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2nd Call for students: UBI Summer School 2010, Oulu, Finland
by Marcus Foth 07 Apr '10

07 Apr '10

2nd Call for Students: 1st International UBI Summer School 2010 May 31 - June 4, 2010, Oulu, Finland http://www.ubioulu.fi/en/UBI-summer-school-2010 http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=355122226963 The purpose of the summer school is to provide young researchers with an opportunity to gain deeper insight to the multidisciplinary fields of ubiquitous and urban computing, to stimulate international R&D networking and to promote the UBI-challenge. The summer school comprises of six parallel workshops: A: Real World Context-Aware Systems by Professor Anind Dey, Carnegie Mellon University, USA B: Urban Informatics and Sustainable Cities by Associate Professor Marcus Foth, Queensland University of Technology, Australia C: Urban Social Networks Analysis by Professor Vassilis Kostakos, University of Madeira, Portugal D: Creating and Sharing Artistic Experiences with Ubiquitous Technology by Jürgen Scheible, Aalto University, Finland E: IP-based Wireless Sensor Networks by CTO Zach Shelby, Sensinode, Finland F: Interactive Textures – rethinking materiality by Professor Mikael Wiberg, Umeå University, Sweden How to apply: The number of students accepted for each workshop is limited. Therefore, prospective young researchers should email by Apr 19, 2010 to Professor Timo Ojala (timo.ojala(a)ee.oulu.fi) a one page statement (PDF), which contains your contact information, a brief description of your research interests in ubiquitous and/or urban computing, a brief desciprtion of your motivation to attend the summer school, and a ranked list of the workshop(s) you would be interested in attending. If you are accepted to the summer school, then you will work in one particular workshop for the whole week. For example, if you wish to first attend workshop E but in case it would not be available you would also consider attending workshop B, then please state "my preferred workshops: E B" in your statement. Best regards, Professor Timo Ojala University of Oulu Finland timo.ojala(a)ee.oulu.fi Please also note: 2nd Open Ubiquitous City Seminar May 31, 2010, Oulu, Finland http://www.ubioulu.fi/en/2nd-Open-Ubiquitous-City-Seminar http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=358147083927 -- Assoc. Prof. Marcus Foth Principal Research Fellow Institute for Creative Industries and Innovation Queensland University of Technology (CRICOS No. 00213J) Victoria Park Rd, Brisbane QLD 4059, Australia Phone +61 7 313 x88772 - Fax x88238 - Office K506, KG m.foth(a)qut.edu.au - http://www.urbaninformatics.net/

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Virtual Lab, call for bids
by Frans Mäyrä 07 Apr '10

07 Apr '10

Hi - this might hopefully be of interest to the readers of this list; please also feel free forward this call to any company or individual you know is working on web analytics, online user research tools, game player research, or with tools for multi-method Internet research. Thanks! - Frans *Invitation for Tenders: A Virtual Lab* The social, cultural and economic significance of different virtual spaces (e.g. online learning environments, virtual game worlds, social networking services) has grown steadily during the last decades. At the same time, the need for innovative research methods and tools has increased. In Finland, the Universities of Jyväskylä, Tampere and the Technical University of Tampere have opened an open call for bids for implementing a compact virtual laboratory to facilitate research and education in virtual spaces. At this stage, we are looking for proposals that specify an implementation that is particularly focused on qualitative research methods (e.g. online surveys, self-reporting, user diaries), but multi-method approach, and plans that somehow integrate quantitative and qualitative approaches are considered as a merit. The maximum cost of tenders cannot exceed 12 000 euros (VAT included). Solutions that propose utilization of open source software and implementation mashups of existing social media and analysis tools are very welcome. The Virtual Lab service will be implemented to a server which the customer will specify; the technical details will be negotiated and agreed upon with the maker of chosen bid. Further information is available from: Professor Frans Mäyrä (UTA; frans.mayra(a)uta.fi) and Professor Päivi Häkkinen (JYU; paivi.hakkinen(a)ktl.jyu.fi) The completed tenders, including possible references of earlier successful projects that are related to the fields of social media, virtual worlds and tools for analysis, are asked to send by 5th May, 2010 as an email attachment to address: paivi.hakkinen(a)ktl.jyu.fi. The Cluster for Excellence in Future Learning and Game Research is part of the University Alliance Finland, and a joint spearhead project of the research groups located in the University of Jyväskylä, University of Tampere, and the Technical University of Tampere. Our goal is to advance the understanding and knowhow related to online learning and gaming from both pedagogic, entertainment and technically oriented perspectives. More information about the work of research groups is available from the Internet: http://gamelab.uta.fi/ - University of Tampere, INFIM Game Research Lab http://ktl.jyu.fi/ktl/tutkimus/tvt - University of Jyväskylä, Human-centred ICT in learning and working environments https://www.jyu.fi/tutkimus/hankkeita/agl - University of Jyväskylä, Agora Game Lab http://www.tut.fi/amc - Tampere University of Technology, Advanced Multimedia Center http://matriisi.ee.tut.fi/hypermedia/en/research/ - Tampere University of Technology, Hypermedia Laboratory -- | Frans Mäyrä, PhD * Professor of Digital Culture & Game Studies | Department of Information Studies & Interactive Media /// | Games Research Lab * University of Tampere * Finland ///// | www.uta.fi/laitokset/infim/ * http://gamelab.uta.fi ////// | frans.mayra(a)uta.fi *gsm +358503367650 *fax +358335517503 /// | www.unet.fi/fransblog **** www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra /////////

