October 2015 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

CFP: Haptic Media Studies - Extended Deadline
by Jason Archer 29 Oct '15

29 Oct '15

*CFP: Haptic Media Studies* Call for papers for a themed issue of NEW MEDIA & SOCIETY Guest editors: David Parisi, Mark Paterson, and Jason Archer Abstracts due (400-500 words): November 8, 2015 Interacting with, navigating, and manipulating media has always depended on touch--whether turning pages, folding paper, depressing buttons, typing on keys, or twisting knobs, there is always an act of touching at the heart of mediated communication. The recent rise of touchscreen and gestural interfaces, mobile computing, video gaming, wearable communication devices, and emerging virtual reality platforms disrupts the previous material stability of these media interfaces, prompting the adoption of new, embodied navigational habits. At the material level, we now touch media in novel ways, becoming accustomed to their shape, size, texture, temperature, and weight, while also learning to be receptive to the signals media objects transmit to us through a hitherto seemingly dormant tactile channel. Media Studies, under the sway of an ocularcentrism operating in western culture more broadly, has long neglected considerations of touch, however. Insofar as it does attend to hapticality or tactility, the discipline frequently mobilizes an ideologically-loaded, intuitionistic theory that assigns this sense modality an essential set of immutable physiological qualities. Unlike visuality, which admits of some complexity with regard to the modality of sight and its dominance in the sensory hierarchy, especially within dedicated fields of scholarship such as ‘visual culture’, hapticality seems by contrast unwavering and constant, grounded in the body’s stable biological reality. Lacking a formalized, comprehensive, empirically-grounded account of touch’s historical and cultural life, Media Studies feeds forward the idea that touch is physiologically immediate and by its nature experiential, and consequently exists outside of—and above—history and culture. By contrast, empirically-informed accounts of touch outside of Media Studies render altogether different, and far more dynamic, conceptions of touch: Sensory Anthropology, Art History, Literary Theory, Computer Science, Education, Cognitive Science, and Architecture each approach touch with priorities and biases idiosyncratic to their fields. It is to foster a tradition of Media Studies that locates touch at the starting point of its analysis that we seek contributions around the theme of Haptic Media Studies. Like the fields of Sound Studies and Visual Culture before it, a touch-oriented media studies emerges as “an intellectual reaction to changes in culture and technology” (Sterne, “Sonic Imaginations,” 3). Our project here is to reconsider or rewrite extant accounts of media and thereby emphasize a previously-neglected sensory dimension of mediatic experience. Inevitably, such a reorientation will involve a new set of theoretical questions, historical considerations, interdisciplinary connections, and research methods to arrive at a theoretically literate and empirically-grounded understanding of mediatic touch. At the outset of this endeavor, then, it is tempting to offer a haptocentric Media Studies as a counterpoint to the ocularcentric, and more recently, aural-centric ones that it attempts to displace. Instead, perhaps we think of this not so much as a displacement through re-centering, but as a new orientation for Media Studies that prompts us to be attentive to the haptic relations always already at the core of mediatic experiences. By advancing a touch-oriented tradition of Media Studies we hope to help make the field adequate to the shifting configuration of media interfacing practices, expanding its borders outward to encompass a sensory modality previously treated in a largely haphazard and piecemeal fashion. Further, by building upon and synthesizing the accounts of touch scattered throughout the works of media and communication theorists such as Marshall McLuhan, John Durham Peters, Mark B. N. Hansen, Richard Grusin, W. J. T. Mitchell, and Erkki Huhtamo, this new orientation to the haptic positions Media Studies to productively contribute to the conversations about touch that occur outside its disciplinary borders. *Possible topics include, but are not limited to:* - Touchscreen remediations of ‘old’ media interfaces (print, radio, television, telephone, telegraph, typewriter) - Triangulations of gender, media, and touch - Touch’s role in mobile and location-based digital media - Haptics and past/present/future virtual reality systems (especially at the dawn of a new generation of VR products - Oculus, HTC Vive, Morpheus/PlayStation VR) - Tactile and haptic aspects of predigital and 'dead' media interfaces (buttons, keys, knobs, dials, sliders, levers, pages) - Submodalities and divisions of touch (active/passive; cutaneous/kinaesthetic) - Accepted/assumed divisions between touch and the other senses - Assumed hierarchies of the senses - Cybersex/teledildonics and technologies of mediated sexuality (Vivid’s CyberSex Suit, the RealTouch, OhMiBod) - Haptic interface and haptic display technologies, including scientific, aesthetic, medical, and cultural applications - Semiotic functions of touch in media - Formal and informal regulations around communicative or social touching - Touch and tactility in videogames - Tactile/haptic/gestural metaphors/iconography operating in digital media (e.g. ‘poking,’ ‘thumbs up’) - The role of haptic aesthetics in considerations of media design - Cross-cultural comparisons of media touch - Media, touch, and disability (e.g. sensory substitution systems, prosthetics) - Changes in touch practices associated with touch-oriented media (e.g. children’s altered tactile engagement with non-digital forms of visual media due to the use of touchscreen) - The tactile Internet Please send abstracts (400-500 words) to David Parisi (parisid[at]cofc.edu) and Jason Archer (jarche2[at]uic.edu) by Sunday, November 8. The editors will invite full papers from selected submissions by mid-November, with full papers of 6000-8000 words to be submitted for editorial review by February 15. It is anticipated that the special issue will be published online by late 2016, and in print by mid 2017.

