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reformatting internet studies
by Becky Lentz 23 May '15

23 May '15

Is there a place in internet studies for the study (from a variety of disciplinary perspectives) of internet architectures/infrastructures and their governance. ---------------------- Becky Lentz, PhD Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Department of Art History/Communication Studies McGill University 853 Sherbrooke Street West, Arts Building, W-265 (West Wing) Montreal, QC, Canada H3A 0G5 For deliveries, use Arts Building, 265 (East Wing) Phone 514.398.4995 Fax 514.398.8557 Email: becky.lentz(a)mcgill.ca http://www.mcgill.ca/ahcs

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Some ideas for Ess disccusion on the fourth age of Internet Studies? what glues Internet Studies together?
by Elodie Crespel 23 May '15

23 May '15

Message-ID: <CAJxTP2bE3y5Kvt4q9jNXa4vZkb=2Ed4toMa2L03E_Ebk9LCkgw(a)mail.gmail.com> Thank you Charles for the heuristic definition of Internet studies. I would like to add 3 points that I found important in the current discussion. The point regarding the relationship between the online-offline contexts can be further developed with the introduction of concepts such as embodiment and the Internet of things. Also, we need to add an international view on how the Internet is define and use. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2948923/Do-think-Facebook-in… Finally, is the Internet the same when used on a computer or cell phone? How the introduction of mobile devices change the way we perceive the Internet? This final point can bring back some technical issues in the discussion, and it has a link to the first point regarding the online-offline relationship. Best Elodie Crespel about.me/ElodieCrespel

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Call for Papers: Tenth International Conference on Networked Learning in Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Professional Development (Lancaster, UK)
by Lee, Mark 23 May '15

23 May '15

*** Apologies for Cross Postings *** Dear colleagues, We are pleased to announce the Call for Papers for the Tenth International Conference on Networked Learning in Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Professional Development. The conference is hosted by Lancaster University, at Lancaster House Hotel in Lancaster, on the 9th, 10th, 11th May, 2016. Keynote Speakers: - Professor Caroline Haythornthwaite, The iSchool at The University of British Columbia - Lawyer and writer Lawrence Liang – Bangalore This conference is considered a major event in the international 'technology enhanced learning' conference circuit, and provides a friendly, supportive context for meeting researchers and practitioners in networked learning. All submissions are peer reviewed, and accepted papers published in conference proceedings Full Conference Details can be found at: http://www.networkedlearningconference.org.uk/ (PDF of Call for Papers: http://www.networkedlearningconference.org.uk/documents/2016_callforpapers.…) Maarten de Laat, Thomas Ryberg, Sue Cranmer, Julie-Ann Sime and Don Passey

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ISA 2016 CFP: The Politics of Digital Nonhumans
by Kathleen Brennan 22 May '15

22 May '15

(Apologies for cross-posting) CFP: The Politics of Digital Nonhumans Panel Proposal for the International Studies Association 57th Annual Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, 16-19 March, 2016 The aim of this panel is to build on the growing body of literature around lively nonhumans with a particular focus on digital examples. This panel could thus engage with a variety of theoretical schools (e.g., new materialism or object oriented ontology) and a number of related fields (e.g., science and technology studies). With an interdisciplinary approach this panel will be organized around a number of key questions, which may include: - How can digital nonhumans participate in politics, and how does such participation shift our understanding of politics? - What form of politics is produced through the inclusion of digital nonhumans? - What are the ethical stakes of broadening politics to include digital nonhumans? I am open to a wide variety of approaches and examples. One panel theme might examine particular popular culture texts, like a video game or web series, as nonhuman actors. Alternately, others could focus on specific algorithms or websites. Please send your proposals with a title (up to 50 words), an abstract (up to 200 words), and authors to Kathleen Brennan (kpjbrennan(a)gmail.com) by May 27, 2015. Thanks, Kathleen PJ Brennan PhD Candidate Department of Political Science University of Hawaii

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Reminder: CFP Cultural/Critical studies of Social & Digital Media
by Robert Mason 22 May '15