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To the other side of the digital divide - ipad anyone?
by Fouad Bajwa 06 Apr '10

06 Apr '10

Hi, Has anyone bought or tried an ipad? What are your feelings about it and what solutions or backdrops do you find in it? We can only read news online about it here in Pakistan or watch a few product review videos. -- Regards. -------------------------- Fouad Bajwa Internet Governance Advisor ICT4D Social Practitioner & Researcher Member Multistakeholder Advisory Group (IGF) Member Civil Society Internet Governance Caucus (IGC) My Blog: Internet's Governance: http://internetsgovernance.blogspot.com/ Follow my Tweets: http://twitter.com/fouadbajwa MAG Interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATVDW1tDZzA

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CFP: The Online Videogame: New Space of Socialization
by Maude Bonenfant 06 Apr '10

06 Apr '10

CALL FOR PAPERS THE ONLINE VIDEOGAME: NEW SPACE OF SOCIALIZATION Bilingual colloquium (French/English) October 28 , 29 and 30, 2010 Montreal, Quebec, Canada To play is a vital function for the development of individuals. Play is an activity of socialization which enables learning of the rudiments of social interaction. Since the middle of the twentieth century, our societies have placed more value on the playful practice at all ages. As such, playing is more and more present in numerous spheres of society. Huizinga (1938) and Caillois (1958) assert moreover that any playful activity is social, by definition, and gets its real meaning when it is practised in groups. For Gadamer (1960), the charm of playing lies primarily in the fact that it exercises a fascination in the player. Online videogames gather more and more followers worldwide as this phenomenon becomes more important from day to day. It is no longer necessary to question play as a way to spend time. Through the intervention of videogames, play has also become a way to develop social networks, learn new communication skills and tools, a way to learn a foreign language, a place to keep or develop friendships, an opportunity to participate in an online community, or even a way to be exposed to new cultures. Online videogames have become a media of socialization, that is to say, devices of mediation and mediatization which allow people to share large-scale information thanks to its network of exchanges and meetings. Such spaces of socialization arouse interactions convenient to the construction of the “self” and to the renewal of the representations of others and the world. Online videogames can facilitate socialization and be a carrier of values which are not necessarily different than those found in society. Online videogames can also be a place that facilitate values that are not necessarily present in society in general. Indeed, the experience as much as the manners and representations in videogames contribute to the moulding of cognitive modes, to the development of both technical and social skills and, in a more general way, to the reconfiguration of one’s relationship to the world. From this perspective, it is imperative to explore the modes of socialization shaped by online videogames and to question the various forms of instrumentalization, of domination, of exclusion, as well as forms of dependence and addiction which this kind of community can facilitate. The criteria from which the players give a value and organize their relations into a hierarchy with other players is potentially defined by the customs and contexts of online videogames. The observations, the descriptions, and the analysis of the manners and representations that are connected to the experience of online videogames become essential as a generation is subject to building their social referents partially through playful cyber universes. This type of study is justified all the more as players become imbedded in innovative modes of socialization, rehabilitation, social reintegration, and learning, not only in school and at home, but also in their workplace. This colloquium aims to make inventory of the researches within game studies, while online videogames are becoming more and more popular. Topics may include (but are not limited to) the following themes: • Forms of socialization in online videogames • Communicational stakes in online videogames • Questions of ethics and aesthetics in online videogames • Innovations and types of appropriation in online videogames • Questions of law, economy, and politics in online videogames • Design of games and the communications tools in online videogames • Therapeutic and educational customs in online videogames SUBMISSION GUIDELINES: People interested to participate in this colloquium have to submit an abstract treating of the higher presented theme (max. 3000 characters, included spaces), as well as a short biographic note. Abstracts should be sent to: recherchehomoludens(a)gmail.com. CALENDAR Abstract deadline : April 28, 2010 Notification of Acceptance: May 17, 2010 Full Paper deadline: August 27, 2010 Colloquium dates : October 28, 29 and 30, 2010 INVITED SPEAKERS: Mia Consalvo, PhD; Nicolas Ducheneaut, PhD; Sébastien Genvo, PhD; Miguel Sicart, PhD; Bart Simon, PhD; T.L Taylor, PhD. ORGANIZING COMMITTEE : The colloquium is organized by the research group Homo Ludens (Université du Québec à Montréal), with the collaboration of Technoculture, Art and Games (Concordia University) Charles Perraton, professor at the Department of social and public communication (Université du Québec à Montréal) Magda