March 2025 - Air-L - lists.aoir.org

Animation and Visual Culture, Limited-Term (2 Year) Teaching Stream Assistant Professor
by Gerald Voorhees 04 Mar '25

04 Mar '25

Dear friends and colleagues, The department of Communication Arts and the department of Fine Arts at the University of Waterloo (Canada) are looking for a joint-appointed 2-year limited term Assistant Professor, Teaching Stream. The job is certainly not a typical post as it will A. support curriculum oversight for a practice-oriented professional program in Animation delivered by Waterloo's online ed division but B. teaching is in-person in practice-based digital arts (not including animation) and in visual culture. So the ideal candidate will have background in practical areas of digital media/animation and in visual culture studies. Feel free to email with questions! https://www.academicwork.ca/jobs/animation-and-visual-culture-limited-term-…

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Event London: Behind the Startups: Three Generations of Disruption and Capital
by Jordan, Tim 04 Mar '25

04 Mar '25

Dear all in and about London, An interesting event co-organised by Six Silberman, Lola Brittain and Jyotsna Iyer. The event is titled 'Behind the Startups: Three Generations of Disruption and Capital'. The opening talk will be a 'book talk' by US-based Ben Shestakofsky based on his new book, Behind the Startup: How Venture Capital Shapes Work, Innovation, and Inequality (University of California Press, 2024). There will be two co-panelists: Claddagh NicLochlainn (Institute for the Future of Work) will talk about 'The AI Hype Bubble' and her brief experience as a co-founder of a UK cybersecurity startup, and Tristan Spill will speak about his experience working in tech startups funded by media companies in New York City in the late 1990s. The event will take place at Newspeak House (the 'London College of Political Technology') in Shoreditch, 6:30pm on Friday March 14. Attendance is free. More details and (optional) registration link are here: https://lu.ma/dyboar6x Best Tim Tim Jordan Professor of Digital Cultures, Department of UCL Arts and Sciences.

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Symposium on Changing Mediations of Music, Audio and Sound: New Systems Across the World, 12 June
by David Hesmondhalgh 04 Mar '25

04 Mar '25

Hello everyone, below are details of a one-day symposium, to be held at the University of Denver (Colorado, USA), 9am to 5pm, on Thursday 12 June 2025, right before the start of the International Communication Association conference. It's free to attend, lunch and coffee will be provided, and everyone is welcome if you register by Thursday 15 May here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/changing-mediations-of-music-audio-and-sound… Details of topic and names of speakers are below. We're sorry, but the event won't be available online. Kind regards, Dave Hesmondhalgh Changing Mediations of Music, Audio and Sound: New Systems Across the World Audio streaming, social media and short video platforms are transforming the systems by which sound media are configured internationally. Platformisation, datafication and automated recommendation have been central to such transformations, and now generative AI is bringing about further changes. These developments have generated great controversy, for example concerning effects on musicians, on local music production, and on the way that music is experienced in everyday life. These changes also have significant implications, via the rise of podcasting and other related developments, for the fate of radio, even if radio remains resilient in many territories. Arguably such transformations require a major rethinking of the politics of sound in everyday life. This symposium brings together scholars engaged in high-quality research on these and related topics from across the world. The symposium is organised by the MUSICSTREAM<https://musicstreamproject.com/> project team at the University of Leeds (David Hesmondhalgh, D. Bondy Valdovinos Kaye, Raquel Campos Valverde and Zhongwei Li), in conjunction with colleagues from the University of Denver (Carlos Jimenez and Runchao Liu). Speakers are (in no particular order): Thomas Hodgson, Rodrigo Gómez, Vanessa Valiati, Ignacio Siles, David Hesmondhalgh, Shuwen (Stella) Qu, Peng Will Wu, Cemal Ataş, Laura Jordán González, Sumanth Gopinath, Thomas Michel, Darci Sprengel, Jana Costas, Zhongwei (Mabu) Li, Laura Glitsos, Mattia Zanotti, Francis Galang, Raquel Campos Valverde & D. Bondy Valdovinos Kaye. Some contributions to the symposium will draw on chapters in a collection, Music Streaming Around the World, edited by David Hesmondhalgh, to be published by University of California Press in October 2025. The symposium is organised by the MUSICSTREAM<https://musicstreamproject.com/> project team at the University of Leeds (David Hesmondhalgh, D. Bondy Valdovinos Kaye, Raquel Campos Valverde and Zhongwei Li), and colleagues from the University of Denver (Carlos Jimenez and Runchao Liu). While not an official pre-conference of the ICA, the symposium has been scheduled in such a way to allow those who have registered to attend the ICA conference to make their way to the conference in time for the opening plenary and reception. Please send any enquiries concerning the event to musicstreamproject(a)gmail.com<mailto:musicstreamproject@gmail.com> David Hesmondhalgh<https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media/staff/297/professor-david-hesmondhalgh> (he/him) Professor of Media, Music and Culture, University of Leeds Links to recent publications: https://linktr.ee/davidhesmondhalgh Principal Investigator, MUSICSTREAM: Music Culture in the Age of Streaming, funded by European Research Council, 2021 to 2026: https://musicstreamproject.com/ David Hesmondhalgh<https://ahc.leeds.ac.uk/media/staff/297/professor-david-hesmondhalgh> (he/him) Professor of Media, Music and Culture, University of Leeds Links to recent publications: https://linktr.ee/davidhesmondhalgh Principal Investigator, MUSICSTREAM: Music Culture in the Age of Streaming, funded by European Research Council, 2021 to 2026: https://musicstreamproject.com/

