December 2014 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Vince Miller on his forthcoming book about presence, crisis and culture (CAMRI seminar 10/12)
by Christian Fuchs 03 Dec '14

03 Dec '14

The Crisis of Presence in Contemporary Culture Vince Miller (Univ of Kent) Wed, Dec 10 14:00 UNiv of Westminster Harrow Campus Room A7.01 http://www.westminster.ac.uk/camri/research-seminars/the-crisis-of-presence… Registration: e-mail to christian.fuchs(a)uti.at In this presentation, Vince Miller problematises the notion of presence within a contemporary culture in which social life is increasingly lived and experienced through networked digital communication technologies alongside the physical presence of co-present bodies. Using the work of Heidegger, Levinas, Bauman, Rotman (and others), he suggests that the increasing use of these technologies and our increasing presence in online environments challenges our tendencies to ground moral and ethical behaviours in face-to-face or materially co-present contexts. Instead, the mediated presences we can achieve amplify our cultural tendency to objectify the social world and weaken our sense of moral and ethical responsibility to others. Such a disjuncture manifests itself in a number of popular contemporary concerns over privacy, ‘anti-social’ behaviour, and the problems of free speech and inappropriate disclosure. Vince Miller will suggest that the solution of overcoming such problems lies not in increasing regulation, but in more scrutiny paid to the software architecture of social media as the medium by which humans are ‘made present’ online, as well as an expansion of the notion of being/presence to include virtual data/presences, so that these may gain ‘ethical weight’. Vincent Miller is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Cultural Studies at the University of Kent, where he has research interests in digital culture and urban sociology. He is author of ‘Understanding Digital Culture’ (Sage) and is currently writing ‘The Crisis of Presence in Contemporary Culture: Ethics, Privacy and Disclosure in Mediated Social Life’, also for Sage.

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2nd CfP: AAAI Int'l Conference on Weblogs and Social Media (ICWSM-15)
by Sarita Yardi Schoenebeck 03 Dec '14

03 Dec '14

The 9th International Conference on Weblogs and Social Media (ICWSM-15) Sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) CONFERENCE WEBSITE http://icwsm.org/2015/ * Workshop Proposals Due: December 15, 2014 * Paper Abstracts Due: January 18, 2015 (by 11:59 pm AOE) * Full Papers Due: January 23, 2015 (by 11:59 pm AOE) * Acceptance Notification: March 9, 2015 * Conference: May 26-29, 2015 in Oxford, UK SUMMARY SUBMISSION GUIDELINE Full paper format: Full paper submissions to ICWSM are recommended to be 8 pages long, and must be at most 10 pages long, including figures and references. The final camera-ready length (between 8-10 pages) for each full paper in the proceedings will be at the discretion of the program chairs. All papers must follow AAAI formatting guidelines. Poster and demo paper format: Poster paper submissions to ICWSM must be 4 pages long, including figures and references. Demo paper submissions to ICWSM must be 2 pages long, including figures and references. All papers must be follow AAAI formatting guidelines. Anonymity: Paper submissions to ICWSM must be anonymized. Social science track with only abstracts in the proceedings: We will be continuing the “social science” track at ICWSM-15 following its successful debut in 2013. This option is for researchers in social science who wish to submit full papers without publication in the conference proceedings. While papers in this track will not be published, we expect these submissions to describe the same high-quality and complete work as the main track submissions. Papers accepted to this track will be full presentations integrated with the conference, but they will be published only as abstracts in the conference proceedings. DISCIPLINES * Computational approaches to social media research including * Natural language processing * Text / data mining * Machine learning * Image / multimedia processing * Graphics and visualization * Distributed computing * Graph theory and graphical models * Human-computer interaction * Social science approaches to social media research including * Psychology * Sociology and social network analysis * Communication * Political science * Economics * Anthropology * Media studies and journalism * Interdisciplinary approaches to social media research combining computational algorithms and social science methodologies TYPES OF SOCIAL MEDIA include * Weblogs (posts, comments, and/or social shares) * Social networking sites (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn) * Microblogs (e.g., Twitter, Tumblr) * Wiki-based knowledge sharing sites (e.g., Wikipedia) * Social news sites and websites of news media (e.g., Huffington Post) * Forums, mailing lists, newsgroups * Community media sites (e.g., YouTube, Flickr, Instagram) * Social Q & A sites (e.g., Quora, Yahoo Answers) * User reviews (e.g., Yelp, Amazon.com) * Social curation sites (e.g., Reddit, Pinterest) * Location-based social networks (e.g., Foursquare) TOPICS INCLUDE (BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO) * Psychological, personality-based and ethnographic studies of social media * Analysis of the relationship between social media and mainstream media * Qualitative and quantitative studies of social media * Centrality/influence of social media publications and authors * Ranking/relevance of blogs and microblogs; web page ranking based on weblogs * Social network analysis; communities identification; expertise and authority discovery * Collaborative filtering * Trust; reputation; recommendation systems * Human computer interaction; social media tools; navigation and visualization * Subjectivity in textual data; sentiment analysis; polarity/opinion identification and extraction, linguistic analyses of social media behavior * Text categorization; topic recognition; demographic/gender/age identification * Trend identification and tracking; time series forecasting * Measuring predictability of real world phenomena based on social media, e.g., spanning politics, finance, and health * New social media applications; interfaces; interaction techniques * Social innovation and effecting change through social media * Social media usage on mobile devices; location, human mobility, and behavior * Organizational and group behavior mediated by social media; interpersonal communication mediated by social media * Studies of digital humanities (culture, history, arts) using social media General Chair Daniele Quercia, Yahoo! Labs Barcelona Local Chair Bernie Hogan, Oxford Internet Institute Program Co-Chairs Meeyoung Cha, KAIST Cecilia Mascolo, University of Cambridge Christian Sandvig, University of Michigan --- Assistant Professor School of Information University of Michigan http://yardi.people.si.umich.edu/