22 May '15

Colleagues- The deadline for submissions to HICSS-49<http://www.hicss.org/#!calls/c1cd9> (Jan 5-8, 2016) is less than a month away, and we're hoping to see some of your interesting submissions to our mini-track on social and cultural aspects of digital media. In particular, we are interested in exploring two entwined themes of inquiry: 1) critical studies that examine the social impact of DSM in our daily lives and 2) research that surfaces the ethical challenges that arise as we study social media to make sense of the rapidly changing power dynamics that accompany DSM's global expansion. For full description of the focus and scope for the mini-track, see here: http://bit.ly/1KJ9dXs If you're unable to join us but are interested in being a reviewer, let us know and register at the HICSS submission site<https://precisionconference.com/~hicss/>. Session Organizers: Robert M. Mason (Information School, University of Washington) rmmason(a)uw.edu<mailto:rmmason@uw.edu> Mary Gray (The Media School, Indiana University and Microsoft Research) mlg(a)microsoft.com<mailto:mlg@microsoft.com> Tarleton L. Gillespie (Microsoft Research; Communication Dept. & Information Science Dept., Cornell University) tlg28(a)cornell.edu<mailto:tlg28@cornell.edu>

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CFP: 5th Annual Social Media Technology Conference & Workshop - DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 6/30/2015
by Michael Austin 22 May '15

22 May '15

Hello, I just wanted to let everyone know that the deadline for our upcoming conference in Washington, D.C. has been extended (see the CFP below). Junior faculty and graduate students are especially encouraged to submit. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions! Looking forward, Michael *Michael Austin, Ph.D. * Assistant Professor of Media, Journalism and Film Coordinator, School of Communications Interdisciplinary Studies Program (INDP) Howard University 525 Bryant St. NW, Room C-252 Washington, D.C. 20059 (202) 806-7856 *DEADLINE EXTENDED TO 6/30/2015 * *5th Annual Social Media Technology Conference & Workshop* *Call for Papers, Workshops, Panels and Posters* Co-Hosted by Bowie State University and Howard University October 1-2, 2015 Howard University Washington, D.C. Exploring Social Media and –isms The 5th Annual Social Media Technology Conference & Workshop is a two-day intensive conference combining panel discussions, posters sessions and hands-on workshops designed to enlighten attendees about new scholarship, professional practices and pedagogical approaches to teaching. This year’s theme focuses on questioning the direction of social media by leftists as well as extreme right critics. It will dissect the connections between social media and popular -isms (distinctive doctrines, systems, confluence and theories). The goal is to bring scholars and professionals together to share their perspectives on how social media relate to various –isms and discuss their influence and impact on our society, individuals, academics, businesses and government entities. Interested individuals can send in papers, workshop themes, panels and poster proposals that address a myriad of topics, including, but not limited to, the following: - Social media and Skepticism - Social media and Voyeurism - Social media and Racism - Social media and Interculturalism - Social media and Culturalism - Social media and Afrocentrism - Social media and Narcissism - Social media and Internationalism - Social media and Classism - Social media and Constructivism - Social media and Constructionism - Social media and Utilitarianism - Social media and Sexism *Paper and Poster Submissions*Respondents should submit a 3-5 page proposal that includes an overview of the study as well as research design that includes brief review of the literature and methodology. All respondents in this category should clearly identify the submission type on their proposal and send the proposal through EasyChair by June 30, 2015 at the following site: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=smtc2015. Presenters will be notified by mid-May of the status of their submissions and should register to attend the conference by September 1, 2015. *Panel Submissions*Respondents should submit a 3-5 page proposal addressing the purpose of the panel and specific issue(s) to be covered. The proposal should include a list of the confirmed guests or those who will be solicited for the panel as well as their brief biographies. All respondents in this category should send the proposal through EasyChair by June 30, 2015 at the following site: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=smtc2015. Presenters will be notified by mid-May of the status of their acceptance and should register to attend the conference by September 1, 2015. *Workshop Submissions*Respondents should submit a 3-5 page proposal addressing the purpose of the workshop, details about the technology, social media trend or tool to be explored and what attendees will gain from attending it. Workshops are scheduled for 90 minutes, so content should be sufficient enough to fill the timeslot. If applicable, the proposal should include a list of the confirmed guests or those who will be solicited for the workshops as well as their brief biographies. All respondents in this category should send the proposal through EasyChair by June 30, 2015 at the following site: https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=smtc2015. Presenters will be notified by mid-summer of the status of their acceptance and should register to attend the conference by September 1, 2015. *Cost*The registration fee for the two-day conference is *$100*. Students pay the reduced rate of $*50*. All presenters, attendees and workshop participants are required to pay the conference fee. *Contacts* For more information, please send an email to Dr. Kehbuma Langima at klangmia(a)howard.edu, Dr. Pamela O’Brien at pobrien(a)bowiestate.edu, Professor Ingrid Sturgis at isturgis(a)howard.edu, Dr. Tia C. M. Tyree at ttyree(a)howard.edu, or Dr. Michael Austin @ michael.austin(a)howard.edu.

