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"Online - Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet" + Call for Paper
by kerstin.radde＠zegk.uni-heidelberg.de 20 Nov '06

20 Nov '06

Dear list-members, the second issue of the relatively young and yet unknown "Online - Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet" covering the topic "Rituals on the Internet" is online. Please see: http://online.uni-hd.de. The journal consists of the following papers: Kalinock, Sabine: Going on Pilgrimage Online - the Represenation of Shia Rituals on the Internet. Jakobsh, Doris R.: Authority in the Virtual Sangat: Sikkhism, Ritual and Identity in the Twenty-First Century. Rudolph, Michael: Ethnic Revival, and the Reappearance of Indigenous Religions in the ROC - the Use of the Internet in the Construction of Taiwanese Identities. Radde-Antweiler, Kerstin: Rituals Online: Transferring and Designing Rituals. Casey, Cheryl Anne: Virtual Faith - the Revirtualization of Religious Ritual in Cyberspace. MacWilliams, Marc: Techno-Ritualization - the Gohozon Controversy on the Internet. We're planning another special issue covering the topic "Virtual Worlds". I send you the Call for Paper as a text below. Additionally we're excepting other articles for publication dealing with religion and internet all the time. Just send them to: online-journal(a)zegk.uni-heidelberg.de I would be gratefull, if you recommended our journal and the possibility to publication. With best greetings from Heidelberg (Germany) Yours sincerly Kerstin Dipl. Theol. Kerstin Radde-Antweiler SFB 619 Teilprojekt C 2 Institut für Religionswissenschaft der Universität Heidelberg Akademiestr. 4-8 69117 Heidelberg Tel.: +49-(0)6221-547482 Fax : +49-(0)6221-547424 Email: kerstin.radde(a)zegk.uni-heidelberg.de URL: http://www.rituals-online.uni-hd.de/en/ Call for Paper "Virtual Worlds" In the academic field of "Cultural Studies", like in other cultural and social disciplines, the relevance of the Internet as new media is constantly increasing. New areas of scholarly research are to be found on homepages, weblogs, in chat rooms, in newsgroups and in virtual 3D environments, where religious and spiritual topics are presented and incessantly negotiated. The Internet could be seen as a ?cultural context of its own right", as Christine Hine stated in her programmatic book "Virtual ethnography". In this respect it has become an important part of our cultural and scientific assets, heritage and memory. As such it also forms, modifies and creates new cultural structures. Therefore, the challenges of this media provide the scholar with materials in a still mainly unexplored field of research, demanding new scientific methods and methodologies in order to analyse the likewise new realm of religious beliefs and utterances in this virtual space. In the context of Internet Research, Virtual Worlds offer a new environment to meet, communicate and perform social and cultural activity in a virtual reality, irrespective of geographical and real-life body conditions. Examples for such Virtual Worlds - understood as digital spaces, occupied in large part by human controlled agents, known as avatars, participating in a collective virtual space? (Krausnick 2004) - are Active Worlds and The Palace - both in use since 1995 - and There since 1998. The most prominent and famous example is the privately-owned, subscription-based 3D application Second Life that went online for the public in 2003. An increasing number of residents use such environments not only as a kind of virtual playground but as an enlargement of their real-life possibilities. And this ?virtual life? has to be taken seriously: The users are both socially and religiously very active and consequently transfer real-life activities into virtual space. For the next issue of the new Journal Online - Heidelberg Journal of Religions on the Internet (http://online.uni-hd.de) we are planning to edit a special edition with the working title "Virtual Worlds". The essays we are inviting should deal with the notions of cultural and / or religious activities in Virtual Worlds like Second Life and MMOGs such as Everquest, World of Warcraft, etc. Possible topics or foci of the special issue: 1) Religion and Rituals 2) Methodology 3) Offline-Online Relations Other topics that correspond to the subject of the issue are equally welcome. We encourage abstracts from all areas of research. Please send title and abstract (no more than 350 words) of your proposed paper as well as some short biodata of the author/s as email-text to Kerstin Radde-Antweiler (kerstin.radde(a)zegk.uni-heidelberg.de) by January 4th, 2007. Later submissions will not be accepted. A decision on the contents of the volume will be made on the basis of anonymous reviews of the abstracts, and all authors of abstracts will be informed by January 30th, 2007. Authors will have to be prepared to submit their finished papers (no more than 8000 words) by March 15th, 2007. Then, these will be reviewed and possibly returned to the authors with suggestions from the editors. It is planned to publish the volume by Mid 2007. Dipl. Theol. Kerstin Radde-Antweiler Centre for European Historical and Cultural Studies Institute for Religious Studies Akademiestr. 4-8 D-69117 Heidelberg Germany

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OCS Third Online Congress 11/20-12/3
by Mark Marino 19 Nov '06

