Elena Naomi Jessop

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Human Media

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About

Elena Naomi Jessop is a pioneering researcher at the intersection of music, technology, and performance. Her work explores how digital systems can transform theatrical expression, particularly through "disembodied performance"—where technology allows characters to extend their presence beyond the physical body. Her most cited paper, "Music And Technology In Death And The Powers" (2011, 17 citations), examines Tod Machover's opera in which a protagonist uploads his consciousness into a computer, making the stage itself a living character through robotics, visuals, and sound. In her earlier work "Disembodied performance" (2009, 8 citations), she analyzed how actors can use technological environments to amplify their agency and influence across the performance space. Jessop's contributions are foundational to understanding how interactive systems can blur the line between performer and environment, creating new forms of narrative and audience engagement. Her research has been instrumental in shaping contemporary discussions on digital embodiment and the future of opera, making her a key voice in the growing field of technology-mediated performance art.