Hybrid Identities in Digital Media

Call for papers…

Hybrid Identities in Digital Media
Vol 11, no 4, Winter 2005

Digital bodies, virtual characters, man-machine hybrids, simulated ‘humans’, androids, and cyborgs

Guest-edited by Kerstin Mey and Yvonne Spielmann

The focus of the special issue:

While digitally constructed identities have entered the popular media environment through fiction film, television, and computer games, where they have homogenising effects on the viewer/user that do not encourage them to question or critically look at the cultural concept of ‘hybridity’, we find that in experimental fields of creative practices (arts, youth cultures, and other groups) the challenge lies in the articulation of individual features that are appropriate to specific needs and express – through diversity – reflections on the hybrid, increasingly interactive and virtual production in digital media. The common interest here seems to lie in the expression of virtual selves that abandon the pre-fabricated products of cinema, television, computer games, and so on.

We encourage a discussion of the following: In what way does the construction of hybrid identities in digital media arts and cultural practices have an effect on:

* new role models (of behaviour, action)
* innovative ways of identification (participation, interaction, communication)
* new ways of collaborative experience (through multiple user interfaces, MUDs)
* novel ways of self-reflection (of role models, ethic/gender/social patterns)
* new ways of self-representation (public/private spaces).

Copy deadline for refereed research articles: 1 April 2005

All proposals, inquiries and submissions for this special issue to:

Yvonne Spielmann
Braunschweig School of Art
Institute of Media Research
Johannes-Selenka-Platz 1
38118 Braunschweig
Germany
tel: +49 (0)531 2810728
fax: +49 (0)531 2810713
email: spielmann@medien-peb.uni-siegen.de

Kerstin Mey
School of Art and Design
University of Belfast
York Street
Belfast BT15 1ED
Northern Ireland, UK
tel: +44 (0)28 9026 7258
fax: +44 (0)28 9026 7310
email: k.mey@ulster.ac.uk

Submission details: Two hard copies and one electronic copy (Macintosh Word compatible) of all articles should be sent to the guest editors with the following information attached separately: name, institution and address for correspondence, telephone, fax and email address. Papers should be typed on one side of the sheet with endnotes in accordance with the MLA style sheet. Authors should also enclose a 50 word biography and an abstract.

Gene Doping Public Forum (USA)

This week, Portland State University hosted a public forum on gene doping. To my knowledge, this is the first ‘public engagement’ event on this subject. It was titled:

Super Athletes: A Public Dialogue about Genetic Enhancement and Sports.

Of particular concern seems to be clarification about the scientific basis of gene doping – what is really possible? To me, this is only one element of what public dialogue should entail. I have recently argued for a ‘Public Engagement with Ethics’ particularly in the context of science.

I am doubtful that public debates can really function in any satisfactory way without first consideration what are the salient aspects of public debate. While discussion abuot the technical aspects of science certainly can help to allay unsubstantiated fears about technology, it does not necessarily offer an empowering platform for the public to articulate their moral concerns.

‘Altitude Chambers’ in the JME

This month, the JME includes 3 articles on the ethics of hypoxic training chambers for sport. The lead article by Spriggs disusses the Australian Football League’s investigation into the ethical parameters of these ‘altitude chambers’. A commentary is then offered by Torbjorn Tannsjo, Claudio Tamburrini and finally by Peter Fricker. Generally, the articles favour enhancement and changing the rules of sport to make enhancement more commonplace.