Fusaro, professor at the Department of management and technology (Université du Québec à Montréal) Coordination : Maude Bonenfant, postdoctoral researcher, Technoculture, Art and Games (Concordia University) recherchehomoludens(a)gmail.com ------------------------------------------------------ APPEL À COMMUNICATION LE JEU VIDEO EN LIGNE : NOUVEL ESPACE DE SOCIALISATION Colloque bilingue (français/anglais) 28, 29 et 30 octobre 2010 Montréal, Québec, Canada Jouer est une fonction vitale pour le développement des individus. Le jeu est une activité de socialisation qui permet d’apprendre les rudiments de l’interaction sociale. Nos sociétés, depuis le milieu du vingtième siècle, valorisent davantage la pratique ludique à tous les âges. Ainsi, le jeu est de plus en plus présent dans de nombreuses sphères de la société. Huizinga (1938) et Caillois (1958) affirment d’ailleurs que toute activité ludique est, par essence, sociale et prend tout son sens lorsqu’elle est pratiquée en groupe. Pour Gadamer (1960), l’attrait du jeu réside d'abord dans le fait qu’il exerce une fascination sur le joueur. Ainsi, les jeux vidéo en réseau réunissent-ils de plus en plus d’adeptes à travers le monde et ce phénomène prend de l’importance de jour en jour. Il n’est plus seulement question de jouer pour passer le temps, mais de développer un réseau social, des habiletés de communication et d’utilisation des différents outils liées à l’usage des jeux, parfois d’apprendre une langue étrangère, de conserver ou de développer des amitiés, de participer à une communauté en ligne, de s’ouvrir à de nouvelles cultures par l’entremise de la pratique vidéoludique, etc. Ces jeux deviennent de véritables médias de socialisation, c’est-à-dire des dispositifs de médiation et de médiatisation qui permettent de partager l’information à grande échelle grâce à son réseau d’échanges et de rencontres. De tels espaces de socialisation suscitent des échanges propices à la construction de soi et au renouvellement des représentations d’autrui et du monde. Le jeu vidéo en réseau peut favoriser la socialisation et être porteur de valeurs qui ne viennent pas nécessairement en contradiction avec celles de la société ou favoriser l’émergence de nouvelles valeurs. En effet, l’expérience (autant les usages que les représentations) des jeux vidéo contribue au façonnement des modes cognitifs, au développement des compétences techniques et sociales et, de manière plus générale, à la reconfiguration du rapport au monde. Voilà pourquoi il y a lieu de s’interroger sur les modes de socialisation mis en forme par les jeux vidéo en réseau et de questionner les différentes formes d’instrumentalisation (faux amis), de domination, d’exclusion et de dépendance que ce genre de communauté peut favoriser. Les critères à partir desquels les joueurs donnent une valeur et hiérarchisent leurs relations aux autres se trouvent peut-être transformés par l’usage et la forme des jeux vidéo en réseau. L’observation, la description et l’analyse des usages et représentations liés à l’expérience des jeux en réseau deviennent essentielles alors qu’une génération est sujette à construire ses référents sociaux en partie à travers les univers cyberludiques. Ce genre d’étude est d’autant plus justifié que les joueurs peuvent mettre en lumière, par leurs usages, des approches innovantes des modes de socialisation, de réadaptation, de réinsertion sociale et d’apprentissage, non seulement à l’école et à la maison, mais également en milieu de travail. Ce colloque se propose de faire l’état des lieux de la recherche dans le domaine des jeux vidéo en ligne alors que la popularité de ce type de jeux vidéo prend des proportions extraordinaires. Les thématiques suivantes seront abordées lors du colloque (mais d’autres thématiques pourront être abordées) : • Les formes de socialisation dans les jeux en ligne • Les enjeux communicationnels dans les jeux en ligne • Les questions d’éthique et d’esthétique dans les jeux en ligne • Les innovations et les types d’appropriation dans les jeux en ligne • Les questions de droit, d’économie et de politique dans les jeux en ligne • Le design de jeu et les outils de communication dans les jeux en ligne • L’usage thérapeutique, pédagogique et en milieu de travail des jeux vidéo en ligne PARTICIPATION AU COLLOQUE : Les personnes intéressées à participer à ce colloque doivent soumettre un projet de communication traitant du thème présenté plus haut (max. 3000 caractères, espaces compris), ainsi qu’une courte notice biographique. Le tout devra être envoyé par courrier électronique à : recherchehomoludens(a)gmail.com. CALENDRIER Date limite d’envoi des propositions de communication : 28 avril 2010 Notification d’acceptation ou de refus des propositions : 17 mai 2010 Remise de la version complète des communications : 27 août 2010 Tenue du colloque : 28, 29 et 30 octobre 2010 LES CONFÉRENCIERS INVITÉS : Mia Consalvo, PhD; Nicolas Ducheneaut, PhD; Sébastien Genvo, PhD; Miguel Sicart, PhD; Bart Simon, PhD; T.L Taylor, PhD. COMITÉ ORGANISATEUR : Le colloque est organisé par le groupe de recherche Homo Ludens (Université du Québec à Montréal), avec la collaboration du Technoculture, Art and Games (TAG) de l’Université Concordia Charles Perraton, professeur au Département de communication sociale et publique (Université du Québec à Montréal) Magda Fusaro, professeure au Département de management et technologie (Université du Québec à Montréal) Coordination : Maude Bonenfant, postdoctorante au Technoculture, Art and Games (Université Concordia)

