THE SYNTHETIC AESTHETICS OF NEW MEDIA ART (Feb 20-23, 2008)

THE SYNTHETIC AESTHETICS OF NEW MEDIA ART
Presented by The New Media Caucus in Association with the College Art
Association
February 20-23, 2008; Dallas, TX http://conference.collegeart.org/2008/

Panel Chair: Carolyn Kane, PhD Candidate Media, Culture, and
Communication, New York University clk267@nyu.edu

Contrary to traditional aesthetic theories that argue for the primacy of either the subjective and phenomenological, or formal and objective interpretations of artwork, the aesthetics of electronic media, like the logic of technical media itself, is thoroughly removed from anthropomorphic sensibility. One could say that electronic media aesthetics are marked by technical trauma.

However, much contemporary new media art criticism exemplifies a hermeneutic approach that seeks to rationalize and transform work into intelligible *art objects* for canonization and social theories. Is this approach problematic for the logic of technical media? Can certain attributes such as color, form, affect, or sound, effectively reconcile computer based artwork with the subjective and humanistic drives in art making?

The panel invites papers that address the aesthetics of New Media art in distinction to previous aesthetic models or media platforms. For instance, papers suggesting the ways in which color, sound, line, form, symbolism, affect, anti-aesthetics or ideology may be distinct to new media aesthetics are all welcomed. Essentially the panel inquires: what do theoreticians and practitioners address in New Media art, and why? Which artists and / or commercial work do you think best exemplifies these
issues? Special attention will be given to those abstracts that are concerned with the use of color in New Media work.

Presenters can propose brief lectures; media or artist presentations of their own, or other artist’s work; discussions; or other acceptable suggestions.

Timeline:
Due by October 1, 2007:
*Abstracts (max 500 words)
* Paper / Presentation Titles
*Confirmation that presenters will be able to travel to Dallas on February
20-23, 2008
* Current CV and a brief bio.
*Specification of presentation format

Send proposals and / or any question to Carolyn Kane clk267 [AT] nyu.edu
For CAA conference information visit:
http://conference.collegeart.org/2008/

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society

Now published by Emerald

Graduation in June

In June, I attended the graduation ceremony for the Master degree I have been taking in Medical Law over the last three years. I’m not sure I would recommend jumping straight into another degree after completing a PhD, but I learned so much and met so many interesting people, it’s hard to feel too bad about the two years loss of thursday nights. That said, these were the first exams I’ve taken in years and they’re not so much fun.

Institute of Nanotechnology

This week, I’ve arranged to give a session at the IoN in Stirling during the first week of August. Earlier this year, I met its CEO Ottilia Saxl, as part of the NanoBio-RAISE project. I also anticipate that the work of the new PhD studentship we advertized will be closely connected to the IoN. It’s a fascinating enterprise and I look forward to being there to talk about all that is new media and public engagement.

Theory, Culture & Society, Japan

The TCS conference is just about to begin its final plenary, which includes an author of personal interest to me, N. Katherine Hayles. Her book, Becoming Posthuman, has been a central reference point for my own ideas on posthumanism over the last few years. It’s also relevant for my forthcoming, co-authored book ‘The Medicalization of Cyberspace’. This is my first TCS conference and it’s been a rich mix of ideas and presentations. It’s also a good excuse to visit Tokyo for the first time, where we’ve already had a typhoon and an earthquake!

PhD studentship: New Media at the Beijing Olympics

I would like to inform you of an advertisement for a PhD studentship.
A stipend is attached to the studentship. Please feel welcome to contact me
directly in relation to this [preferably by email].

Please note that the deadline for applications is 27 July 2007, but the
formal advertisement does not appear until Monday 9th July, so there will be
no other information on the University website until then. However,
application documents are available. Please also note that applications can
be sent electronically.

- – - – - – - – -

New Media at the Beijing Olympics
School of Media, Language & Music, University of Paisley, Scotland, UK.
Closing date: 27 July, 2007.

This project investigates the development of new media within China, in
association with the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In so doing, it responds to
new agendas in media research in three areas: studies of the media in China,
studies of new media, and the role of the media in the construction of the
Olympic Games to an international audience. In combining these areas, the
student will focus on media discourses surrounding the Beijing Olympic
Games. The aim will be to consider the ‘external’ impression of the Beijing
Olympics, by studying the cultural and political dimensions of the Games.
This work will draw on key theoretical insights into international media
events and digital culture. It will also theorize the transformation of
journalism as a profession in the context of new media publishing and
broadcasting.

Key concepts: citizen journalism, social software, media event, Olympics.

This research will draw on collaborative research projects undertaken by Dr
Miah with the London School of Economics and the University of East London.
Partner institutions also include various Beijing Universities, particularly
the Communication University of China, a leading provider of broadcasting
expertise in Beijing and China. Collaborations are also underway with the
Annenberg School of Communication, various new media organisations and the
student will be assisted to attend the Beijing Olympics in August 2008. The
student will support the teaching of ‘Sport & Spectacle’, a course directed
by Dr Miah focusing on the media, cultural and political aspects of the
Olympic Movement. The project also benefits from an External Adviser Charlie
Beckett, Director of POLIS at the London School of Economics. There will
also be an opportunity to provide Editorial Assistance to the academic
magazine ‘Culture at the Olympics’ http://www.culturalolympics.org.uk

Future Directions in Science Journalism (9-10 Nov, 2007)

for more info: http://www.sciencejournalism.net/future_directions.htm

November 9 & 10, 2007
Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies, UBC (Vancouver, Canada)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Alfred Hermida
UBC professor of digital journalism; former news editor, BBCNews.com

CONFERENCE PROGRAM

Session 1: Hype and manipulation in science journalism
How much is science hyped in the press, who is responsible for it and why does it happen? Most importantly: how can science reporters recognize hype and avoid manipulation?

Session 2: Dealing with conflicts of interest
How does the commercialization of science relate to science journalism? How should a journalist look for conflicts of interest in the stories they write? What conflicts do the science journalists themselves have?

Session 3: Audiences online
Studies show that more and more people are going online when they look for health and science news. Where are they looking? How is that changing? And what do these new audiences want?

Session 4: Assembling a toolkit for science reporting online
Using the information collected in the previous sessions, how can science reporters actually apply this knowledge to the stories they write online?

Conference banquet and awards ceremony
Four-course meal, drinks and the first annual Canadian Science Journalism Awards Ceremony! Award winners will be in attendance.