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reformatting internet studies
by Barry Wellman 22 May '15

22 May '15

This is what Charles Ess wrote: Drawing on disciplines throughout the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, Internet Studies explores Internet-facilitated human (and machine) communication with characteristic (but not exclusive) focus on how identity, agency, relationship, community, and power interact with the affordances of Internet-based communication technologies, often with a careful view towards larger ethical, social, political, cultural, economic, legal, and other human contexts. Internet Studies further includes meta-theoretical development and refinement of various research methodologies; specific attention to the ethical challenges and possible resolutions to these challenges that arise in the course of such research; and the histories of the Internet, including web history as a domain in its own right. Without commenting much on its validity (first glance seems pretty good), I would like to rewrite in shorter sentences and some simplifying Internet Studies describes and analyzes internet-facilitated human and machine communication with a characteristic (but not exclusive) focus on the affordances of internet-based communication and information technologies. It draws on disciplines throughout the social sciences, humanities, and the natural sciences. Internet Studies often takes a careful view of ethical, social, historical, political, cultural, economic, legal and other human contexts, and it also includes germane theoretical and methodological developments. That's a straight rewrite, but I wonder why "Internet" when Mobile and Things are becoming important. Should it be rewritten as Digital Media Studies? Just my .02 for the day and hi to the ICA folks. Wish I could be there. Barry Wellman _______________________________________________________________________ FRSC INSNA Founder University of Toronto http://www.chass.utoronto.ca/~wellman twitter: @barrywellman NETWORKED:The New Social Operating System. Lee Rainie & Barry Wellman MIT Press http://amzn.to/zXZg39 Print $14 Kindle $9 _______________________________________________________________________

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a fourth age of Internet Studies? what glues Internet Studies together?
by Charles Ess 22 May '15