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Re: [Air-L] Ideas on in-class activity on memes?
by Kathleen Stansberry 29 Oct '15

29 Oct '15

For something fun, hands on, and creative, consider using the site https://imgflip.com/memegenerator to have students create their own meme then share it with the class. I've had success doing a brief (10-15 minute) discussion on popular memes, then uploading a photo of the school mascot doing something silly to imgflip and having students add their own captions. They typically come up with inside jokes about the school, which can lead to a discussion about how memes require some level of shared knowledge or common assumptions. Also, it's a good exercise to show how memes are built on a common idea or piece of content and that creativity can thrive within prescribed boundaries. -----Original Message----- From: Air-L [mailto:air-l-bounces@listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Liz Crocker Sent: Wednesday, October 28, 2015 6:05 PM To: Jesse Littlewood <jesse.littlewood(a)gmail.com> Cc: List Aoir <Air-L(a)listserv.aoir.org> Subject: Re: [Air-L] Ideas on in-class activity on memes? It could be fun to focus on one particular meme per group and have them do research to see variation acceptability and change over time. They could look at submissions for sites like reddit (/r/adviceanimals being an obvious suggestion) to see what gets upvoted or downvoted and see if they can tease out what aspects make that particular form successful or unsuccessful. Are there in-jokes that index in-group belonging? Pop culture references? What is too tame and what is too obscene? How does timing play a role? Are current iterations of the meme the same as earlier ones and how can they chart those shifts over time? It would be easy enough to pull in some theory or levels of analysis you've already used in the course. Then, once they think they've figured it out have them create a reddit account, make their own meme, and post. They'd probably have a blast seeing how their experiment turns out. Maybe even offer some Halloween candy or a bonus point for whichever team's meme does the best. I look forward to seeing other suggestions! Liz Crocker Graduate Research Assistant Division of Emerging Media Studies PhD Candidate Department of Anthropology Boston University On Wed, Oct 28, 2015 at 12:20 PM, Jesse Littlewood < jesse.littlewood(a)gmail.com> wrote: > I'm a lurker here (and only part-time lecturer) and trying to overcome > my own Afraid to Ask Andy <https://i.imgflip.com/t9h5b.jpg> I thought > would throw this out: my social media <http://exp50.com> undergraduate > course has time for an in-class activity around internet memes. Given > ~45 minutes, what would you do to have students explore how/why and > impact of internet memes? > > I would say the goals are to drive the "folk culture" aspect of memes, > digging into what makes them "work" and set up how #brands are trying > to take advantage of that folk culture (and often failing). > > Some thoughts I have: A structured create-a-meme -- e.g. here's a > mission, create some memes about it (have the class review it?); a > treasure-hunt online? > > Would love any other ideas here or off-list, and my thanks. > Jesse > about.me/jesse.littlewood > _______________________________________________ > 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/

