New Books Network Mattin, "Social Dissonance" (MIT Press, 2022)
Nov 7, 2025
In this engaging conversation, artist and theorist Mattin discusses his groundbreaking project, Social Dissonance. He explores how alienation shapes our identity under capitalism and shifts from noise music to social experiments. Delving into historical theories, he critiques individualism and highlights the power of collective discomfort. Mattin's performance invites audiences to participate actively, reflecting on their shared unease as a political resource. His vision for a post-awareness community emphasizes solidarity in the face of social dissonance.
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Social Dissonance As Collective Cognitive Gap
- Mattin frames "social dissonance" as the gap between liberal ideals (equality, freedom) and the lived reality of inequality and exploitation.
- He uses performance to make this cognitive dissonance collective and audible so people can confront it together.
Audience Experience: Walking Out Then Returning
- Pierre describes attending Social Dissonance twice and walking out once due to long waiting and impatience.
- He later stayed for an hour in Kassel and found the bewildering exercises compelling.
From Sonic Noise To Social Noise
- Mattin moved from sonic noise to social noise by seeing individual freedom as mediated and limited by language, technology, and capitalism.
- He treats lack of freedom itself as material to improvise with others rather than a personal failure.