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Reminder: Applications for the CCI Digital Methods Summer School close on Wednesday 10 December
by Ellie Rennie 03 Dec '14

03 Dec '14

**Reminder: Applications for the CCI Digital Methods Summer School close on Wednesday 10 December** The CCI Summer School is to be held from 9-12 February at Swinburne University, Hawthorn campus, Melbourne, Australia. <http://www.ccidigitalmethods.org/> This CCI Summer School is designed for university researchers at all stages of their careers, from doctoral students, postdoctoral and mid-career academics to established scholars. It is an intensive, four-day programme focussed on new quantitative, qualitative and data-driven digital methods and their research applications in creative industries, media and cultural studies, internet studies, and related fields in the humanities and social sciences. Participants will work with leading researchers, engage in interactive workshop activities and receive direct feedback and individual mentoring on their own work. The Summer School will feature a Project Clinic where participants collaboratively workshop methodological aspects of their current project, receiving valuable advice from participants and mentors. Social activities will provide additional opportunities for participants to get to know each other and form collaborative relationships that will last for years to come. We particularly encourage applications from researchers working on projects or project ideas that incorporate, but are not limited to, some aspect of digital methods. The School will offer a range of introductory technical workshops in topics including: * Social media data analytics * Software and app studies * Instagrammatics: Analysing Visual Social Media * Spatial information and geovisualisation * Data visualisation * Using agent-based simulation methods to analyse complex dynamic systems * Web Scraping * Sensory ethnography The program will be grounded in contemporary problems in the analysis of social media, privacy, digital media production and consumption, and related ethical issues. Mentors, speakers and facilitators include: * Prof Axel Bruns, Queensland University of Technology * A/Prof Jean Burgess, Queensland University of Technology * D/Prof John Hartley, Curtin University * A/Prof Patrik Wikström, Queensland University of Technology * Dr Tama Leaver, Curtin University * Dr Peta Mitchell, Queensland University of Technology * Dr Tim Highfield, Queensland University of Technology * Dr Stephen Glackin, Swinburne University of Technology * Dr Rowan Wilken, Swinburne University of Technology * Sandra Hanchard, Swinburne University of Technology * Prof Deb Verhoven, Deakin University * Dr Heather Horst, RMIT * Prof Sarah Pink, RMIT Australian and international scholars interested in applying for one of 30 places should send applications - comprising a CV, a cover letter outlining your experience and interests in digital methods, and a one-paragraph description of a current project or project idea relevant to the Summer School’s themes - to isrevents(a)swin.edu.au by 10 December 2014. Please use the subject heading CCI Summer School Application and send all materials as a single PDF file. There is no charge for participants, and the event will include some catering. Participants will need to organise their own transport and accommodation in Melbourne. A limited number of bursaries (up to $500) for travel and/or accommodation will be offered on a competitive basis to interstate/overseas applicants. Please indicate in your cover letter if you wish to be considered for a bursary. The ARC Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries & Innovation (CCI)<http://www.cci.edu.au/> is a national research network, with partner universities located around Australia. It is a cross-disciplinary, internationally-focused centre embracing both theoretical and applied research in media, cultural and communication studies, law, education, economics and business and information technology. The Centre addresses key problems and opportunities arising for Australia, the Asian region, from innovation in and through the creative economy. Over the past five years, the CCI has established a tradition of offering high-quality professional development for its own doctoral students and early career researchers as well as those from around the world, and through the Summer School we continue this tradition. Associate Professor Ellie Rennie Deputy Director Swinburne Institute for Social Research Swinburne University of Technology erennie(a)swin.edu.au sisr.net

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IANA Transition Webinars
by Joly MacFie 03 Dec '14

