Research Catalogue

The PD Arts + Creative Symposium takes place at LocHal in Tilburg (NL) on 20 June 2025.

The paper aims to explore the phenomenon of Cosplay as experienced by Cosplayers themselves through a subjective lens. A project that stems from specific personal attitudes and inclinations to the practice of Cosplay — コスプレ kosupure — in relation to japanese entertainment media. The focus of the analysis resides in individuals influenced to the point of bordering on obsession, surrounded by characters from works of Japanese animation, illustration and graphics — Anime, Manga and RPG — culminating in the practice of donating one’s body through the practice of interpretation, assimilation and appropriation. Consistencies and idiosyncrasies between assumptions and experience are addressed starting from Japanese imagery, cultivated by years of tactile and vivid experience of this practice as carried out in Italy. The impact and perceived impact of the journey facilitated a firsthand, lived experience through my month-long stay in Toshima, one of Tokyo’s twenty three special districts. The reiteration of this practice in the country accredited for the birth and export of Cosplay, put to test the skills and preconceptions developed over years of experience and virtual exploration. Analyzed the ideological presuppositions set forth by Luca Vanzella in Cosplay culture: fenomenologia dei costume players italiani, found within my personal experience in Italy, the same were used as a key to reading and interpreting the experience in Japan, analyzing points of contact and divergence. Through this paper I wish to document the vivid aspects of a research at a still embryonic state, without rushing to judgment. A vision that is not intended to be faithful to reality as a focused image, but rather as the perception of light imprinted in the first impact with the retina. It represents, in its essence, an investigation that reports testimonies and subjective experiences, exploring with individuals the value placed on their choice of character, the reasons for choosing to lend one’s body to such practice. The unambiguous presence of the self, versus, the assumptions of loss of identity and desire for escape in the link between Cosplayer, performance act and self-perception. Analyzing the relational dynamics between Cosplayers and those shared personas, with a focus on the figure of the otaku and the way it relates to this practice. This printed object consists of 2 main parts; the first visual and graphic and the second textual and theoretical. Bound together by the “japanese stab binding” technique, that has been appropriated in correlation to the practice of Cosplay. Becoming not only a physical link, but also a key conceptual and graphic element. Giving body and matter to the characters that make up the term Cosplay.

DISCLAIMER: ADULT CONTENTS ENG S/N 267 is the result of a collective search begun within the Internet Archive, an ever-evolving digital space that provides access to various types of resources, enabling the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. This Internet library archives not only digital content and snapshots of Web pages, but also images, audio, video, and software. The project investigates the diversity of representations that emerge from online searches, exploring how the individual conceives of the body through the selection and uploading of content into the digital world. Using the word “body” as the main filter for image selection, S/N 267 takes the form of a sticker album where each image tells a unique, sometimes highly personal story and reflects the richness and variety of content uploaded by users. ITA S/N267 è il risultato di una ricerca collettiva avviata all’interno di Internet Archive, uno spazio digitale in continua evoluzione che consente l’accesso a vari tipi di risorse, permettendo di preservare e diffondere la conoscenza. Questa biblioteca di Internet archivia non solo i contenuti digitali e le istantanee delle pagine web, ma anche immagini, audio, video e software. Il progetto indaga la diversità delle rappresentazioni che emergono dalle ricerche online, esplora come l’individuo concepisce il corpo attraverso la selezione e il caricamento di contenuti nel mondo digitale. Utilizzando la parola “body” come filtro principale per la selezione delle immagini, S/N 267 prende la forma di un album di figurine dove ogni immagine racconta una storia unica, a volte estremamente personale, e riflette la ricchezza e la varietà dei contenuti caricati dagli utenti. This is a students research project. No commercial use has been made. The images for this project has been sourced from the Non-profit platform Internet Archive, therfore all the rights of the images used for this project are to be given to their corrispective authors.

Mikko Raita 2025 Master's Thesis, Demonstration of Proficiency Master of Music in Music Technology Music Technology Department Sibelius Academy University of the Arts Helsinki

How can counterpoint be computed? Instead of looking at counterpoint solely from a historical perspective and reducing it to "music trend of the past", the research contemplates counterpoint as generative technique while exploring its immense yet mechanical creative power through a small selection of case-studies. Finally, a few thoughts are spent on the meaning of rules in music and the role of the computer in historically informed practice is briefly investigated.

This research explores the intersection of music and visual art through the lens of Gilles Silvestrini’s Six Études pour Hautbois and the Impressionist paintings that inspired them. By critically analysing existing studies, interviews, and articles, this study identifies five key techniques composers and performers may use to translate visual elements into music. These approaches not only deepen the understanding of Silvestrini’s work but also offer performers a structured framework for interpretation. This theoretical framework formed the starting point for experimentation and reflection both in the practice studio and with live audiences. This process challenges conventional classical performance practices by examining the balance between a composer’s intent and a performer’s interpretative autonomy. While Silvestrini does not explicitly prescribe a connection between the études and their corresponding paintings, this study argues that performers should embrace their own interpretative choices, enriching both the performance and the audience experience.