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NEW BOOK on digital technology, ideology, and the new capitalism
by Eran Fisher 06 Apr '10

06 Apr '10

NEW BOOK from Palgrave: Media and New Capitalism in the Digital Age: The Spirit of Networks<http://www.amazon.com/Media-New-Capitalism-Digital-Age/dp/0230616070> / Eran Fisher (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010) This book explores the new terrain of network capitalism through the transformations of the discourse on technology. Rather than viewing such discourse as either a true or false reflection of reality, Fisher evaluates the ideological role that technology discourse plays in the legitimation of a new form of capitalism. Based on an extensive empirical analysis, the book argues that contemporary technology discourse at one and the same time promises more personal empowerment through network technology and legitimates a more privatized, flexible, and precarious economic constellations. Contrary to the prevailing assumption that sees network technology as liberating from the rigidity and pitfalls of a stifling, Fordist capitalism, the book offers a theoretical framework which sees contemporary technology discourse as an ideology that legitimates the economic, social, and political arrangements of the new capitalism. *Praise* “Fisher’s brilliant book provides cogent reasons why we should be skeptical about laptop capitalism and its fluidity and instantaneity of communication…Fisher helps us understand the age of digitality as, above all, capitalist.” --Ben Agger, Professor of Sociology and Humanities, University of Texas at Arlington “This carefully researched and skillfully written guide to the networked world doesn’t just demolish the dreamy visions of Utopia 2.0. It provides precisely the comprehensive analysis we need to understand their power and persistence.” --Vincent Mosco, Canada Research Chair in Communication and Society, Queen’s University, Canada “This is an audacious systematic ideology-critique of digital capitalism…It should be placed on your shelf with Castells's book on informational capitalism, with Dyer-Witheford's on cyber-Marxism or with Mosco's on the digital sublime.” --Uri Ram, Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, Ben Gurion University, Israel *Table of contents* Introduction Technology discourse and capitalist legitimation PART I Ch. 1 Capitalism, technology, and the digital discourse Ch. 2 Contemporary technology discourse PART II Ch. 3 Network market Ch. 4 Network work Ch. 5 Network production Ch. 6 Network human PART III Ch. 7 Network cosmology and the exhaustion of critique Ch. 8 Networks as the techno-political culture of post-Fordism *About the author* Eran Fisher is Lecturer at the College of Management – Academic Studies, and at the Interdisciplinary Center in Israel. He completed his PhD in the Department of Sociology at the New School for Social Research in New York in 2008. He writes on Critical Social Theory, technology, and capitalism, and the intersection of capitalism and network technology in such publications as the *European Journal of Social Theory*, *Fast Capitalism*, and *Working USA: The Journal of Labor and Society*. Media and New Capitalism in the Digital Age: The Spirit of Networks<http://www.amazon.com/Media-New-Capitalism-Digital-Age/dp/0230616070>(Palgrave, 2010)