03 Dec '14

As you may be aware the CWG yesterday announced its draft IANA Transition Proposal https://community.icann.org/x/SoEHAw Further to this , various Webinars have been announced for this week and next week on the IANA Stewardship Transition.. Thanks to Olivier Crepin-Leblond we have the following summary. *Webinars of the CWG on Naming Related Functions Public Consultation on Draft Transition Proposal*: - 3 December from 7:00 – 8:30 UTC | 02:00-03:30 EST - 4 December from 12:30 – 14:00 UTC | 07:30 - 09:00 EST - 4 December from 16:00 – 17:30 UTC | 11:00 - 12:30 EST These Webinars are repeats of each other and are organised and Chaired by the Community Working Group (CWG) which is presenting a first draft of the Naming Communities input to the IANA Stewardship Transition process. This Webinar will be used to explain the contents of the First Draft of the Proposal. This will really help in understanding the draft which is currently under Public Comment from 1 to 22 December 2014. I highly recommend you attend at least one of them. More details: https://www.icann.org/news/announcement-3-2014-12-01-en ------ *Capacity Building Program Webinar #1:* *- Wednesday 3 December 2014 13:00 - 14:00 UTC | 08:00 - 09:00 EST* *IANA Functions (standards, Numbering and Naming) - Patrik Fältström* Are you interested in this topic but do not know where to start? This Webinar is for you! Indeed, this Webinar is a great introduction about all of the IANA Functions, introduced by the Chairman of the ICANN Security and Stability Advisory Committee. He is an expert! If you are interested in what is probably one of the key topics for the year and want to learn about it, then do not miss this Webinar! Tell anyone who is interested! Watch, listen, learn and ask questions - that's what this Webinar is about. The draft Agenda and call details are on: https://community.icann.org/x/2zrxAg *------Capacity Building Program Webinar #2:* *- Wednesday 10 December 2014 21:00 - 22:30 UTC* *IANA Naming Issues by IANA Issues WG* This Webinar will have the members of the At-Large IANA Naming Issues working group explain the proposed ALAC response to the Public Comment period that has opened on 1 December and will close on 22 December 2014. This is your chance ask any questions about the proposed response and to comment on it too! However, we highly recommend that you attend the above capacity building Webinar before to better understand the issues and at least one of the three CWG Webinars above to learn about the CWG's First Draft. Call details for this Webinar will be sent out in due course. Reserve the time slot now! -- --------------------------------------------------------------- Joly MacFie 218 565 9365 Skype:punkcast WWWhatsup NYC - http://wwwhatsup.com http://pinstand.com - http://punkcast.com VP (Admin) - ISOC-NY - http://isoc-ny.org -------------------------------------------------------------- -

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Call for Papers - 2015 ICA Preconference on Discussion, Dialogue, Discourse: Meanings and Methods
by RUSSMANN Uta | FHWien der WKW 02 Dec '14

02 Dec '14

This may be of interest for some of you. Sorry for cross posting. Call for Papers 2015 ICA Preconference Discussion, Dialogue, Discourse: Meanings and Methods Deadline for Extended Abstracts: December 15, 2014 2015 International Communication Association Annual Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico Thursday, May 21, 2015 - 9:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Sponsored by the Public Relations and Organizational Communication Divisions THEME RATIONALE Discussion, dialogue, and discourse have long been regarded as important concepts across a range of communication-related disciplines such as public relations, organizational communication, interpersonal communication, and strategic management. These concepts are becoming even more significant with the increasing use of social media and other forms of online communication by organizations and their publics/stakeholders/citizens. The online environment has provided a unique milieu for the conduct of discussion, dialogue, and discourse, but it has also focused attention on the inconsistent use of these labels, the significance of the differences between the concepts, and the gaps between normative theory and pragmatic action. The focus of this preconference therefore will be to invite theoretical and empirical contributions that add to the understanding of discussion, dialogue, and discourse with particular emphasis on the translation of these concepts into the online space. Guiding questions to be addressed in this preconference may include the following: * What are the theoretical connections between discussion, dialogue, and discourse? * How do the concepts of discussion, dialogue, and discourse differ across disciplines? What is the significance of the differences to the theorizing of the concepts? * Are there differences between the normative and empirical perspectives on discussion, dialogue, and discourse? What does this mean for the development of theory in this area? * What sort of data and methodological approaches are most appropriate to study discussion, dialogue, and discourse? * How do the concepts of discussion, dialogue, and discourse differ in different cultures? * How are discussion, dialogue, and discourse enacted in intercultural contexts? * What are the differences among the concepts discussion, dialogue, and discourse? How are they being translated to the online environment? * How do we define discussion, dialogue, and discourse in online communication/social media? * Is it possible to have genuine dialogue and discourse online or in social media? * How can technology be used to enhance discussion, dialogue, and discourse? * What connections are there - if any - between rhetoric and discussion, dialogue, and discourse? The aim of this preconference is to bring together participants from a wide variety of communication-related disciplines including public relations, organizational communication, computer-mediated communication, new technology, political communication, and others. Industry professionals will also benefit from involvement at this session, especially those with experience in working in organizational social media. We hope that this preconference will be a stimulating and engaging session in which ideas can be presented in a supportive but robustly-enquiring environment. Submission and Selection Process We are looking for submissions that feature the most current research on discussion, dialogue, and discourse. The successful abstracts will be chosen on the basis of their research rigor and contribution to knowledge. Content may include case studies, empirical analyses, and theoretical pieces. Practitioner perspectives and cross-disciplinary studies will be particularly welcome. Extended abstracts (up to 500 words) should be submitted by December 15, 2014 to Uta Russmann via email: uta.russmann(a)fh-wien.ac.at<mailto:uta.russmann@fh-wien.ac.at>. The organizers - Uta Russmann (FHWien University of Applied Sciences of WKW, Vienna, Austria) and Anne Lane (QUT Business School / Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia) (a.lane(a)qut.edu.au<mailto:a.lane@qut.edu.au>) - will make decisions on accepted papers by January 15, 2015. Full papers will be due in advance of the pre-conference on April 15, 2014. Authors of accepted abstracts are expected to attend the pre-conference and present their paper. Participation fee (including coffee break and lunch buffet) is $100 US for presenters and non-presenters. TIMELINE: · Deadline for abstract submission: December 15, 2014 · Acceptance provided: January 15, 2015 · Deadline for full paper submissions: April 15, 2015 · Preconference in San Juan, Puerto Rico: May 21, 2015 Best regards, Uta ******************************************************************** Prof. Mag. Dr. Uta Russmann Department of Communication, Marketing & Sales FHWien University of Applied Sciences of WKW Währinger Gürtel 97, 1180 Vienna, Austria Phone: +43 (1) 476 77-5848, Fax: +43 (1) 476 77-5704 uta.russmann(a)fh-wien.ac.at<mailto:uta.russmann@fh-wien.ac.at> www.fh-wien.ac.at/kommas<http://www.fh-wien.ac.at/kommas> **************************NEWS********************************** Der MASTERPLAN für Ihre Karriere: Die 8 Master-Studiengänge für Management & Kommunikation! Informieren<http://www.fh-wien.ac.at/> Sie sich jetzt! Sie finden uns auch unter facebook.com<http://www.facebook.com/FHWien>, twitter.com/FHWienAT<http://www.twitter.com/FHWienAT> und auf Google+<https://plus.google.com/+fhwien/posts> ******************FHWien der WKW: Die führende Fachhochschule für Management & Kommunikation******************

