June 2023 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

CFP || Global Media and China_Special Issue_Games, Play and Fictional/Virtual Worlds in China
by Xiao Han 19 Jun '23

19 Jun '23

Dear All, *Global Media and China CFP * (Follow us at: https://twitter.com/GCHjournal) **** NO PAYMENT FROM AUTHORS* *Special Issue: Games, Play and Fictional/Virtual Worlds in China* *Guest Editor: Dino Ge Zhang*, Visiting Assistant Professor of School of Creative Media, City University of Hong Kong. *dino.zhang(a)cityu.edu.hk <dino.zhang(a)cityu.edu.hk>* *Time Schedule* 31 July 2023, deadline for submitting abstracts; 20 August 2023, sending invitations to submit to authors; 20 February 2024, full paper submission; 20 May 2024, peer review reports sent to authors; 20 July 2024, final paper submission to Global Media and China. *Submission* Please submit the abstract to *dino.zhang(a)cityu.edu.hk <dino.zhang(a)cityu.edu.hk>* Description This special issue of Global Media and China broadly speaking investigates the emergent and historical ludic practices, playthings, and virtual or fictional worlds in contemporary China. The special issue is first and foremost grounded in previous scholarly work in the fields of media and games studies—for instance, the political, cultural and socioeconomic history of PC-based MMOGs and Esports (Zhang, 2013; Zhang & Fung 2014; Szablewicz 2016; Chew 2019; for more recent rise of mobile games, see Adams 2022) as well as an intellectual history of Chinese game studies (Inwood 2022; Liboriussen & Martin 2016). However, the issue is especially inclusive towards newer or marginal hardware from mobile to handheld to retro consoles, software from pirate to indie to platforms, play forms from tabletop games to VR games, and emergent (sub)cultures and underground gaming communities, as well as alternative histories of play and games (e.g. gaming histories predates the rise of MMOs in the early 2000s), and fictional practices of worldbuilding in digital/online as well as physical/in-real-life (IRL) games in China from the metaverse to LARP (Live Action Role Playing) games. Following the exemplary efforts by Marc Steinberg (2017) in representing media theory in Japan, this special issue is set against the universalist impulse of game studies and media theory. We encourage meticulous case studies from local and regional contexts, theories and history of play, games and worldbuilding situated and emergent in China’s own media ecology, and intellectual reflections or criticisms from anywhere in between. The issue therefore welcomes a broad range of contributions, exploring both historical and new play practices, digital and IRL fictional/virtual worlds from the perspectives of the industry, intellectual/artistic practices, and player communities. The topics include but not limited to: - Intellectual history of Chinese-language game studies including game criticism - play practices, literary experiments and contemporary art - Local game histories from pirate hardware, console hacking, to paraphernalia - Indie games and games development in domestic and international markets - Chinese gaming platforms including both hardware and software - AR/VR games in China - Metaverse and Worldbuilding in China - Impact of mobile games on everyday life - Localisation of tabletop and board game cultures - National and regional Esports cultures - Let’s Play videos, Vtubers, and videogame livestreams - Gender politics in gaming, but not limited to digital games - Fictional worldbuilding and fantasy worlds in LARP (Live Action Role Playing) such as Jubensha *References:* Adams, M. (2022). Tech Otakus Save the World?. British Journal of Chinese Studies, 12(2), 188-208. Chew, M. M. (2019). A Critical Cultural History of Online Games in China, 1995–2015. Games and Culture, 14(3), 195–215. Inwood, H. (2022). Towards Sinophone Game Studies. British Journal of Chinese Studies, 12(2), 1-10. Liboriussen, B., & Martin, P. (2016). Special Issue: Games and Gaming in China. Games and Culture, 11(3), 227–232. Steinberg, M. (2017). Media Theory in Japan. Duke University Press. s Szablewicz, M. (2016). A Realm of Mere Representation? ‘“Live”’ E-Sports Spectacles and the Crafting of China’s Digital Gaming Image. Games and Culture, 11(3), 256–274. Zhang, L. (2013). Productive vs. Pathological: The Contested Space of Video Games in Post-Reform China (1980s – 2012). International Journal of Communication, 7, 2391–2411. Zhang, L., & Fung, A. (2013). Working as playing? Consumer labor, guild and the secondary industry of online gaming in China. New Media & Society, 16(1), 38–54.