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Fwd: Special Issue "Participation in Online Learning Communities"
by Caroline Haythornthwaite 06 Apr '10

06 Apr '10

FYI. >---- Original message ---- >>Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2010 17:01:22 +0200 >>From: Jaldemark Jimmy <Jimmy.Jaldemark(a)miun.se> >>Subject: Special Issue "Participation in Online Learning Communities" >> >>I trust this e-mail finds you well! You are receiving this e-mail because of your expertise and interest in participation in learning communities and their applications in online education. Therefore, I would like to cordially invite you to consider contributing your expertise to a special issue of International Journal of Web Based Communities edited by, Dr. Jimmy Jaldemark, Mid Sweden University, Sweden, entitled Participation in Online Learning Communities. >> >>Participation in educational communities may be conceptualised in different ways. One common way is to discuss participation in terms of agents interacting with the features of the surrounding environment. Such conceptualisations build on dualistic foundations where mind, body and environment are discussed as being separated from each other. In these conceptualisations analyses of online participation deemphasises influences on agents participation from for example cultural, historical, or physical aspects. Another way is to conceptualise agent’s participation in terms of transactions that embrace agents, the environment and features involved in human action. Such conceptualisations treat participation of human beings and the features involved in human action as being inseparable from the surrounding environment. Understanding of participation in online learning communities will be different depending on its conceptualisation. Moreover the consequences for designing online education will be different depending on how human action is conceptualised. Subsequently, how we conceptualise human action will affect the conditions for agents’ participation in online learning communities >> >>Traditionally, much of the published research on online participation has been built on interactional dualistic foundations. However, the concept online learning community in itself is a transactional conceptualisation of participation. While this concept build on an analysis of the intersection between learning, online, and participation in a community of other agents. Research is needed that challenges the prevailing interactional paradigm of online participation. This research should analyse participation in terms of intersections of human action. >> >>This special issue aims to gather a collection of high quality papers that reflect transactional analysis of participation in educational communities. Papers that focus on intersections of participation in online learning communities are welcome. >> >>Participation in an educational community is a social interplay between the agents that belongs to the particular community. Agents participate in such communities by using different tools: tools that have cultural, historical, physical, psychological, and social aspects. Moreover, tools mediate their participation and make it possible for them to create a shared meaning of their participation. This understanding of participation builds on a transactional analysis where features such as actions, agents, tools and the community is discussed in terms of being inseparable from each other. Thus, from a transactional analysis, the participation of the agents is only understandable in the intersections of such features. Agents’ tool-mediated online participation in educational communities could therefore be discussed in terms of participation in an online learning community. Overall, such transactional analyses based on different intersections could widen understanding of participation in educational communities. This special issue calls for papers that analyse participation in educational communities in different intersections. >> >>Contributions are expected to answer some of the following questions (among others): >> >>• How could intersections of participation in online learning communities be classified? >>• What types of intersections could improve our understanding of participation in online learning communities >>• What types of intersection are of special interest for the educational domain? >>• How could different intersections influence the design of education? >>• What approaches are suitable for transactional analyses of participation in educational communities >> >>Suitable topics include but are not limited to: >> >>• The role of socio-political classifications such as age, class ethnicity, gender >>• Affordances and constraints of different agents in educational communities >>• The circumstances for participation >>• Cultural analysis >>• The impact of different tools >>• Educational design approaches >>• Analysis of educational settings >>• Evaluations of the use different intersections >> >>Submission Procedure >>Should you accept this invitation, I would like to kindly ask that you, on or before the 15th of June, 2010 submit an extended abstract (1-2 pages) explaining the mission and concerns of the proposed article. Authors of accepted proposals will be notified by the 1st of July, 2010 about the status of their proposals and sent guidelines. Full papers are expected to be submitted by the 1st of October 2010. All submitted papers will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. >> >>If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I appreciate your consideration of this invitation and hope to hear from you soon! >> >>Best wishes, >> >>Dr. Jimmy Jaldemark >>Department of Education >>Mid Sweden University, Sweden >>S-871 88 Härnösand, Sweden >>jimmy.jaldemark(a)miun.se