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Call for Papers and Panel Proposals: "Identity and Culture"
by Loreta Georgievska - Jakovleva 01 Dec '14

01 Dec '14

***APOLOGIES FOR MULTIPLE POSTINGS*** Please, circulate the attached call for papers among relevant departments and interested researchers, PhD students… Sorry for cross posting. Centre for Culture and Cultural Studies (CCCS) Third Annual International CCCS Conference 2015: "Identity and Culture" September 3-5, 2015, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Deadline for submitting abstracts: February 15, 2015 Deadline for submitting full papers: December 15, 2015 Call for papers: http://cultcenter.net/?p=2002 Call for Papers and Panel Proposals The Centre for Culture and Cultural Studies organizes the 3rd Annual International Conference of the CCCS 2015: "Identity and Culture". The concepts of culture and identity have insofar been argued from various perspectives. However, due to our rapidly changing world, these two concepts, in their 21st century-situatedness require new considerations and academic approaches. The two terms, in and of themselves, are rather vast and complex. Namely, they carry across, oftentimes, opposing views and meanings. Along those lines, this conference aims at: 1) unearthing a better framework for the processes of identity-formation, be it individual or collective; 2) evaluating the interactions existing between culture and identity; 3) examining the role culture plays in identity-formation, i.e., its development, integration and assimilation, whilst creating an interdisciplinary form for the presentation of the new advances and research results in the respective fields of Identity and Culture. Particular emphasis will be placed on examining the depth and complexity of said identity processes and domains, when viewed from the perspectives of several different disciplines, theoretical schools and empirical approaches. We thus welcome research that helps shed light on the role/s played by linguistic, social, psychological, political, artistic, religious and economic factors in the processes of identity-formation, particularly when set against historical contexts. We also welcome papers that engage with the more theoretical aspects of identity-formation as well as papers that focus on case studies or help discern an interpretative evaluation of the cultural products involved in identity-formation. Indeed, culture acts as the defining marker of individual identity, as it ushers the process of self-formation and identification with Others. Since culture does not always act consciously, sometimes the ways in which it shapes our individual and collective identities remain unseen. However, when reading and examining culture, we begin to identify the aspects that help shape our beliefs and behaviors. Individual characteristics and markers, such as biological sex, age, intellectual stamina, etc., when juxtaposed to cultural and subcultural constructs such as class, education, religion, professional affiliation, etc., help form (produce) our identity. On the other hand, a national identity is of particular value, as it can be evidenced through a steadfast commitment by many to die for their respective nation. The same applies to religious beliefs, so people are ready to sacrifice themselves, even discriminate others due to their religious identities. Europe’s identity (or better: the European identity) rests on one such long-standing debate, which had originated with the EU’s identity-formation. In multi-lingual societies, the safekeeping and safeguarding of the languages belonging to different cultural and ethnic groups is of paramount importance for the safeguarding and safekeeping of their cultural legacy, i.e., their respective identity. Losing a language implies a loss of the culture surrounding that identity. The term identity is oftentimes marked by stereotypes and sadly the exclusion of those whose identity differs from the central one. No matter the approach, we seem to arrive at the same question: why does identity (identification) matter? Or: what does identity mean (entail)? What is the relationship between culture and identity? How does culture shape identity? Does identity affect culture? What informs individual and collective identities? How do identity-processes function? Is identity biologically determined or is it constructed? Is identity stable, fixed and constant, or can it be only temporarily stabilized? Why do we encounter identities (the plural form) more so than identity (in the singular)? What are the inner and outer factors that shape identity? How do ethnic groups keep their identity unchanged? What is the role of media? In turn, this Conference aims at investigating the interactions present between culture and identity, whilst unearthing the numerous factors that affect the formation of individual and collective identities. Henceforth, the Conference welcomes researchers from various disciplines and conceptualizations of identity and culture. Possible topics could include, but are not limited to, the following areas: Culture and personal identity: Identity and self-construction; Psychology and identity; Personal characteristics and identity; Manners of construction of personal identity; Emotions and behaviour; Behaviour and identity; Identity processes in interpersonal relations; Gender and identity; Trans-gender experience and identity; The human body and identity; Disability and identity; Culture and collective identity: Static vs. Dynamic identity; Identity and national/ethnic belonging; Identity and nationalism; Identity and social inclusion/exclusion; Identity, xenophobia, genocide; Identity and group violence; Identity and national symbols; laws and regulations; identity and the existence/relevance of communal organizations/clubs/groups; Identity and tradition; Identity and religion; Sources of religious authority; Identity and theology; Identity and Memory: Narrative identities; Identity and autobiographies; Identity and cultural heritage; Identity and the museum; Identity and archives; Identity and politics of memory; Ethnography and cultural identity; Identity and rituals; Identity and cult; Identity and globalisation: Identity and migrations; Migrants and flexible identities; Identity and diaspora; Transnational identities; Diaspora and creation of subject; Identity and relationships with the homeland; Identity and cultural assimilation; Identity and cultural hybridization; Identity and multinationalism; Identity and cosmopolitanism, diversity and hybrids; Borders and the negotiation of identities; Challenges and perspective of the return; Narrative of imaginary vs. actual return; Identity and politics: Political identity and ethnic belonging; Nation branding; Identity and diplomacy; Political/state structures