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Call for Contributions: Creative AI Exploration and Imagination
by Christian Pentzold 04 Mar '25

04 Mar '25

Call for Contributions: *Creative AI Exploration and Imagination: Innovative Methods for Alternative Digital Futures* Leipzig University, Germany 25–26 September 2025 Are you exploring the intersections of citizen engagement, futures methods and artificial intelligence? Do you experiment with arts-based and/or participatory futures methods to reimagine digital futures? We invite you to share your work at our upcoming show-and-tell workshop. *Idea and Background* Artificial intelligence (AI) and other types of digital technologies are deeply intertwined with the everyday lives of citizens, yet their underlying conditions and consequences often remain invisible or difficult to grasp. Many people experience the digital transformation as inevitable and uncontrollable, as exemplified by the current public discourse around the “AI race” and generative AI technologies. Innovative approaches and methods are urgently needed to empower citizens to critically engage with digital transformation processes and imagine alternative futures. This workshop moves beyond traditional information dissemination and focuses on playful and artistic engagement methods, such as arts-based and future methods. These approaches foster experiential and creative explorations of AI and digital transformation, using photography, music, literary and poetic texts, diaries, comics and visual narratives, installations, or excursions. These methods are not aimed at conveying the current state of AI technology but rather at collaboratively defining future frameworks for action, governance, and regulation with civil society actors. Arts-based methods are particularly valuable as they allow participants to experience, explore and imagine alternative scenarios beyond the status quo and/or dominant narratives about how “the” future will unfold. This workshop seeks to bring together researchers involved in such projects, practitioners, citizens, and other experts working in this field. The event aims to map real-time experiences and identify good practices and model initiatives for engaging with citizens, civil society organizations, community organizers, and public administrations around critical questions about AI and digital technologies. These efforts are planned to culminate in a publication titled “(Re)-Imagining AI with and for the People.” The event is supported by the ARQUS University Alliance and the German Academic Exchange Service DAAD. ** *Objectives and Contributions* The workshop will explore and test transfer methods for playful and artistic engagement (arts-based methods and future methods) with AI and digital transformation. Participants will discuss the theoretical foundations of these methodologies, address practical challenges in their application and transfer, and examine the role of arts-based and future methods in fostering civil society participation, enabling citizens to critically engage with the everyday impacts of AI and envision alternative uses, frameworks, and regulations for a citizen-centered digital transformation. Practical aspects of applying arts-based and future methods in the AI context should be illuminated through collaboration with local partners. Stakeholders such as citizens, media education initiatives, and NGOs critical of digitalization are invited to join the conversation and exploration. The workshop also aims to address ethical considerations in applying these methods, documenting how such approaches influence the dynamics between researchers and participants. We welcome contributions from a broad range of disciplines and sectors involving researchers and academics, designers, artists and creative practitioners, community organizers and activists, technologists and developers, as well as policy advocates and educators. We invite arts-based and future methods contributions that: * Demonstrate innovative citizen-led AI applications or projects. * Showcase participatory methods for engaging diverse communities with AI. * Explore alternative narratives and imaginaries of digital futures. * Examine the role of creativity in developing ethical and inclusive AI. * Provide critical reflections on challenges and lessons learned. The Show-and-Tell format is designed to encourage interaction and dialogue. Contributors will present their work in interactive sessions and engage directly with participants through live demonstrations, creative storytelling, or multimedia presentations. The registration fee is 150 Euro and includes lunch catering and coffee & tea breaks. * * *Submission Guidelines* Please submit the following by *31 March 2025* 1. A title and brief description of your contribution (300 words max). 2. A short bio (150 words max) of the presenter(s). 3. Any technical or logistical requirements for your presentation. Email your submission to christian.pentzold(a)uni-leipzig.de <mailto:christian.pentzold@uni-leipzig.de> <mailto:christian.pentzold@uni-leipzig.de>with the subject line: *Show and Tell Submission – [Your Name/Project Name].* * * *Key Dates* * Submission Deadline: 31 March 2025 * Notification of Acceptance: 15 May 2025 * Event Date: 25–26 September 2025 ** *Organizers* The local event is organized by: Christian Pentzold, Emma Hughes, and Benedikt Haupt, Leipzig University in collaboration with Juliane Jarke & Laura Kunz, University of Graz; Rob Kitchin & Olly Dawkins, Maynooth University; and Stefano Crabu & Federico Neresini, University of Padua. For more information, please visit the website: https://tinyurl.com/5n8e7ptn <https://tinyurl.com/5n8e7ptn> For inquiries, please contact us at christian.pentzold(a)uni-leipzig.de <mailto:christian.pentzold@uni-leipzig.de> <mailto:christian.pentzold@uni-leipzig.de> — Professor Dr. Christian Pentzold Institut für Kommunikations- und Medienwissenschaft | Department for Communication and Media Studies Universität Leipzig | Leipzig University Nikolaistrasse 27-29, D-04109 Leipzig christian.pentzold(a)uni-leipzig.de https://www.sozphil.uni-leipzig.de/institut-fuer-kommunikations-und-medienw…