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Advertisement: Digital Natives Research Coordinator @ CIS
by Nishant Shah 06 Apr '10

06 Apr '10

Dear All, For the next step of Digital Natives activities at the Centre for Internet and Society, we are looking for a Digital Natives Research Coordinator. I am attaching the advertisement for it here and hope that you will be able to circulate widely and/or also send in suggestions for candidates you think might be appropriate for the post. Warmly Nishant *Digital Natives Research Project Coordinator – Job Advertisement* The Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore, in collaboration with Hivos Netherlands, is looking for a Research Project Coordinator to help develop a knowledge network and coordinate international workshops for the project “Digital Natives with a Cause?” The job profile is as follows: 1. Coordinating international workshops in liaison with regional partners to produce content for a book mapping technology mediated interventions by young people in different parts of the world. 2. Developing a knowledge network of stakeholders in emerging Information Societies in the Global South, to document debates, discussions and ideas in the field of Digital Natives. 3. Working closely with academic researchers, scholars, and practitioners in the development sector to develop content for an international website on Digital Natives. 4. Supervise and coordinate the production of the Digital Natives research in print and digital content. 5. Strategise and execute dissemination, design and collaboration strategies for developing the Digital Natives research areas. 6. Supervising intellectual and financial logistics for the project. The candidate should be below 35 years of age and have fluent familiarity with digital platforms, trends, fashions and activities. Excellent communication and planning skills and the ability to work sensitively with partners in different countries and contexts are expected. Candidates with an advanced degree in Sociology, Culture Studies, Communication and Management, with experience in international programme/project management within the development sector or those working in the field of youth-politics/youth-technology with experience in international collaborative projects will be given preference. The job is based in Bangalore but requires a fair amount of international travel for logistical and substantial coordination. The position will open in May and is full-time. The position will be supported by two Project Associates who shall be selected in consultation with the Research Project Coordinator. Consolidated consultation fees will be in the range of 34,000 – 45,000 Rupees per month commensurate with experience. International travel and per diem will be provided based on established CIS standards. Send in applications in SOFT COPY ONLY, along with an updated CV and samples of writing or project deliverables to nishant(a)cis-india.org by the 25th of April 2010. The Digital Natives with a Cause? Report is available on the CIS website for further reference at http://www.cis-india.org/publications/cis/nishant/dnrep.pdf/view -- Nishant Shah Director - Research Centre for Internet and Society, Bangalore Asia Awards Fellow, 2008-09 Doctoral Student, CSCS Phone: +91-(0)-9740074884 -- Nishant Shah Doctoral Candidate, CSCS, Bangalore. Director (Research), Centre for Internet and Society,( www.cis-india.org ) Asia Awards Fellow, 2008-09 # 00-91-9740074884 -- Nishant Shah Doctoral Candidate, CSCS, Bangalore. Director (Research), Centre for Internet and Society,( www.cis-india.org ) Asia Awards Fellow, 2008-09 # 00-91-9740074884

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The Communication Review Call for Papers: “Twitter Revolutions? Addressing Social Media and Dissent”
by Tatiana Omeltchenko 05 Apr '10