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Conference = AWESOME!
by Heinz, Lisa 28 Oct '15

28 Oct '15

I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who worked so hard to make #IR16 such a fabulous first conference for this doctoral student. I was inspired, validated, and entertained the entire time I was there. Alexander, you and your crew succeeded swimmingly. Thank you so much! Now, looking toward Berlin... ~~Lisa ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lisa M. Heinz PhD Student E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Ohio University, Scripps College of Communication @LivingRural on Twitter Sent from my iPhone

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Platform Journal NEW ISSUE: A manifesto for cyborgs thirty years on
by Thao Phan 28 Oct '15

28 Oct '15

*Platform: Journal of Media and Communicatio*n is an open-access online graduate publication. Founded and published by the Media and Communications Program, School of Culture and Communication, at the University of Melbourne. + NEW ISSUE + A Manifesto for Cyborgs thirty years on: Gender, technology and feminist-technoscience in the twenty-first century, edited by Thao Phan available online from http://platformjmc.com/ *Introduction* Thao Phan, University of Melbourne *Guest editorial *–* The Cyborg, its Manifesto, and their relevance today: Some reflections* Zoë Sofoulis – University of Western Sydney *We have never been Homo sapiens: CandidaHomo naturecultures* Tarsh Bates, The University of Western Australia *Cyborg Anamnesis: #Accelerate’s Feminist Prototypes* Emma Wilson, University of Queensland *Imagining the cyborg in Náhuatl: Reading the videos of Pola Weiss through Haraway’s Manifesto for Cyborgs* Gabriela Aceves Sepúlveda, Simon Fraser University *Going Commando: Prosthetics and the Politics of Gender* Ruby Grant, University of Tasmania *Queer Science: Queering the Cyborg in MyMy* Anna Helme, Victorian College of the Arts *General Section* *The Age of Sympathy: Re-examining discourses of Muslim terrorism in Hollywood beyond the ‘pre-’ and ‘post-9/11’ dichotomy* Jay Reid, University of Adelaide *Game Studies, Aesthetics, and Active Objects: An Interview with Graeme Kirkpatrick* Ben Nicoll, University of Melbourne ----------- http://platformjmc.com/ platformjmc(a)gmail.com

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Book recommendations for social media course
by Michael Pennell 27 Oct '15

27 Oct '15

Hi all, In the spring, I'll be teaching a 200-level course titled "Social Media: Theory, Culture, Politics, Practice." The course fulfills our university's core requirement in humanities. I'm sure many on this list have taught a recent course similar to this, so I'd appreciate any book or reading suggestions you might offer. My goal is to have one, maybe two, required books and numerous readings available online or as files on our course site. Thanks in advance-- Mike ____________________________________________ Mike Pennell Associate Professor Department of Writing, Rhetoric, & Digital Studies University of Kentucky

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L@S announces keynotes: Koedinger, Sharples, Mitra. (deadline fast approaching Oct 31)
by Vitomir Kovanovic 27 Oct '15

27 Oct '15

[on behalf of Learning@Scale program committee] ** apologies for cross-posting ** Learning@Scale is proud to host three fantastic keynote speakers this year: - Sugar Mitra Professor of Educational Technology Winner of the 2013 TED Prize Newcastle University, UK - Mike Sharples Chair in Educational Technology Institute of Educational Technology The Open University, UK - Ken Koedinger Professor of Human Computer Interaction and Psychology Director, Pittsburgh Science of Learning Centre Carnegie Mellon University, USA The conference will be held Edinburgh on April 25-26, 2016. As a reminder, submission deadline is fast approaching - October 31st. Learning@Scale focuses on studying learning at scale and how best to support it. We invite excellent papers that focus on innovation, technology, and pedagogy at scale. These could be based on big data or on small-scale studies of phenomena that apply at scale. See details here: http://learningatscale.acm.org/las2016/ Best, Learning@Scale program chairs - Vincent Aleven - Judy Kay - Ido Roll -- The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