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Academic Writers Retreat in Jönköping, Sweden
by Erika Polson 03 Mar '25

03 Mar '25

Academic Writers Retreat Annette Hill and Joke Hermes Location: Gränna Campus, Jönköping University Dates June 23rd to 27th 2025 https://ju.se/academicwritersretreat<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ju.se/academicwritersretreat__;!!NCZxaNi…> Writing Retreat Theme: Research Spices What kinds of savoury and sweet spices do you add to your research practice? This academic writers’ retreat takes the metaphor of spices to explore research craft. We consider the seeds, roots, bark and fruits in our writing and analysis. And we reflect on layering of empirical and conceptual thinking, from whole to ground spices, toasted and roasted spices, and subtle and strong fragrances. The retreat starts with a choice of spices and then we try out, write and reflect on the flavours and fragrances we want to create in our research craft. Each day we spend time in workshops, private writing time, go on walks by the lake and mountainside, and we cook together. To find out more about registration, fees and the programme go here: https://ju.se/academicwritersretreat<https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/ju.se/academicwritersretreat__;!!NCZxaNi…>

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Call for Abstracts (deadline March 15): International conference: "20 Years into the Future: What is our vision of media, data, and society?
by ZeMKI News 03 Mar '25

03 Mar '25

ZeMKI’s 20th Anniversary International Conference 20 Years into the Future: What is our vision of media, data, and society? Confirmed Keynote Speakers: - José van Dijck (Utrecht U, NL) - Nick Couldry (LSE, UK) - Alenda Y. Chang (UC Santa Barbara, USA) Date: 23.-24. October 2025 Street: Sandstraße 4/5, Bremen, Germany Location: House of Science Bremen Host: ZeMKI, Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research, University of Bremen Call for Abstracts: Media and communication research has traditionally focused on the present, often asking: What are the consequences of each “new” medium? How do digital media and their infrastructures impact contemporary cultures and societies? With this conference, however, we aim to shift the perspective—from analyzing present-day impacts to envisioning future possibilities. What can we learn from the current mediatization and datafication of society to imagine possible futures? What roles might media discourses, technologies, and practices play in ongoing and future societal transformations? In raising these foundational questions, the conference is broadly situated within the fields of media, communication and information research. Topics may include: the role of media discourses, technologies, and practices in narrating and shaping the future; the importance of media policy and governance in building better futures; recent technological developments such as communicative AI and their potential role for future media environments; ways in which our narratives of the past, media history, and archeology shape our imaginaries of the future; digital gaming and emerging forms of entertainment; future media-related challenges for future sustainability and quality of life; and methodologies in media and communication research that address emerging media-related developments from a forward-looking perspective. With discussion topics like these, the ZeMKI’s 20th anniversary conference is not about speculative forecasting but is grounded in media and communication research. We aim to explore long-term trends emerging from today’s media-related transformations and reflect on our visions of the future. We invite those who have previously engaged with us—our cooperation partners, ZeMKI fellows, guests, and friends—and those interested in starting new conversations. Presentations may cover any area of media and communication research, provided they also address the question of where a mediatized and datafied society might be heading. Abstracts of up to 500 words can be submitted by March 15th, 2025 via this online submission form: https://nc.uni-bremen.de/index.php/apps/forms/s/EP6cLH2Y3eLxbaaC6cLMCNsA Participation is free of charge. Download the call as a PDF file: https://zemki.uni-bremen.de/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Call_20-years-into-t… Conference website: https://zemki.uni-bremen.de/futures

