Amazing show last night guys! I knew to expect a certain amount of awesomeness, but wasn't sure just how cool it would be. Thank you for taking the time to come to Portland, where you are truly appreciated for your science and entertainment value. I'm glad Robert was able to experience having "Heaven poured down his throat"
Great show tonight guys! I really wondered how you'd pull off in a live venue the delicately awesome feeling of your produced show... and now I know! (But I'll keep everyone else in the dark.)
Re: the "Great Sightless Debate" I wanted to add that the neurology of visualization (and dreaming) is almost equivalent to actual seeing, particularly if developed consciously as a skill. Even WITH sight, we STILL have to visually construct the world, and this is a process that is not simply passive, but involves multiple, interpenetrating levels of neural circuitry (I prefer the term "webs"), all the way into the places that correlate with intentionality and decision-making.
What this means is that eyes and seeing have a relationship that is complex and multi-layered. Taking away your eyes does not necessarily equate with taking away the capacity to see.
So I'm with the Australian on this one: he can SEE, _visually_. Seeing is not something that is limited merely to what happens when light enters the eye; the brain (one that has developed with sight and then lost it at least) has everything it needs to have visual experience, WITHOUT eyes.
The question is one of correlation with reports of what others say they see. Visual experiences are already constructed out of far more than just light (in humans). The whole of experience plays a role, including the other senses, our thoughts, our attention (and inattention), and even subtle linguistic meanings. Yes, all these "non-visual" experiences can literally change what you actually see. If this wasn't true, synesthesic experiences would not be possible (and we are all somewhat synesthetic: we construct experience not out of some abstracted, separate sensory elements, but out of evolving wholes). Experiments have shown that we can map senses onto each other with training, even creating new senses (for example, for direction), and that our senses are much more malleable than the old philosophers would have us believe. Indeed, a little introspection shows that we don't really even have individual, separated sensory experiences in isolation from the rest of experience. We actually have to do some _work_ to attend to just one sensory experience, to pull it out of the whole mix that is our complex, ongoing, non-separated experiencing. Because of the richness of the wholeness of experience underlying and integrating our senses, viridical visual experiences without eyes is possible, particularly with training and consciously developed imaginative capacity.
Provocative? I hope so. The debate has too many interesting facets to not continue to explore...
Tonight's performance was delightful! Jad, it was fascinating watching you do your magic on your laptop and peripherals to create what I usually am just hearing through my computer or car radio. The flourishes made for a splendid performance. Robert, I agree with Demetri that watching you scurry across the stage was something special. Thank you for a wonderful show!
I tried to get tickets for tonight’s Portland Performance with the Radiolab password. I could not get past the unreadable code as it shows on my Iphone. Now when I can get on my work computer at lunch the offer is off the table. I hope to see you next time. Ticket master ARHHHHHHH!
Ellen - pretty sure those prices are from scalpers. The real prices are much less. I might have to go that route, alas, all the wheelchair accessible seats are sold out already...
Here's the direct link to tickets. Prices range from $39-62. They're going fast, so get yours quickly! http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00484DD6327277?brand=pcpa
I've been listening this morning to some amazing stories. So I went online to check out tickets for the production in Portland on 4/28---and I have to say I was disappointed to see the least expensive tickets were $138. Yikes. Too much for our budget. Why so pricey? Leaves out a lot of your listeners, I suspect.
Hello Amanda, thanks for the information! I just bought my ticket, center and near the front! I will look Portland Center for Performing Arts' newsletter, I really appreciate the fact that you replied so quickly.
The presale code for Portland is PCPA. However the tickets go off of presale tomorrow morning at 10am. If you subscribe to the Portland Center for Performing Arts' newsletter you can get advance access to A LOT of great shows throughout the year. They cover the Keller, the Schnitz, and many other great venues.
I wish all (read; my life) was more like your show. Intelligent, sarcastic, scintillating, entertaining, yet educational. You gentlemen seemingly make being a nerd absolutely absorbing. Seemingly. Many thanks gents
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Comments [24]
The show was as beautiful as it always is in my mind. Thanks to Demetri for conspiring to make such cool finale!
Amazing show last night guys! I knew to expect a certain amount of awesomeness, but wasn't sure just how cool it would be. Thank you for taking the time to come to Portland, where you are truly appreciated for your science and entertainment value. I'm glad Robert was able to experience having "Heaven poured down his throat"
Great show tonight guys! I really wondered how you'd pull off in a live venue the delicately awesome feeling of your produced show... and now I know! (But I'll keep everyone else in the dark.)