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Still time to register: Content Moderation and Its Discontents, 23 June
by Jacob Johanssen 19 Jun '23

19 Jun '23

Registration closing today *Content Moderation and Its Discontents* Organised by Jacob Johanssen (St. Mary’s University), Daniela Nadj (St. Mary’s University), Susanne Benzel (Sigmund Freud Institute) St. Mary’s University, 23 June 2023, 9am-6.20pm BST Shannon 1 + 2 and Zoom Registration and more information: https://www.stmarys.ac.uk/events/2023/06/content-moderation-conference *Conference Programme * *9-9.45am Registration and coffee 9.45am Introduction * Jacob Johanssen (St. Mary’s University), Daniela Nadj (St. Mary’s University), Susanne Benzel (Sigmund Freud Institute) *10-11.20am Harassment and hate speech* Thi Gammon (King’s College London) - Hate content and online shaming of showbiz celebrities in Vietnam: The case study of Tran Thanh Eirliani Abdul Rahman (Harvard University) - “You all belong in jail!” – Stochastic harassment on Twitter Elizabeth Farries and Eugenia Siapera (UCD Centre for Digital Policy) - Platformed misogyny and the limits of regulation: Cancel culture and shadow banning *11.30am-12.30pm Keynote* Phoebe Moore and Peter Bloom (University of Essex) - The new normal: Content moderation during and after the Pandemic 12.30-2pm Lunch *2-3.20pm Frameworks and methods* Gergely Gosztonyi (Eötvös Loránd University) and Gergely Ferenc Lendvai (Pázmány Péter Catholic University) - “Censored, cancelled, annulled” – A comprehensive, interdisciplinary overview of the legal implications and regulatory framework regarding censorship and cancel culture Yang Yu (Tsinghua University), Yan Lu (Tsinghua University) and Wei Ming Ye (Peking University) - Audit the account deletion's impact on compliant users on social media Emillie V. de Keulenaar (University of Groningen) - After deplatforming: The return of trace research for the study of platform effects 3.20-3.40pm Coffee break *3.40-5pm Psychoanalytic approaches* Marilyn Charles (Austen Riggs Center) - Tyranny of the shoulds: The press towards conformity Greta Kaluzeviciute (Vilnius University) - Digital archeo-analysis: ‘Digging’ past reflections, ‘shaping’ present narratives Clint Burnham (Simon Fraser University) - From shitstorm to Schmittstorm: Or, no, there still is no big Other *5pm-6.20pm Case studies* Max Lasse Schaefer (University of Edinburgh) - How is evidence presented and formed in an incel echo chamber? Klara Avsec (Lund University) - Deplatforming and competitive victimhood Alois Sieben (Simon Fraser University) - Infinite intimacy: The Möbius strip of content in Mary South’s “You Will Never Be Forgotten”

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Two funded PhD studentships @ the ESRC Digital Good Network
by Helen Kennedy 18 Jun '23

18 Jun '23

Dear friends and colleagues The ESRC Digital Good Network <https://digitalgood.net/> has two funded PhD studentships, starting in autumn this year. The Digital Good Network asks: what does a good digital society look like and how do we get there. It focuses on equity, sustainability and (critical/collective) resilience and their interconnections. More information about our vision <https://digitalgood.net/about/our-vision/> can be found on our website. One PhD student will be supervised by me, and the other by my fanstastic colleague Ros Williams <https://digitalgood.net/team/ros-williams/>. Second supervisors will come from our amazing network Management Team <https://digitalgood.net/about/management-team/>. If you have excellent MA students looking for a funded PhD studentship in a relevant area, please pass this information on. The advert/application instructions are here <https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/towards-a-good-digital-society/?p1585…>, and the deadline for applying is 26th June. Best wishes Helen -- Helen Kennedy, Director, ESRC Digital Good Network <https://digitalgood.net/>, @digitalgoodnet Professor of Digital Society, @hmtk, Living With Data <https://livingwithdata.org/>, she/her Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences <https://acss.org.uk/> *LATEST PUBLICATIONS: * Socially meaningful transparency in data-based systems: reflections and proposals from practice <https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JD-01-2023-0006/full/ht…> (2023, w/Jo Bates, Itzelle Medina Perea, Susan Oman, Lulu Pinney, *Journal of Documentation*) Generic visuals of Covid-19 in the news: Invoking banal belonging through symbolic reiteration <https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13678779211061415>(2022, w/Giorgia Aiello, Chris W Anderson, Camilla Mørk Røstvik, *I**nternational Journal of Cultural Studies*.