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Call for Chapter - Rural Media Studies: A Global Perspective
by Esteve Del Valle, M. 03 Mar '25

03 Mar '25

Dear Colleagues, We are delighted to announce a call for chapters for our forthcoming edited volume, *Rural Media Studies: A Global Perspective*, to be published by Lexington Books (now part of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.). This volume explores the largely untapped field of Rural Media Studies, focusing on the impact of digitalization beyond metropolitan centers. We aim to compile the final manuscript by *December 15, 2025*. Scope and Objectives The volume will examine the processes of digitalization and their unique influences in rural contexts, addressing the need for scholarship that moves beyond urban-focused research. Digitalization—the integration of digital technology across sectors of government, business, and society—is often examined through an urban lens, leaving the media landscapes of rural areas underexplored. This volume seeks to address this gap by establishing a *"rural turn"* within Media Studies. This shift is essential to avoid knowledge gaps and enhance decision-making across social, political, and environmental domains. Recognizing that transitioning to climate-neutral societies requires a robust understanding of media practices within rural populations, this volume encourages scholarship that moves beyond traditional urban-centric frameworks. Topics of Interest We welcome submissions from diverse geographies, methodologies, and disciplines, addressing (but not limited to) the following themes: - Political participation, polarization, and media engagement in rural spaces - Climate dis/misinformation and its impact on rural communities - Surveillance, privacy, and rural media use - Rural-urban dynamics in media representation and content - Digital literacy, access, and inclusion in rural areas We particularly encourage interdisciplinary approaches that leverage Media Studies' positioning at the intersection of various fields, offering flexible and creative explorations of media practices in rural settings. Submission Details If you are interested in contributing, please email your *short bio* (a few lines), *abstract* (approx. 300 words), and a *brief outline* by *March 31st, 2025* to: - Rashid Gabdulhakov: r.f.gabdulhakov(a)rug.nl - Marc Esteve del Valle: m.esteve.del.valle(a)rug.nl Authors of selected abstracts will be notified by the first week of April, and full chapters will be expected by *July 30, 2025*. For questions or further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We would be happy to discuss the project further with potential contributors. We look forward to receiving your contributions and working together to shed light on this timely and important area of research. Best regards, *Dr. Rashid Gabdulhakov* Assistant Professor | Centre for Media and Journalism Studies | University of Groningen (The Netherlands) Personal website: Plovism <https://plovism.com/> | ORCiD <https://orcid.org/> | LinkedIn <https://www.linkedin.com/> | "Chat in the Yurt" Podcast <https://chatinyurt.com/> *Dr. Marc Esteve del Valle* Senior Lecturer | Centre for Media and Journalism Studies | University of Groningen (The Netherlands)| Google Scholar <https://scholar.google.com/> -- Dr. Marc Esteve del Valle, *Senior Lecturer*, Centre for Media and Journalism Studies, University of Groningen (The Netherlands) | Google Scholar <https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=BtRD8IkAAAAJ&hl=en> <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Marc_Esteve_Del_Valle>

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New report: Trans Digital Rights
by Jess Reia 03 Mar '25

03 Mar '25

Dear colleagues, We want to share with you our recently launched report, “Trans Digital Rights: Improving data visibility, privacy and belonging for gender-diverse communities.” Our research asks: If we could reimagine digital rights that center the needs of gender-diverse communities, what would they look like? The increasing attacks on trans rights are part of a coordinated global agenda, and responding to them will help us reflect on adjacent digital rights and data justice issues, from reproductive rights to freedom of expression. Gender-diverse individuals face specific challenges navigating digital spaces, but there is still a gap between trans and digital rights advocacy. With the widespread adoption of AI and ongoing threats to democracy, we need to reimagine how we protect trans people. With that in mind, we developed the Trans Digital Rights (TDR) framework, based on a transnational two-year research project that explores issues related to data collection, citizen-generated data, AI, and platform regulation. We propose policy and advocacy recommendations, hoping the TDR framework can be used, changed, adapted, critiqued, and built upon. You can download it here: https://doi.org/10.18130/m2zw-2g87 Thank you, J. *Jess Reia, Ph.D. (they/them)* Assistant Professor of Data Science Faculty co-lead, Digital Technology for Democracy Lab <https://karshinstitute.virginia.edu/digital-technology-democracy-lab>, University of Virginia reia(a)virginia.edu | https://datascience.virginia.edu/ Visiting Scholar, Institute for Global Public Policy <https://igpp.fudan.edu.cn/igppen/main.htm>, Fudan University 2024-2025 Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Democracy & Technology <https://cdt.org/> <https://karshinstitute.virginia.edu/> New book: Urban Music Governance <https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/U/bo245009492.html>