22 May '15

Dear AoIRists, Partly for the sake of a recent lecture at the University Institute of Lisbon, (ISCTE-IUL), kindly hosted by Gustavo Cordoso and colleagues, I reviewed some work on Internet Studies including: Mia Consalvo & C. Ess, *The Handbook of Internet Studies*, Blackwell, 2011. C. Ess & W. Dutton, *new media and society *15(5: 2013) 633–643 Panayiota Tsatsou, *Internet Studies: Past, Present, and Future Directions. *Ashgate, 2014. Håkan Selg, *Researching the Use of the Internet — A Beginner’s Guide. *Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Science and Technology 109, 2014. What I found (in part): Internet studies in what Barry Wellman and Bernie Hogan identify as “the third age” of Internet Studies – and what Heidi Campbell and Mia Lövheim identify as “the third wave” of work in Digital Religion (as a subdomain of Internet Studies) – continues from the earliest work in CMC a focus on community, along with more interdisciplinary / longitudinal studies. >From the overview Bill Dutton and I took away from our special issue of new media and society – from among several patterns we described, I further highlighted the increasing prominence of critical studies as grounded, e.g., in political economy approaches, including a thread of attention to how far autonomy, empowerment (of citizens, not simply consumers), gender equality, etc. are indeed fostered via Internet-facilitated communications, where these communications take place in almost entirely commercialized spaces aimed at commodification and self-commodification. A good part of this is extended and developed by Panayiota Tsatsou, who argues for a research agenda focusing on: *1. *the concept of *agency* (versus structure) and the question of whether agency in relation to the Internet derives from social or systemic/structural actors and factors; *2. *the concept of *power* and the question of *who owns power and the implications of power relationships and dynamics *for Internet development and effects; *3. *the concept of *identity* and the question of *whether the Internet has an identity and, accordingly, the Internet’s implications for user identity*. (2014, 216) I then suggested that Campbell and Lövheim’s account of an emerging “fourth wave” of work in Digital Religion might be a suggestive analogue for how Internet Studies will continue to unfold, as including: 1. further refinement and development of *methodological – and, I [Ess - but also Tsatsou] would add, ethical -* approaches, as well as the creation of *typologies* for *categorization* and *interpretation* purposes. 2. *longitudinal* studies on *the / relationship between the online–offline contexts* 3. reflection on the *social and institutional implication*s of practicing religion online 4. what impact, if any, this will have on the *construction of identity, community, authority and authenticity* in wider culture. Again, matters of identity, agency, relationship, community, and power come to the fore here. All of this inspired an effort to try to encapsulate these various insights into something of a heuristic for Internet Studies - a first response to the question of "What is it"? and/or the question, as nicely put by Tiago Lapa (ISCTE-IUL), "What glues Internet Studies together?". I offer the following as something of a draft - not intended to be exhaustive or complete, but something of a starting point, for the sake of asking AoIRists: what would you add and/or correct? == Drawing on disciplines throughout the natural sciences, social sciences, and the humanities, Internet Studies explores Internet-facilitated human (and machine) communication with characteristic (but not exclusive) focus on how identity, agency, relationship, community, and power interact with the affordances of Internet-based communication technologies, often with a careful view towards larger ethical, social, political, cultural, economic, legal, and other human contexts. Internet Studies further includes meta-theoretical development and refinement of various research methodologies; specific attention to the ethical challenges and possible resolutions to these challenges that arise in the course of such research; and the histories of the Internet, including web history as a domain in its own right. == Many thanks in advance, - charles ess -- Professor in Media Studies Department of Media and Communication University of Oslo Director, Centre for Research in Media Innovations (CeRMI) Editor, The Journal of Media Innovations <https://www.journals.uio.no/index.php/TJMI/> President, INSEIT <www.inseit.net> Postboks 1093 Blindern 0317 Oslo, Norway c.m.ess(a)media.uio.no

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CFP: Standards, Disruptions and Values in Digital Culture and Communication
by Gemma San Cornelio Esquerdo 22 May '15