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Data professionals within the Dutch national police and their data practices
by Schaefer, M.T. (Mirko) 17 Jun '23

17 Jun '23

Dear colleagues, here's a recent publication spearheaded by Isabelle Fest, PhD candidate at Utrecht University's Police Lab, in which she inquired how data professionals within the Dutch police respond to data ethical issues. Understanding Data Professionals in the Police: A Qualitative Study of System-Level Bureaucrats ABSTRACT Through the introduction of algorithmic systems into police organizations, a new employee emerged: the data professional. Contrary to street-level officers, little is known of the discretionary power of these system-level bureaucrats. Our qualitative research into the Netherlands Police provides a first empirical and theoretical understanding. The study shows that data professionals exert discretion and are aware of public values, but their value-sensitivity often does not translate into responsible practices. Data professionals use a variety of arguments to dissociate themselves from, or downplay, their responsibilities. We conclude that this distancing hampers the connection between the discretion and responsibility of data professionals. Open Access here: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14719037.2023.2222734?scroll=t… Mirko Tobias Schäfer | Associate Professor | Faculty of Science Lead at Data School | Department of Information & Computing Sciences | Utrecht University | ICS | Princetonplein 5 | 3584 CC Utrecht | M: m.t.schaefer(a)uu.nl<mailto:m.t.schaefer@uu.nl> | W: www.mtschaefer.net<http://www.mtschaefer.net>|

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Registration still open for Doctoral Summer School on Sustainable ICT (SICT)
by Fieke Jansen 16 Jun '23

16 Jun '23

[Illustration of sustainable, ethic and human-centered ICT] >From JULY 3rd to 7th 2023 in Grenoble, France "Radical changes for sustainable and equitable ICT in times of compounding crises" SICT2023 aims to bridge the gap between research in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and the overarching and inter-related social, environmental, and economic questions of our time. The 4th edition of this doctoral summer school will break away from the dominant social, economic, and political paradigm that is currently fostering the infinite infinities of ICT. (e.g, infinite growth, scalability, resources, data). We aim to explore radical changes that challenge the assumptions or completely rethink the current dominant capitalist economic model, traditionally focusing on growth – perhaps a more holistic and systemic approach is required? Beyond extractivism and profit-oriented business models, we question the coherence and trends of current industrial road-maps in ICT and their effects on planetary boundaries. Alternative paradigms have emerged in this mindset, such as the low-tech movement, the post-colonial and post-growth movements, and the initiatives around design justice. We don’t have to start from scratch, but we can rebuild whilst making the most of what we have. During the week, we will hear from and connect with scientists, professionals, and change-makers working towards sustainable and equitable ICTs. Through their inputs, we aim to co-develop new imaginaries for radical changes in ICT. Speakers include Anjila Hjalsted, Christoph Becker, Johanna Pohl, Corinne Cath, Alexandra Haché, Paz Pena, Anaïs Tilquin, Raksha Muthukumar, and many more See the program here<https://www.sictdoctoralschool.com/program-2023> Register here<https://www.sictdoctoralschool.com/registration> [https://www.sictdoctoralschool.com/media/sict-dessin-home-opti.svg?16251318…]<https://www.sictdoctoralschool.com/registration> Registration<https://www.sictdoctoralschool.com/registration> SICT2021 Doctoral School - Registration www.sictdoctoralschool.com See you all in Grenoble!

