar Manthravadi with Nida Ghouse, Brooke Holmes and Yashas Shetty
Followed by a Q&A

5.30–5.45 pm Break

5.45–7 pm
Presentations
by Alexander Keefe, Regina Sarreiter, Uzma Z. Rizvi
Followed by a discussion among the participants and a Q&A