05 Apr '10

The Communication Review special issue: “Twitter Revolutions? Addressing Social Media and Dissent” Volume 14, Issue 2 (2011) Guest Editor: Christian Christensen, Uppsala University, Sweden Contact Christian Christensen, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Media & Communication Studies Department of Informatics and Media Uppsala University, Sweden christian.christensen(a)im.uu.se “The Internet, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook have reconstituted, especially among young people, how social relationships are constructed and how communication is produced, mediated, and received. They have also ushered in a new regime of visual imagery in which screen culture creates spectacular events just as much as they record them. Under such circumstances, state power becomes more porous and less controlled (…) Text messaging, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and the Internet have given rise to a reservoir of political energy that posits a new relationship between the new media technologies, politics and public life (…) State power no longer has a hold on information, at least not the way it did before the emergence of the new media with its ability to reconfigure public exchange and social relations while constituting a new sphere of politics.” (Giroux, 2009) Recent events in Iran – and in other locations such as Moldova, Georgia, Egypt, Palestine and China – have stimulated a great deal of discussion on the use(s) of social media for the purposes of political dissent and activist organization, as well as in impacting public opinion on matters of national and international security. What the Iranian case has added to the discussion – crystallized in the above quote from Giroux – is supposed evidence of the powerful role of social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube in facilitating dissent during times of conflict and suppression. However, the aftermath of the June 2009 Iranian elections also provided ample evidence of the inverse: how the use of social media by anti-government activists, as well as access to highly sophisticated monitoring hardware and software on the part of the Iranian authorities, rationalized processes of state surveillance and repression. A great deal of discourse – often revolving around sexy phrases such as “Twitter Revolutions” or “The YouTube War” – has posited the central role of technology in anti-government protests or acts of dissent, only for critical questions to be raised shortly afterward regarding the actual level of use and impact of such technologies. Welcoming a variety of methodological, theoretical and disciplinary perspectives, the purpose of this special issue of The Communication Review will be to publish papers which: 1. address the relationship between social media, dissent and political action from a variety of (critical) perspectives, avoiding excessively techno-deterministic and/or techno-utopian frameworks; 2. focus upon the use of newer forms of social media (for example, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube); and, 3. place particular emphasis on research addressing the use of social media in relation to dissent and/or political action from a diversity of national/regional contexts. Deadlines • Deadline for extended proposal submission: June 1, 2010 • Notification of proposals selected for full paper submission: June 30, 2010 • Deadline for full paper submission (selected proposals only): November 1, 2010 Proposal process Authors are asked to submit an extended paper proposal of approximately 750 words to Christian Christensen (christian.christensen(a)im.uu.se) by June 1, 2010. The proposal should address the main conceptual, theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the article, as well as what the piece will add to our understanding of the relationship between social media and dissent/political action. The proposal should be sent as a two page Word document: (1) a cover page with paper title, name, professional rank, institutional affiliation and contact information, and (2), the proposal on the following page(s), with no indication as to author identity/identities or affiliation(s). Proposals will be reviewed and a select number of authors will be asked, on the basis of their proposals, to submit full papers. The full papers of approximately 7000-8000 words will be due on November 1, 2010. Please note that a request to submit a full paper is not a guarantee that the full version will be published. All full papers will go through peer-review, and it is on the basis of these reviews that the articles to be published in the special issue will be selected. For further information regarding The Communication Review, please see: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713456253~db=all -- The Communication Review A Quarterly Publication by Taylor&Francis University of Virginia 401 Cabell Hall, PO Box 400866 Charlottesville, VA 22904-4866 Phone: 434-243-4330 Fax: 434-243-8869 http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~content=t713456253~db=all

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Fwd: <nettime> How you can help the bang.Lab and EDT
by jeremy hunsinger 05 Apr '10