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Join us for an upcoming workshop on how to run a Wikipedia assignment!
by Helaine Blumenthal 15 Jun '23

15 Jun '23

Please join Wiki Education for one of our upcoming virtual workshops on how to incorporate a Wikipedia editing assignment into your course(s) next year! Click here <https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApdeCupzwtEtNVaIWYtWTV6d-frza2C8…>to register! Upcoming workshop dates: * June 21 at 2 PM Pacific * July 7 at 12 PM Pacific * July 18 at 12 PM Pacific Empower your students to make a difference this fall! Run a Wikipedia assignment this coming academic year, and help your students to develop and hone critical media literacy skills, become a responsible digital citizen, and tackle misinformation all in one project! Be sure to visit teach.wikiedu.org <https://wikiedu.org/teach-with-wikipedia/> to find out how you can get started for the Fall 2023 term! Wiki Education's support is fully funded, and there are no fees to participate. The program is open to post-secondary institutions in the U.S. and Canada. -- Helaine Blumenthal,Ph.D. (she/her) Senior Program Manager Wiki Education teach.wikiedu.org <https://wikiedu.org/teach-with-wikipedia/> Twitter <https://twitter.com/WikiEducation?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7C…>, Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/WikiEducationFoundation/>

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Call for #AoIR2025 and #AoIR2026 Annual Conference Host
by Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers 15 Jun '23

15 Jun '23

The Executive Committee of the Association of Internet Researchers is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from prospective Conference Hosts for the annual meetings of the Association for October 2025 and 2026. With this call, AoIR will return to our regular rotation schedule: the 2025 conference will take place outside of North America and Europe, and the 2026 conference will take place in North America. EOIs are due to the AoIR Executive Committee by July 18, 2023. EOIs will be reviewed by the AoIR Executive Committee, who will then gauge feasibility through a series of follow-up discussions with proposers. Proposers for the 2025 conference will be informed of decisions regarding conference hosting by September 2023. The AoIR membership will be informed of the 2025 conference location during the AGM at AoIR2023 in Philadelphia. The AoIR conference draws an international group of 500-700 researchers and practitioners to present and discuss work at the cutting edge in understanding the individual, social, political, economic and cultural aspects of the internet and related technologies. The Conference Host Committee is a regional group of scholars that may be part of the same or different organisations. They are also invited to propose a Program Chair. The Program Chair oversees the submissions and review process of papers, panels, workshops, and preconferences, and schedules the conference sessions. The Program Chair may be a member of the organization that acts as Conference Host. Members of the Conference Host Committee should have a strong existing connection to the Association of Internet Researchers. Serving on the Conference Hosting committee is a large commitment. The role of the Conference Host and committee is to make contributions to the conference theme and call for papers, identify keynote and plenary speakers, plan and provide crucial local knowledge and connections, and oversee region-specific fundraising (where possible, provide venue space at cost or in kind). AoIR will assist with the practical conference planning, including negotiating contracts with hotels, meeting venues, catering, and the like, and will partner with the host committee on many of the administrative details of the conference, such as reception and meal planning, AV and wifi provision, and exhibitor displays. Organizations or consortia that may be interested in serving as Conference Host should contact President Tama Leaver at prez (at) aoir.org by 18 July 2023 with a brief expression of interest. The EOI should include the following and be no longer than 5 double spaced pages: 1. the individuals and organization(s) involved, and their proposed roles; 2. the connection of proposers to internet research and to AoIR; 3. a description of any prior experiences proposers have had with organizing or hosting a conference, and the roles played in this; 4. an argument to support the proposed conference location, especially with respect to ease of travel for AoIR’s multinational community of conference participants; 5. initial thoughts on local venue options (AoIR has in the past held the annual conference at a variety of venue spaces including universities, conference centers, and hotels); 6. prospective conference dates, keeping in mind any major local, national, and international holidays, semester schedules, or other aspects that might affect the timing of the conference; 7. a firm indication of whether you will be attending AoIR2023 in Philadelphia and are available to meet for further discussions about hosting AoIR2025 or AoIR2026. Please contact President Tama Leaver at prez (at) aoir.org or AoIR’s Association Coordinator ac (at) aoir.org if you have any questions. Tama Leaver President, Association of Internet Researchers