22 May '15

Standards, Disruptions and Values in Digital Culture and Communication *** Deadline extended until May 25, 2015 *** Workshop organised by the Digital Culture and Communication Section of ECREA (DCC), and the Department of Communication Studies (ICT&S Center), University of Salzburg, *26-28 November 2015* Keynote speakers: Prof Charles Ess (University of Oslo) Prof Helen Kennedy (University of Sheffield) *Venue:* ICT&S Center, University of Salzburg *Call for Papers* In digital culture and communication, with the pervasiveness that characterises online media, standards and values are contested, whereas well-established paths in the production and circulation of information have been newly arranged or abandoned altogether. Technical and social standards are consistent, formal and informal norms, values or conventions of doing, operating, producing, and/or performing. As the basis of technical transmission, standards in media allow transferability and interoperability, reduce complexity, and facilitate communication across formats, platforms and boundaries. As a consequence of transformations and re-orientations that continuously happen in almost all fields of the media, new technological standards, ethical codes, narrative and visual tropes are being produced. It is therefore crucial to critically evaluate the relationship between standards and values in their social, political, technological and creative dimensions. Who has the power to define, develop and implement standards? Which values are attached to standardisation processes in creative industries and how are they related to copyright and patents in technological development? Are peer-production, open-access publishing and free-culture movements different kinds of markets or disruptions to existing models of markets? What is the relationship between technological standardisation and cultural diversity? This workshop aims to address such questions. We welcome papers on the following issues and topics: - Technical and social standards in digital media: How do technical standards evolve in the media industry and how are they implemented? What kind of values shape this process? What modes of interventions exist (e.g. between players like platform operators and users?) - Visual and narrative standards and disruptions in digital culture: How are visual standards and codes built and how do they influence the comprehension of data? How do visual media and narratives introduce new canons in forms such such as remix, memes or selfies? - Professional and ethical standards in digital contexts: Who is responsible of implementing professional ethical standards? Are there emerging frameworks? How do ethical codes inform digital culture research? How do big data contribute or condition these developments? Please send abstracts (max 400 words) by May 25, 2015 to ecreadigitalculture(a)gmail.com Conference website: http://dcc.icts.sbg.ac.at/ See also: http://wp.me/p2XXkX <http://wp.me/p2XXkX-6v> -- *Gemma San Cornelio Esquerdo* Estudis de Ciències de la Informació i de la Comunicació - Professora Directora Acadèmica del Postgrau en Tendències de Disseny i Creació Audiovisual <http://estudis.uoc.edu/ca/masters-postgraus-especialitzacions/diploma-postg…> *Universitat Oberta de Catalunya* 93 326 (3431) | gsan_cornelio(a)uoc.edu 22@ (Rambla Poblenou, 156) http://uoc.academia.edu/GemmaSanCornelio| @gsancornelio Aquest missatge s'adreça exclusivament a qui va destinat i pot contenir informació privilegiada o confidencial i dades de caràcter personal, la difusió de les quals és regulada per la Llei orgànica de protecció de dades i la Llei de serveis de la societat de la informació. Si no sou la persona destinatària indicada (o la responsable de lliurar-lo a qui va destinat), no heu de copiar aquest missatge ni lliurar-lo a tercers per cap concepte. Si heu rebut aquest missatge per error o l'heu aconseguit per altres mitjans, us demanem que ens ho comuniqueu immediatament per aquesta mateixa via i l'elimineu irreversiblement. Abans d'imprimir aquest missatge electrònic penseu en el medi ambient.

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#ir16 T-shirts?
by Alex Halavais 22 May '15

22 May '15

Wouldn't you like a cool IR16 conference T-shirt--you know, to wear on the beach at your next conference in Kauai, San Francisco, Fukuoka, Seattle, , or... Philadelphia? Me too! Unfortunately, my design sense is stuck in some unidentifiable decade on another unidentifiable planet. Which is where you come in... The Very Official IR16 Design Competition If you are handy with Illustrator (or with colored pencils), you may very well be the designer of our next T-shirt. Submit your art by June 30th, as an attachment to ir16(a)aoir.org, and we will choose a winner. What does the winner get? Funny you should ask. First, immeasurable glory and the deep admiration of their peers, many of whom will be wearing an original design of your own making (please do not include any images you do not have the rights to, and use no more than three colors). Second, an awesome T-shirt in the size of your choosing. Third, some undisclosed gift; the most I can disclose is that it will not be very large in size or very valuable, except in the thought-counting way. What do we get? Rights to produce your design on T-shirts, and sell them to IR16 attendees. If you have any questions, please direct them to your conference hosts at ir16(a)aoir.org Disclosure: Yes, I fully recognize that design competitions and spec work generally devalue the significant creative energy and time that design requires. Were we planning on profiting from your work, it would easily be considered exploitative. Instead, we hope that your contribution will be in the spirit of AoIR: a volunteer organization. Best, Alex Halavais -- // Alexander Halavais, Sociologist, Semiologist, and Saboteur Extraordinaire // Associate Professor of Social Technologies, Arizona State University // http://alex.halavais.net/bio @halavais

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