05 Apr '10

from nettime. banglab is related to the electronic disturbance theater. > > > Please pass this on! > > http://bang.calit2.net/2010/04/how-you-can-help-the-bang-lab-and-edt/ > > There are two main ways you can show support at this time. Thank you all > for the signatures! The showing of support from around the world will > surely help our case and hopefully demonstrate to the UCOP how difficult > it is going to be for them to continue this repression of us. > > Now, here's what you can do to help: > > 1. Write a letter expressing your concerns about this issue, supporting > our research, calling for an end to the investigations and an end to the > harassment of Ricardo Dominguez and bang.lab/EDT members to: > > "Kester, Grant" <gkester(a)ucsd.edu>, "Larsen, Kristina" <klarsen(a)ucsd.edu>, > "Lerer, Seth" <slerer(a)ucsd.edu>, "Lawrence.Pitts(a)ucop.edu" > <Lawrence.Pitts(a)ucop.edu>, "Rosen, Amy" <arosen(a)ucsd.edu>, "SVC Academic > Affairs" <SVCAA(a)ucsd.edu>, "Ricardo Dominguez" <rrdominguez(a)ucsd.edu> > > Please send your letters by April 7th, 2010! > > 2. Please come to UCSD on April 8th at 10:30am and show your support with > a rally outside of the meeting between Ricardo Dominguez and the Vice > Chancellor. As of now, we think the meeting will be in Grant Kester's > office, Mandevilla 209, on the 2nd floor. A map to the Mandeville building > is here: http://visarts.ucsd.edu/node/view/495/ The vice-chancellor needs > to know how broad and determined the support for Ricardo is! Let's fill > the courtyard, the stairs and the first floor open area! Please come and > bring friends! The Vice Chancellor is pushing to have the meeting at his > office on North Torrey Pines road, so please check back at > http://bang.calit2.net for updates on April 7th! > > More background information about what this is all about here: > > http://bang.calit2.net/2010/03/bang-lab-edt-update-call-for-accountability-… > > Thank you for your support, > > micha cárdenas, b.a.n.g. lab member and Lecturer in Visual Arts > > > > -- > micha cárdenas > > Lecturer, Visual Arts Department, University of California, San Diego > Artist/Researcher, Experimental Game Lab, http://experimentalgamelab.net > Calit2 Researcher, http://bang.calit2.net > > blog: http://transreal.org > > > > > -- > micha cárdenas / azdel slade > > Lecturer, Visual Arts Department, University of California, San Diego > Artist/Researcher, Experimental Game Lab, http://experimentalgamelab.net > Calit2 Researcher, http://bang.calit2.net > > blog: http://transreal.org > > > > jeremy hunsinger Center for Digital Discourse and Culture Virginia Tech Information Ethics Fellow, Center for Information Policy Research, School of Information Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (www.cipr.uwm.edu) () ascii ribbon campaign - against html mail /\ - against microsoft attachments http://www.aoir.org The Association of Internet Researchers http://www.stswiki.org/ stswiki http://transdisciplinarystudies.tmttlt.com/ Transdisciplinary Studies:the book series

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CFP - Continuum Special Edition: "Mediated Youth Cultures"
by Brady Robards 04 Apr '10

04 Apr '10

(Please distribute widely! Feel free to contact me should you have any questions.) ---------- Call for Papers: "Mediated Youth Cultures" A special issue of Continuum: Journal of Media and Cultural Studies (ISSN: 1030-4312) Abstracts due May 14 Guest Editors: Andy Bennett & Brady Robards (Griffith University, Australia) Conventionally speaking, the study of youth cultures and their associated practices has been focused around the notion of the youth cultural group as a locally situated, physical entity. In recent years, however, research has pointed to the impact of digital media technologies on young people, their cultural practices and forms of interaction. In particular, it has been noted how more recently introduced communication technologies, notably the internet and the mobile phone, have opened up new, often ‘virtual’ spheres of interaction between young people. This in turn begs new questions about the nature of youth culture in the early 21st century. This special edition of Continuum will consider the impact of new communication technologies on youth culture and the way the latter have altered and enhanced the forms of interaction underpinning youth cultural practice. Papers are being sought in the following areas: - Mediated youth identities - Engagement with online social spaces (social network(ing) sites, online games and other virtual environments) - Youth engagement with peer-to-peer file sharing - ‘Trans-local’ youth cultural formations - Access to sport and extreme sport (Roller Derby, breakdancing, martial-arts, etc.) - Risk-taking behaviour (chemical cultures, piracy, etc.) Abstracts (of approx. 200-300 words) should be submitted to b.robards(a)griffith.edu.au no later than 14th May 2010. Authors are invited to contact Andy Bennett (a.bennett(a)griffith.edu.au) to discuss their approach in advance of submitting abstracts. Successful authors will be asked to submit a full paper, which will be subject to a blind refereeing process.

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