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CFP for History of Media Studies
by Park, David 14 Jun '23

14 Jun '23

(Versión en español está más abajo) History of Media Studies (https://hms.mediastudies.press/) is a peer-reviewed, scholar-run, diamond OA journal dedicated to scholarship on the history of research, education, and reflective knowledge about media and communication—as expressed through academic institutions; through commercial, governmental, and non-governmental organizations; and through “alter-traditions” of thought and practice often excluded from the academic mainstream. The journal publishes high-quality, original articles, reviews, and commentary on the history of this inter- and extra-disciplinary area as it has intersected with other fields in the social sciences and humanities—and with social practices beyond the academy. We encourage submissions in any one of our formats, in either Spanish or English: https://hms.mediastudies.press/author-guidelines We are committed to a humane, care-based, and developmental review process, with the goal to improve manuscripts through collegial exchange. The journal is published by mediastudies.press (https://www.mediastudies.press/) a scholar-led, no-fee nonprofit publisher established in 2019. The journal is edited by three established scholars in the history of media and communication studies field: David W. Park, Peter Simonson, and Jefferson Pooley. See our launch editorial: https://hms.mediastudies.press/pub/hms-editors/release/11?readingCollection… (versión en español<https://hms.mediastudies.press/pub/hms-editors-translation/>) https://hms.mediastudies.press/pub/hms-editors-translation/release/4 The journal’s Editorial Board includes scholars from nearly all continents and regions, with the aim to broaden the field’s traditional scope. The journal is affiliated with (1) the Working Group on the History of Media Studies (https://hms.mediastudies.press/working-group) and (2) the History of Media Studies Newsletter (https://hms.mediastudies.press/newsletter) Versión en español History of Media Studies<https://hms.mediastudies.press/> (https://hms.mediastudies.press/) es una revista revisada por pares y dirigida por académicos, cuyo principal interés está en la historia de la investigación, de la educación y de la reflexión sobre los medios y sobre la comunicación. Su foco no está únicamente en el conocimiento producido por las instituciones académicas, sino también por las organizaciones comerciales, gubernamentales y no-gubernamentales, y por las “tradiciones alternativas” de pensamiento y de práctica, que a menudo quedan excluidas de las corrientes académicas dominantes. La revista publica artículos originales de alta calidad, reseñas y comentarios, sobre la historia de este área interdisciplinar y extra-disciplinar, entendiéndola como un espacio en diálogo con otros campos de las ciencias sociales y de las humanidades, así como con prácticas sociales más allá de la academia. Aceptamos envíos en cualquiera de nuestros formatos, tanto en español como en inglés: https://hms.mediastudies.press/author-guidelines Nos comprometemos con un proceso de revisión humano, basado en el cuidado y en el desarrollo, cuyo objetivo principal es la mejora de los manuscritos a través del intercambio entre iguales. La revista está publicada por mediastudies.press (https://www.mediastudies.press/) una editorial sin ánimo de lucro, dirigida por académicos, y creada en 2019. Sus editores son tres académicos ya establecidos en el campo de la historia de los medios y los estudios de comunicación: David W. Park, Peter Simonson y Jefferson Pooley. Aquí puede consultar nuestro editorial de lanzamiento: https://hms.mediastudies.press/pub/hms-editors-translation/release/4 El Consejo Editorial de la revista está compuesto por académicos de casi todos los continentes y regiones, con el objetivo de ampliar el alcance tradicional del campo. La revista está afiliada con (1) Working Group on the History of Media Studies (https://hms.mediastudies.press/working-group) y (2) la History of Media Studies Newsletter (https://hms.mediastudies.press/newsletter)<https://hms.mediastudies.press/newsletter)>.