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Webinar Recordings: Diving Deep with Hallyu Tracker
by Natalia Grincheva 02 Mar '25

02 Mar '25

Dear colleagues, Happy Monday! The recording of the global webinar *Diving Deep with Hallyu Tracker: Data-Driven Insights into the Korean Wave* is now available on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/wsPFKGvrnQ4 *You can also read more about the project: <https://datatopower.net/hallyu>*Mapping The Global Impacts of Hallyu <https://datatopower.net/hallyu> *& Play with the Open Access App: *Hallyu Tracker <https://vsg.datatopower.net/?VyLsuw4q0S> *Read teaser articles and watch video demos:* - Pursuit: Have you been taken by the Korean Wave yet? <https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/have-you-been-taken-by-the-korean-w…> - The Academic: The Korean wave: A global phenomenon demystified <https://theacademic.com/the-korean-wave-a-global-phenomenon-demystified/> If any questions, please feel free to outreach directly With kind regards, Natalia *Dr Natalia Grincheva (grincheva(a)gmail.com <grincheva(a)gmail.com>)* Programme Leader <https://www.lasalle.edu.sg/about/academics/dr-natalia-grincheva>, BA(Hons) Arts Management University of the Arts Singapore & Senior Research Fellow (Hon) <https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/784300-natalia-grincheva>, Digital Studio The University of Melbourne *Academic Profile: https://grincheva.com/ <https://grincheva.com/> *

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ECPR Digital Authoritarianism RN Online Lecture, 6 March: Dr. Gustavo Robles
by Ülker Sözen 02 Mar '25

02 Mar '25

We cordially invite you to the second meeting of the seminar series "The Many Faces of Digital Authoritarianism" organized by the ECPR Research Network on Digital Authoritarianism. Dr. Gustavo Robles will discuss "Senses of Freedom. Platform Labor and Ideology in Argentina." You can find below the abstract and short bio of Dr. Robles. The lecture will be held on *March 6, Thursday between 15:30 - 17:00 CET via Zoom.* Topic: ECPR Digital Authoritarianism RN lecture series: Dr. Gustavo Robles Time: Mar 6, 2025 03:30 PM Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Stockholm, Vienna Join Zoom Meeting https://uni-leipzig.zoom-x.de/j/66267638871?pwd=0nsLTE1dO4qzgkszmN4MIpAxAkS… Meeting ID: 662 6763 8871 Passcode: 576416 Kind regards, Dr. Ülker Sözen Post-doctoral Researcher Chair of Development Politics, University of Passau Institute for the Study of Religion, Leipzig University ------------------- Title: Senses of Freedom. Platform Labor and Ideology in Argentina Abstract: The media-disseminated image of the "Rappi vote" became very popular during the last election campaign in Argentina in 2023 to such an extent that it expanded the common idea of the young workers of the food delivery platforms as the political subject of Javier Milei's electoral success. A myth or not, the starting point of the presentation is that this figure contains an ideological density that allows us to establish relations between the working conditions on the platforms and the libertarian interpellation propelled by Javier Milei and his political party, La Libertad Avanza. Following an approach centred on ideologies, we looked for concrete and practical senses of freedom that could explain the “elective affinities,” to use Weber's acute expression, between the experience of platform work and its resonance with the libertarian understanding of freedom from three perspectives. First, the political-institutional dimension shows how the ideal of freedom has been deployed through global and local processes of institutionalizing labour flexibility, the latest stage of which is represented by various forms of platform labour. Second, the technopolitical dimension exposes the algorithmic management of work as a mechanism of power production in the workplace that constantly requires workers' freedoms for its reproduction through multiple routine decisions. Thirdly, the subjective dimension, given by the experience of platform workers in San Miguel de Tucumán, reveals the practical understanding of freedom and autonomy as a pragmatic way of dealing with the limitations of an authoritarian and depressed labour market. Bio: Gustavo Robles is a Gerda-Henkel Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Passau (Germany) and an Associated Fellow at the National University of Tucumán (Argentina) and within the International Research Group on Authoritarianism and Counterstrategies (IRGAC). His research and teaching focus on the ideological and subjective dimensions of the current crisis of neoliberalism in the Global South.

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