and their effect on identity; Political parties and identity; Political culture and factors on identity formation: remaking and re-inventing identities; Multiculturalism and minority rights; The European identity; Transnational identities; Identity and knowledge: Educational institutions and creation of identity; Identity and teaching; Education and identity conflicts; Identity and philosophy: Identity and critical theory; Marxist views of identity; Identity and post-colonial theory; "Ours" and "Theirs"; Prejudices; Identity and history: Historical background of current problems; Historical methodology and identity debate; History, legitimacy, identity; Identity and historical narrative; Identity, space, place: Space, place and discursive practices; Identity, cultural and ritual artefacts; Anchored identities; Meaning of geographic spaces in creation of identities; Identity and tourisms; Imagining the nation through the urban-rural distinction; Identity transformations and transformations of the city; Identity and linguistics: Language as identity formation; Language in multicultural societies; Linguistic imperialism and identity; Linguistic diversity; Identity and literature: The role of literature in the identity-formation; Narratives and weaving of identities; National images used in literature; The Other in literature; Traditions and cliches; Identity, art and architecture: Representations and identity-formation in arts: theatre, film, paining; Identity and (ethnic) music; Identity and architecture; Monuments and symbols in identity-formation; Identity and place brending Identity and media: Identity-formation in societies over-saturated with media; Identity, media, conflict; Identity, media, tolerance; Representations of culture and identity in the media; Identity and new technologies; Identity and virtual reality; Identity and cyber-culture; Identity and the Internet; Institutional and corporate identity; Identity, morals, ethics; Identity and popular culture: Identity and folk culture; Consumer identity and shopping behavior; Fashion and design in identity-formation; Food, culture and identity; Social media and popular culture; Subcultures and identity; Queer identity and popular culture; Identity and lifestyles; The 3rd Annual International Conference of CCCS 2015: “Identity and Culture” welcomes the participation of all researchers of culture, literature, history, philosophy, arts, religion, sociology, media, as well as those from the general public interested in the topic. We welcome reports and creative projects that study the questions related to the Conference's subject matter. Conference calendar February 15, 2015: Deadline for submission of abstracts First half of March 2015: Acceptance info August 15, 2015: Final programme of the Conference September 3-5, 2015: Conference dates September 6-8, 2015: Visit to Ohrid (optional post-conference event) December 15, 2015: Final paper submission deadline April 1, 2016: Results from the review of submitted papers Until the end of 2016: Publication of accepted and reviewed papers Propositions Papers proposals Submissions of abstracts (up to 250 words), short bios (up to 100 words) may be made online, by filling the form http://cultcenter.net/?wpgform_qv=2011 Or, you can send paper proposals offline. Please, download the form (MS WORD document), fill it in and send it by e-mail to conference(a)cultcenter.net <mailto:conference@cultcenter.net> . You can download the form from here: http://cultcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Registration-form-Identity… The abstracts should not be longer than 250 words (1720 characters). Panel proposals We welcome proposals for panel discussions, especially panels organized by internationally recognized experts that aim to gather a group of researchers around one topic or subject. That will achieve interaction between the panelists and the other participants in the conference. The panels are an important segment of the Conference. Submissions of abstracts (up to 250 words), short bios (up to 100 words) may be made online, by filling the form http://cultcenter.net/?wpgform_qv=2011 Also, you can send panel proposals offline. Please, download the form (MS WORD document), fill it in and send it by e-mail to conference(a)cultcenter.net <mailto:conference@cultcenter.net> . You can download the form from here: http://cultcenter.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Registration-form-Identity… The abstracts should not be longer than 250 words (1720 characters). Abstracts can be submitted in English, Russian or Macedonian language, depending on the language of presentation of the paper. Selection and publishing of papers The participants shall have 15 minutes to present his/her report. Five minutes Q&A session shall be reserved for every presentation. The papers have to be original and to not have been published previously or presented at an earlier conference. The abstracts shall be reviewed by the organization committee of the Conference, in accordance with international standards for scientific publications. The papers that will receive positive reviews shall be published in the online peer-reviewed journal Investing Culture during 2016. Selected full text papers with high-impact shall be published in the international peer-reviewed journal Култура/Culture (in both the print and online editions). The paper selection will be carried out during the peer review process as well as at the conference presentation stage. The final decision for paper selection will be made based on peer review reports by the editorial board and conference board jointly. Participation Fees Early registration: till May 1st, 2015: €40 Registration: May 2nd – June 15, 2015: €60 Late registration: On‐site registration (or after June 15, 2015): €80 If presentations have multiple authors, participation fee is needed for each author, to cover the cost of materials. The conference fee include conference materials, use of presentation equipment, refreshments, the welcome party, online Book of Abstracts, the review of the submitted papers and the publication of accepted full text papers The participants are expected to cover their travel and accommodation costs. For additional information please contact Dr Mishel Pavlovski or Dr Loreta Georgievska – Jakovleva on email conference(a)cultcenter.net <mailto:conference@cultcenter.net> For more information, visit the website of the Centre for Culture and Cultural Studies http://www.cultcenter.net/ Best regards, Loreta Georgievska Jakovleva Dr. Loreta Georgievska - Jakovleva Full professor Saints Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje Institute for Macedonian Literature <http://iml.edu.mk/> http://iml.edu.mk Centre for Culture and Cultural Studies <http://cultcenter.net/> http://cultcenter.net/