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screen casting on tablets and PCs without video files
by Eric Lawrence Tsetsi 27 Oct '15

27 Oct '15

Hello all, I'm working on a study that involves recording (or somehow capturing) user interactions on Android tablet devices (Samsung Nexus). Does anyone happen to know of a good way to do this? I'm hoping to avoid having to analyze a bunch of video on the back end, so if there's anything that takes screenshots and saves them, that would be great. But at this point I'm considering all options. Also, I am also interested in if anyone has suggestions for good screen casting options for PCs that don't involve video files. Thank you, Eric _______________________ Eric Tsetsi, Graduate Teaching Assistant Department of Communication 1103 E. University Blvd. University of Arizona erictsetsi(a)email.arizona.edu

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Re: [Air-L] Book recommendations for social media course
by Magdalena Olszanowski 27 Oct '15

27 Oct '15

Nathan Rambukkana edited a great comprehensive collection called Hashtag Publics that was just published. It's got twenty chapters which are all ready for classroom use. http://www.amazon.ca/Hashtag-Publics-Politics-Discursive-Networks/dp/143312… ———————————————————— Hi all, In the spring, I'll be teaching a 200-level course titled "Social Media: Theory, Culture, Politics, Practice." The course fulfills our university's core requirement in humanities. I'm sure many on this list have taught a recent course similar to this, so I'd appreciate any book or reading suggestions you might offer. My goal is to have one, maybe two, required books and numerous readings available online or as files on our course site. Thanks in advance-- Mike Magdalena Olszanowski, SSHRC/FQRSC Fellow Part-Time Faculty Communication Studies / Women's Studies Concordia University Montréal, QC

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intersectional analysis of feminist hackerspaces
by Magdalena Olszanowski 27 Oct '15

27 Oct '15

One of my senior undergrad students is working on a project ~:Exploring Feminist Hackerspace~ about feminist hackerspaces (in Montreal and beyond), and has a strong focus on women and gender dynamics in computing and the hackerspace movement. However, she needs more of an intersectional analysis and I'm wondering if anyone has any sources they can recommend. Thank you! ———————————————————— Magdalena Olszanowski, SSHRC/FQRSC Fellow Part-Time Faculty Communication Studies / Women's Studies Concordia University Montréal, QC

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ICA 2016 Call for Panelists
by Kristin Dagmar Eckert 27 Oct '15

27 Oct '15

Hi everyone I am looking for panelists for a panel on Feminisms/Feminists in/from Asia for the ICA Conference in Fukuoka, Japan in 2016. This panel will address the specific feminisms that are occurring in the different countries in the vast continent of Asia. It will include Asian feminist scholars (including from India) and feminist activists and research from scholars that are studying and addressing contemporary feminist issues in communication and media. Topics will address but not be limited to: social media use by feminists in Asia; the role of governments in gender/women's/feminist issues; feminists responses via media and communication on societal issues; protests and resistances; accomplishments and failures of feminists media production, distribution and consumption; violence against women/feminists and others. While the focus is on contemporary issues, topics can also include the histories of feminisms in different Asian countries and contexts and how they relate to current feminist expressions, campaigns and phenomena. If you are interested in participating, please e-mail me off-list at stine.eckert(a)wayne.edu by this Friday, Oct. 30 with a 150-250 summary of which study/issue you would address, your affiliation (university and rank/title, advanced Ph.D. students are welcome) and a brief bio. Thank you very much. Stine Eckert, Ph.D. Vice-Chair Feminist Scholarship Division, ICA Assistant Professor Department of Communication 571 Manoogian Hall Wayne State University Detroit, MI 48201 @stineeckert http://stineeckert.com/ Stine Eckert, Ph.D. Vice-Chair Feminist Scholarship Division, ICA Assistant Professor Department of Communication 571 Manoogian Hall Wayne State University Detroit, MI 48201 @stineeckert http://stineeckert.com/ https://wikidgrrls.wordpress.com/

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