19 Nov '06

Hi, al, I just wanted to remind everyone that the third "Online" Congress of the Observatory for the Cybersociety begins tomorrow, November 20 and runs through Dec. 3. This time, the congress has this title: "Open knowledge, Free Society" The many working groups of the Congress share many of the research interests of AOIR. Although many of the papers are not in English (the organization is based in Spain), a machine translator, such as BabelFish, is typically enough to follow the major claims. Participants are also allowed to comment in their own language (in order to encourage more participation from a wider variety of backgrounds). I would also recommend my own group: WORKING GROUP C-7: DIGITAL NARRATIVE. Topics include: new interfaces, new works of electronic literature, electronic criticism of literature, and copyright/copyleft concerns. I have read a number of the papers and know you will find them and discussions about them insightful. So far almost 4000 people have registered for the Congress, which is held every two years. To register go here: http://www.cibersociedad.net/congres2006/gts/gt.php?llengua=en&id=104 See more here: http://writerresponsetheory.org/wordpress/2006/10/17/espanol-en-english-cfp/ best, Mark C. Marino Writing Program University of Southern California http://WriterResponseTheory.org

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library job: Digital Collections Librarian (Assistant Librarian Rank)
by David M Silver 19 Nov '06

19 Nov '06

folks, i know many list subscribers are in library and information schools. for those interested in digital collections and for those on the job market, this (below) may be the job for you! for more information regarding this job, visit the USF web site [ http://www.usfca.edu/ ]and select the quick link marked "employment." david silver http://silverinsf.blogspot.com/ *** Position Title: Digital Collections Librarian (Assistant Librarian Rank) Job Description: This position will have an important role in a team-oriented environment to develop and manage the Library's digital collections under the direction of the Head of Library Systems. Position duties include: Working with faculty and librarians in the identification of print materials to be transferred to digital media; coordination of workflow for digitizing and cataloging digital collections; cataloging and assignment of metadata to digital materials; identification of external funding sources and grant writing; coordination of marketing for digital collections; consultation with campus legal office on copyright, licensing and rights management issues related to digital collections; consultation with faculty and other producers of digital media in the creation of an anticipated institutional repository. The position will also include some bibliographic liaison and cataloging responsibilities and serve as back-up in some areas of library system administration. The position will support the teaching, learning and research needs of the University of San Francisco faculty and students. Requirements: MLS from ALA-accredited program. One to two years of professional experience preferred with demonstrated aptitude for and interest in project planning and management, digitization standards, technical services, electronic resource management, or related areas. Preference will be given to candidates with experience using bibliographic utilities, such as OCLC; integrated Library systems, particularly Innovative Interfaces; content management systems such as CONTENTdm or DSpace; and metadata protocols. Knowledge of current trends in digital library development, digitization standards, long-term management and preservation, and rights management issues relating to digital materials. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a team environment, working both independently and collaboratively, strong commitment to customer service, effective written and oral communication skills, demonstrated organizational ability and problem-solving skills. Interest in and potential for establishing a record of professional achievement and service is required.

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Media Policy in Budapest
by Nanne Priebs 18 Nov '06

18 Nov '06

Dear all, I am looking for enthusiastic students and young professionals who are interested in international/comparative media policy. The Media, Information and Telecommunications Policy Stream (http://www.ceu.hu/dpp/degree/mit.htm) of our 1-year MA program in Public Policy focuses on issues of policy planning studied through the lens of media, communications and information issues in Europe and globally. The course is offered by the Department of Public Policy in conjunction with the Center for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS). Our students take an active role in the academic life of the university and are encouraged to work on research projects at CMCS. CEU, located in Budapest, Europe, is a US-style graduate university, accredited both in the United States and in Hungary. The language of instruction and communication is English. Scholarships will be awarded on a competitive basis. All complete application materials should be submitted so that they are received no later than January 6, 2007 for consideration for a scholarship. For further information please contact me at vispriebs(a)ceu.hu. Best regards, Nanne Nanne Priebs von Hahn Project Manager Center for Media and Communication Studies (CMCS) Central European University Nador u. 9, H-1051 Budapest, Hungary email: vispriebs(a)ceu.hu www.cmcs.ceu.hu *********************************************** CEU (www.ceu.hu) is a US-style English language graduate university with a focus on the social sciences and the humanities, accredited both in the United States and in Hungary, and located in Budapest, in the heart of Europe. The university is oriented to interdisciplinary research on, and the study of social change and the policy implications of transition to open societies. In addition, emphasis is placed on European Union affairs, as well as on the special features of non-Western democracies. CMCS (www.cmcs.ceu.hu) has emerged as a new center of excellence for promoting media and communication studies throughout the Central and Eastern European region. We aim to accomplish this in a manner that can be useful to NGOs, policy-makers and regulators as well as for internationally acclaimed scholars and researchers.