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WEBCAST JUN 14 – New York City Internet and Digital Equity Listening Session
by Joly MacFie 14 Jun '23

14 Jun '23

Tune in to hear New Yorkers speak truth to power when it comes to access! Or, attend in person and have your own say! [image: ISOC LIVE] <https://isoc.live/16625>On *Wednesday June 14 2023* at *3pm - 7:30pm EDT* (19:00-23:30 UTC) *Silicon Harlem <https://siliconharlem.com/>* and the *NYC Office of Technology & Innovation <https://www.nyc.gov/content/oti/pages/home>*, in partnership with *Empire State Development’s ConnectALL Office <https://broadband.ny.gov/>* will host a *New York City Internet and Digital Equity Listening Session <http://bit.ly/NYC-DE-LS>* at the Harlem School of the Arts. This is one of a *series of sessions <https://broadband.ny.gov/listening-sessions-internet-digital-equity>* being held around New York State to hear from individuals, organizations, and communities about the existing barriers to internet access and what's needed to close the digital divide. A livestream will be provided by the *Internet Society New York Chapter <http://isoc-ny.org/>* (ISOC-NY) *LIVESTREAM http://livestream.com/internetsociety/nycinternet <http://livestream.com/internetsociety/nycinternet> *(EN OPEN CAPTIONS) *LIVESTREAM 2 http://livestream.com/internetsociety2/nycinternet <http://livestream.com/internetsociety2/nycinternet>* (ES SUBTÍTULOS ABIERTOS) *ATTEND IN PERSON http://bit.ly/NYC-DE-LS <http://bit.ly/NYC-DE-LS>* *REAL TIME TEXT https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=nycinternet <https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=nycinternet>* *TWITTER #nycinternet <https://bit.ly/3qpNn7c> #digitalequity #NYC #ConnectALL @NYCOfficeofTech @SiliconHarlem @EmpireStateDev* *MASTODON #nycinternet <https://mastodon.social/tags/nycinternet>* *FACEBOOK SIMULCAST https://www.facebook.com/isocny/ <https://www.facebook.com/isocny/>* *ARCHIVE* *https://archive.org/details/nycinternet <https://archive.org/details/nycinternet>* - -- -------------------------------------- Joly MacFie +12185659365 -------------------------------------- -

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AoIR 2023 Dissertation Award Announcement
by Michelle, Association of Internet Researchers 14 Jun '23

14 Jun '23

We are delighted to announce the winner of the 2023 Dissertation Award! This year, the committee evaluated 38 dissertations. It was a long and challenging task, made even harder by the exceptional work submitted by all the candidates. After careful deliberation, the committee has reached the following decisions: The winner of the 2023 award is *Tuğçe Bidav* of Maynooth University for her dissertation, "Global Platform, Local Labour: Precarious YouTubing in Ireland and Turkey". Congratulations, Tuğçe! Bidav's dissertation offers a unique perspective by comparing creative digital labor in two countries, Turkey and Ireland. This comparative analysis makes significant contributions to internet research by situating creator labor in relation to platform affordances, regulatory frameworks, and diverse geopolitical contexts. It challenges Western-centric understandings of YouTube and provides theories grounded in localized experiences, drawing upon data from underrepresented national contexts and shedding light on creators from peripheral digital cultures. The dissertation also employs an innovative mixed methods approach that spans multiple disciplines. Tuğçe’s work is truly deserving of our recognition. The committee has also awarded an Honorable Mention to *Julian Posada*, a student at the University of Toronto when he wrote, "The Coloniality of Data Work: Power and Inequality in Outsourced Data Production for Machine Learning". Posada's work examines the working conditions of outsourced workers in the AI industry, with a specific focus on lower-income countries in South America. This focus makes a significant contribution to internet research by decolonizing theory and research, and bringing underrepresented linguistic communities to the forefront of scholarly debate. Furthermore, the dissertation makes policy suggestions, further extending its contribution. Posada's work employs an intriguing and novel approach by integrating multiple disciplines and methodologies in service of his research. Both of these dissertations make remarkable contributions to the field of internet research, addressing new problems (and, particularly, the theme of digital labor) through the lens of marginalized cases, and with innovative approaches. They impressed the award committee greatly, and will undoubtedly have a substantial impact on the field. AoIR is deeply grateful to Rafael Grohmann, Christian Ritter, Chikezie Uzuegbunam, and especially Raquel Recuero, Chair of the Dissertation Award Committee, for the hard work that they invested in this process. (In the spirit of transparency, we note that no committee member evaluated dissertations written by students from their own institution.)

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