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More than 100 academics & activist endorse this statement against growing xenophobia...
by Sanaz Raji 01 Dec '14

01 Dec '14

In a letter published today in Ceasefire, *more than a hundred UK academics, activists, and students write* in to raise the alarm over Home Office policies towards non-EU colleagues and students, and warn that such policies are not only discriminatory but are causing irreparable damage to British higher education. To view the statement, please go to this link: http://ceasefiremagazine.co.uk/state-imposed-persecution-uks-international-… To *sign the petition via Change.org*, please click on this link: https://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-david-cameron-mp-stop-victimising-non-eu-sc… Many thanks to all those who signed the statement. Best wishes: Sanaz -- Sanaz Raji +44 (0) 780 7873 550 Web: http://leeds.academia.edu/SanazRaji

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New Issue of "Online - Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet"
by Simone Heidbrink 01 Dec '14

01 Dec '14

Dear all, The editors of "online - Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet" (http://online.uni-hd.de) are pleased to announce the publication of a new issue, featuring a broad range of articles on all different aspects of religion online such as digital media religiosity, online jihad on /Facebook/, Christianity in /Second Life/, religious topics in fan fiction, Kopimism, trans-European adaptions on Neo-Orthodox Tibetan Buddhism, Jainism online, Muslim Women on /YouTube/ and online religion in contemporary Georgia. In January a new special issue on "Religion in Digital Games - Reloaded" will follow. The journal is always keen to collect high quality scholarship on issues relating to religions on the Internet and welcomes submissions pertaining to all aspects of theses matters anytime to be published in one of our next issues. Submissions and queries should be send to the following address: online.religion(a)zegk.uni-heidelberg.de. Best regards on behalf of the editors Simone Heidbrink (secretary to the editorial board) -- Simone Heidbrink, M.A. Institut für Religionswissenschaft Zentrum für Europäische Geschichts- und Kulturwissenschaften (ZEGK) Universität Heidelberg Akademiestr. 4-8 D - 69117 Heidelberg fon: ++49-(0)6221-54 74 82 fax: ++49-(0)6221-54 76 24