Re: the "Great Sightless Debate" I wanted to add that the neurology of visualization (and dreaming) is almost equivalent to actual seeing, particularly if developed consciously as a skill. Even WITH sight, we STILL have to visually construct the world, and this is a process that is not simply passive, but involves multiple, interpenetrating levels of neural circuitry (I prefer the term "webs"), all the way into the places that correlate with intentionality and decision-making.
What this means is that eyes and seeing have a relationship that is complex and multi-layered. Taking away your eyes does not necessarily equate with taking away the capacity to see.
So I'm with the Australian on this one: he can SEE, _visually_. Seeing is not something that is limited merely to what happens when light enters the eye; the brain (one that has developed with sight and then lost it at least) has everything it needs to have visual experience, WITHOUT eyes.
The question is one of correlation with reports of what others say they see. Visual experiences are already constructed out of far more than just light (in humans). The whole of experience plays a role, including the other senses, our thoughts, our attention (and inattention), and even subtle linguistic meanings. Yes, all these "non-visual" experiences can literally change what you actually see. If this wasn't true, synesthesic experiences would not be possible (and we are all somewhat synesthetic: we construct experience not out of some abstracted, separate sensory elements, but out of evolving wholes). Experiments have shown that we can map senses onto each other with training, even creating new senses (for example, for direction), and that our senses are much more malleable than the old philosophers would have us believe. Indeed, a little introspection shows that we don't really even have individual, separated sensory experiences in isolation from the rest of experience. We actually have to do some _work_ to attend to just one sensory experience, to pull it out of the whole mix that is our complex, ongoing, non-separated experiencing. Because of the richness of the wholeness of experience underlying and integrating our senses, viridical visual experiences without eyes is possible, particularly with training and consciously developed imaginative capacity.
Provocative? I hope so. The debate has too many interesting facets to not continue to explore...
Tonight's performance was delightful! Jad, it was fascinating watching you do your magic on your laptop and peripherals to create what I usually am just hearing through my computer or car radio. The flourishes made for a splendid performance. Robert, I agree with Demetri that watching you scurry across the stage was something special. Thank you for a wonderful show!
I tried to get tickets for tonight’s Portland Performance with the Radiolab password. I could not get past the unreadable code as it shows on my Iphone. Now when I can get on my work computer at lunch the offer is off the table. I hope to see you next time. Ticket master ARHHHHHHH!
Will there be any Merch to buy?
According to this site http://www.bayareascience.org/11/03/radiolablive/ the show is ~2hours.
Hi. I was wondering how long the show will last so that I can plan my evening accordingly. Thanks.
Woohoo! Looking forward to the live version. We love the show, and we have some insights into the world of sight and sighlessness.
Yay! This is the last thing I'll do before going to a remote island in AK to study seabirds for the summer. So appropriate.
Is this performance family-friendly? Can I safely bring a six-year old?
Ellen - pretty sure those prices are from scalpers. The real prices are much less. I might have to go that route, alas, all the wheelchair accessible seats are sold out already...
Here's the direct link to tickets. Prices range from $39-62. They're going fast, so get yours quickly!
http://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0F00484DD6327277?brand=pcpa
you can buy tix via ticketmaster.com (search for radiolab) for $35 each including fees. pretty standard for a professional theatre production
I've been listening this morning to some amazing stories. So I went online to check out tickets for the production in Portland on 4/28---and I have to say I was disappointed to see the least expensive tickets were $138. Yikes.
Too much for our budget. Why so pricey? Leaves out a lot of your listeners, I suspect.
Arrrrrg! tried to find that presale code everywhere! didn't check these comments until too late - so very sad!
Hello Amanda, thanks for the information! I just bought my ticket, center and near the front! I will look Portland Center for Performing Arts' newsletter, I really appreciate the fact that you replied so quickly.
Correction: presale ends Friday at 10pm. Sorry!
The presale code for Portland is PCPA. However the tickets go off of presale tomorrow morning at 10am. If you subscribe to the Portland Center for Performing Arts' newsletter you can get advance access to A LOT of great shows throughout the year. They cover the Keller, the Schnitz, and many other great venues.
Anyone know what the offer code is for the pre sale? I want to buy my ticket now...
Presale started @ 10am today. Visit Keller auditorium box office by Friday for these. General sale starts Saturday.
Hooray! Portland loves you!
Thankyou
I wish all (read; my life) was more like your show. Intelligent, sarcastic, scintillating, entertaining, yet educational. You gentlemen seemingly make being a nerd absolutely absorbing. Seemingly. Many thanks gents
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