KINGSTON, R.I. –November 26, 2010 – Paul D. Miller, better known as DJ Spooky, will speak at the University of Rhode Island Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Miller, an experimental and electronic hip-hop musician, conceptual artist, writer and educator, will present “Sound Unbound,” in Edwards Auditorium, 64 Upper College Road, Kingston. The presentation, free and open to the public, will conclude URI’s fall Honors Colloquium, RACE. Those unable to attend the lecture can watch it live online URI Live! 
“Miller’s productions illuminate how race has been constructed by re-presenting the raw materials of popular culture in remixed forms. We will see this during his colloquium performance and presentation of his audio/visual mash-up titled Rebirth of a Nation. His work is simultaneously a challenge to cultural power and an exhibition of how to use art and philosophy to open new domains of cultural practice where the powers that be are contested,” said Ian Reyes, assistant professor of Communication Studies and a colloquium coordinator.
Miller earned degrees in French literature and philosophy from Bowdoin College. He began experimenting with disparate sounds at the college’s radio station, mixing James Brown and Public Enemy tracks. Fifteen years later, he launched a music revolution and is regarded by many as the founder of the “illbient” sound, fuse dubbing of hip-hop, jazz, and drum and bass. He also became known as one of popular music’s hardest-working mixologists.
Miller is a professor at the European Graduate School where he teaches music-mediated art. His latest book, Sound Unbound: Sampling Digital Music and Culture, is comprised of various short essays touching upon the issues related to the new wave of technology, digital remixing and culture.
For a complete, up-to-date schedule of the colloquium, visit www.uri.edu/hc. For further information, contact Deborah Gardiner at 401.874.2303 or deg@uri.edu.
Major Sponsors:
Honors program, Office of the Provost, College of Arts and Sciences, Richard and Jean Harrington and the Harrington School of Communication and Media, Center for Nonviolence and Pease Studies, College of Engineering, College of the Environment and Life Sciences, College of Human Science and Services, Office of the President.
Sustaining Sponsors:
The Mark and Donna Ross Honors Colloquium Humanities Endowments, the Thomas Silva and Shannon Chandley Honors Colloquium Endowment.
Sponsors:
Division of University Advancement, College of Business Administration, College of Pharmacy, Department of Communication Studies, Center for Students Leadership Development, Office of the Dean of Students, Women’s Studies Program, Athletics, Multicultural center, Office of the Vice President of Administration and Finance, Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs, University College, – Phi Eta Sigma, Department of Kinesiology.