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CFP - Extending Play: The Sequel
by Heewon Kim 01 Dec '14

01 Dec '14

Please consider submitting your work to our second Extending Play conference. Apologies for cross-posting! *** TITLE: Extending Play: The Sequel (Deadline extended to Dec 12) *Are we the species that plays—or are we better understood as the species that repeats?* Walter Benjamin suggests that, “For a child repetition is the soul of play.” Is playalways at its core a form of *re-*play, an iteration of an earlier moment that resists a complete recurrence, yet is found in a series or sequence? We accept replication as a matter of course: Successful games and films always already have a sequelin the works, fashion is fueled by a recycling of its past, and images are increasingly manipulated to mimic the earlier eras of photographic technique. But what is the impact of these repeats, echoes, and continuations? And how do we understand the experience of play as a chain of sequels in the age of digital surrogates, cybernetic archives and networks of distributed storage? *Extending Play: The Sequel* asks how conceptions of repetition, iteration, mimesis, chronography and sequence emerge through the dynamics and modalities of play in an increasingly repetitive, yet always playful world. We aim to continue the mission of the previous Extending Play conference, to entertain all approaches to the traditions, roles, and contexts of play that extend its definition and incorporation into far-flung and unexpected arenas. With The Sequel, we hope to focus on how play is culturally reproduced, repeated, continued, remixed, recycled, resequenced, and reimagined, and how play re-orders issues of power, affect, labor, identity, and privacy. *We invite scholars, students, tinkerers, artists, visionaries, and players* to the second iteration of the Rutgers Media Studies Conference: Extending Play, to be held April 17th and 18th, 2015 on the Rutgers University campus in New Brunswick, NJ. Submissions are welcomed from scholars working in media studies and related fields across the humanities and social sciences. Our keynote conversations will include a conversation between Miguel Sicart <http://miguelsicart.net/> (IT University of Copenhagen) and Anna Anthropy <http://auntiepixelante.com/> (Author, "Rise of the Video Game Zinesters"). Also, Marcus Boon <http://marcusboon.com/> (York University) will discuss the play of repetition with another guest who will be announced soon! *Potential topics* for paper, panel, roundtable, and workshop submissions include, but are not limited to: --Sequels, serials, remakes, covers, reprints, reissues, remixes, remasters, reprises, series, and sagas --Media industries, including the business of sequels, franchises, and brands --Social media and re-circulation, including memes, retweets, repins, and reblogs --Resequencing, repetition, and the news industry --Biomedia, genetic sequencing, and clones --Sequels and repetition in history and historical knowledge, including global conflict, archives, and dynasties --Mimicry, mimesis, and mirroring --Repetition, continuation, and sequencing in digital networks, databases, and big data approaches --Cultural Studies, Media Studies, Game Studies, Fan Studies, Critical Cultural Studies, Critical Media Studies, Critical Game Studies, and more! Rutgers Media Studies Conference Extending Play: The Sequel promises to offer a memorable meeting of ludic inquiry, and to that end, we are looking to play with standard conference conventions. One track throughout the conference will be a series of public workshop sessions in which scholars and practitioners will host roundtable discussions on contemporary issues that bring together an audience of experts and interested parties. In the academic panel track, each presenter will have a maximum of 15 minutes to offer his or her ideas as a presentation or interactive conversation, and will choose one of the following *methods of presentation:* --material accompaniment (hand out a zine, scrapbook, postcards, etc) --performance (spoken word, song, verse, dance, recording, etc) --limited visuals (a maximum of 3 slides and 25 total words) --game (create rules and incorporate audience play) For additional ideas on how to play with media, play with time, or play with space during your presentation, visit our website at mediacon.rutgers.edu. *The deadline for proposals is Friday, December 12, 2014.* We invite individual proposals, full panel proposals (of four members), and proposals for roundtable and workshop sessions. Please use the submission form on our website at http://mediacon.rutgers.edu/submit/ . If you would like to submit supplementary materials, or have trouble with the form, please send a 256 word abstract to extendingplay(a)gmail.com. Notifications of acceptance will be sent out byFebruary 1, 2015. -- ----------------------------------------------- Heewon Kim (ABD) Lecturer Department of Communication School of Communication & Information Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey -----------------------------------------------

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Re: [Air-L] Social Media data fraught with biases and distortion
by Jeff Hemsley 01 Dec '14

01 Dec '14

My reaction has been similar to yours Elijah. Yes. Social Media is fraught with bias, and yep, so are just about all other kinds of data. I do think it is somewhat unfortunate that the write up makes it sound like no one has thought about these data limitations. There are plenty AoIRers who have talked and even written critically about big data. Still, I think it's good that the paper came out. I do read plenty of 'big data' papers that gloss over or completely fail to mention any limitations. On Mon, Dec 1, 2014 at 11:32 AM, Elijah Wright <elijah.wright(a)gmail.com> wrote: > My reaction to that title is scorn and the impulse to point out that > all data has biases, and statistics is how you turn raw data into > insights about *the data*. > > After a little more consideration, I think the press release is much > more reasonable than the title makes it out to be. Yes, it's very > common that people want to make it implicit that social media is a > good representation of reality. It ain't necessarily so, folks! :) > And a great big "Yes! That!" to inbuilt sampling bias and "black box" > views of available data - these are very real problems that can come > along with complexity and huge rivers of data. :) > > (To reply to Peter Timusk's other reply to this post -- yes, lots of > people write bad papers. Not worth worrying about, really. It's a > shame, but... what can you do? Best thing is always to do our own, > superlative work, and just be model citizens of the ecosystem :) ) > > best, > > --e > > > > On Sun, Nov 30, 2014 at 1:35 PM, Katja Mayer <katja.mayer(a)univie.ac.at> wrote: >> FYI: >> http://www.sciencemag.org/content/346/6213/1063.summary >> >> From the press release: >> Using Social Media For Large Behavioral Studies Is Fast and Cheap, But >> Fraught With Biases and Distortion >> >> PITTSBURGH—The rise of social media has seemed like a bonanza for behavioral >> scientists, who have eagerly tapped the social nets to quickly and cheaply >> gather huge amounts of data about what people are thinking and doing. But >> computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University and McGill University warn >> that those massive datasets may be misleading. >> In a perspective article published in the Nov. 28 issue of the journal >> Science, Carnegie Mellon’s Juergen Pfeffer and McGill’s Derek Ruths contend >> that scientists need to find ways of correcting for the biases inherent in >> the information gathered from Twitter and other social media, or to at least >> acknowledge the shortcomings of that data. >> >> And it’s not an insignificant problem; Pfeffer, an assistant research >> professor in CMU’s Institute for Software Research, and Ruths, an assistant >> professor of computer science at McGill, note that thousands of research >> papers each year are now based on data gleaned from social media, a source >> of data that barely existed even five years ago. >> “Not everything that can be labeled as ‘Big Data’ is automatically great,” >> Pfeffer said. He noted that many researchers think — or hope — that if they >> gather a large enough dataset they can overcome any biases or distortion >> that might lurk there. “But the old adage of behavioral research still >> applies: Know Your Data,” he maintained. >> Still, social media is a source of data that is hard to resist. “People want >> to say something about what’s happening in the world and social media is a >> quick way to tap into that,” Pfeffer said. Following the Boston Marathon >> bombing in 2013, for instance, Pfeffer collected 25 million related tweets >> in just two weeks. “You get the behavior of millions of people — for free.” >> >> The type of questions that researchers can now tackle can be compelling. >> Want to know how people perceive e-cigarettes? How people communicate their >> anxieties about diabetes? Whether the Arab Spring protests could have been >> predicted? Social media is a ready source for information about those >> questions and more. >> But despite researchers’ attempts to generalize their study results to a >> broad population, social media sites often have substantial population >> biases; generating the random samples that give surveys their power to >> accurately reflect attitudes and behavior is problematic. Instagram, for >> instance, has special appeal to adults between the ages of 18 and 29, >> African-Americans, Latinos, women and urban dwellers, while Pinterest is >> dominated by women between the ages of 25 and 34 with average household >> incomes of $100,000. Yet Ruths and Pfeffer said researchers seldom >> acknowledge, much less correct, these built-in sampling biases. >> >> Other questions about data sampling may never be resolved because social >> media sites use proprietary algorithms to create or filter their data >> streams and those algorithms are subject to change without warning. Most >> researchers are left in the dark, though others with special relationships >> to the sites may get a look at the site’s inner workings. The rise of these >> “embedded researchers,” Ruths and Pfeffer said, in turn is creating a >> divided social media research community. >> As anyone who has used social media can attest, not all “people” on these >> sites are even people. Some are professional writers or public relations >> representatives, who post on behalf of celebrities or corporations, others >> are simply phantom accounts. Some “followers” can be bought. The social >> media sites try to hunt down and eliminate such bogus accounts — half of all >> Twitter accounts created in 2013 have already been deleted — but a lone >> researcher may have difficulty detecting those accounts within a dataset. >> >> “Most people doing real social science are aware of these issues,” said >> Pfeffer who noted that some solutions may come from applying existing >> techniques already developed in such fields as epidemiology, statistics and >> machine learning. In other cases, scientists will need to develop new >> techniques for managing analytic bias. >> _______________________________________________ >> The Air-L(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list >> is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org >> Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: >> http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org >> >> Join the Association of Internet Researchers: >> http://www.aoir.org/ > _______________________________________________ > The Air-L(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list > is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org > Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org > > Join the Association of Internet Researchers: > http://www.aoir.org/ -- Jeff Hemsley Assistant Professor School of Information Studies Syracuse University

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