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Re: [Air-l] Petition Tony Blair, online that is
by Ildiko Kaposi 18 Nov '06

18 Nov '06

Stephen, I believe Wainer's 'delight' was ironic at best, even sarcastic - precisely because he senses political spin behind the initiative. The more I learn about it, the more it seems like the site is an exercise in electronic populism. I thought the idea of push-button/point-n-click panacea for democracy was passe, but your government appears to think otherwise. It is hard to make predictions, but if this is an empty exercise, devoid of deliberation or obligations for the PM to take the petitions into consideration, it will probably not be a lasting success with British citizens. Ildiko Kaposi >>> "Stephen Coleman" <S.Coleman(a)leeds.ac.uk> 11/18/06 10:33 AM >>> I don't share Wainer Lusoli's apparent delight at the arrival of the Ten Downing Street e-petitions tool. From a political perspective, one might ask why citizens are being urged to petition the Prime Minister, when the UK's system of government is not presidential, but parliamentary. More significantly, this technology has been built so that people are only allowed to sign petitions, but not discuss them. Unlike the Scottish Parliament's e-petitions, public deliberation is prohibited. This leads to a narrow notion of democracy without discussion in which petitions can claim neither representative nor deliberative legitimacy. >From the perspective of internet research, this is an interesting illustration of how political design can undermine technical potential. Contrast this with the great tradition of political petitioning that has existed in Britain since the late thirteenth century. The Chartists of the mid-nineteenth-century did not make a political impact by collecting signatures, but by holding mass meetings to discuss the cause of their petition. Imagine iif the Chartists - or the disarmament movement of the 1960s - had been allowed only to plead with the Prime Minister rather than assemble, deliberate and develop their own convictions. Citizens sending petitions via this new e-tool should be encouraged to subvert its intended restrictive use by setting up an alternative web space in which propositions can be openly discussed and revised. Stephen Coleman, Professor of Political Communication, Institute of Communications Studies, University of Leeds

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Petition Tony Blair, online that is
by Wainer Lusoli 18 Nov '06

18 Nov '06

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ Still rubbing my eyes in disbelief Any thoughts, anyone? Wainer -------------------------------------------- Wainer Lusoli http://www.lusoli.info http://del.icio.us/lusoli http://www.i-pol.org --------------------------------------------

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Re: [Air-l] Analyzing user generated multimedia content
by William Bain 18 Nov '06

18 Nov '06

On this topic could I also just briefly mention _The New Art History_, A.L. Rees & F. Borzello (eds.) in this regard. For any kind of real contexting it seems to me that art history has to be a main insertion point element. Another question may be whether we're heading for analyses of word texts by one group of experts and graphic texts by another. Maybe were already there. Anyway, Rees & Borzello is 1985, too, a good deal less recent than the other texts mentioned. But I think it's a nice short intro. William William Bain PhD Student Comparative Literature Department of Spanish Philology Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona --------------------------------- Sponsored Link $420,000 Mortgage for $1,399/month - Think You Pay Too Much For Your Mortgage? Find Out!

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refs on myspace and facebook
by Bonnie Nardi 18 Nov '06

18 Nov '06

Hi All, Can anyone recommend some top of the line research on MySpace and Facebook? I'm looking for thoughtful academic work rather than journalists' accounts. Thanks very much. -- Bonnie Bonnie A. Nardi School of Information and Computer Sciences University of California, Irvine Irvine, CA 92697-3425 (949) 824-6534 www.artifex.org/~bonnie/

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FW: 5th Annual Chinese Internet Research Conference
by Kluver, Randy 17 Nov '06

17 Nov '06

The 5th Annual Chinese Internet Research conference will be held at the Annenberg Presidential Conference Center at Texas A&M University from May 21-22, 2007. The conference website is at http://international.tamu.edu/ipa/projects/conference.asp Conference Description: Many have seen within the Internet and related digital media the potential for the widespread transformation of political control and participation, or the foundations for new grassroots movements, or even more simply, a tremendously large market for telecommunication and digital media services. As the Internet and related technologies have grown exponentially in the last several years, this interest has not been limited just to Chinese, but has been equally important in many other nations, either those that hope to facilitate rapid political evolution, or simply to provide markets for national telecommunications infrastructure providers. There are several important facets to China's relationship with information technologies, including governmental priorities and policies, a fear of political and social instability, the creation of a high tech industry, an education infrastructure to support that industry, and the social and political issues that accompany high tech innovation. In addition, the social consequences of information technologies, through phenomenon such as online dating, gambling, and interactive games have been the subject of innumerable press reports, raising the suspicions of political leaders, educators, and community leaders, as well as countless numbers of parents. Previous academic analysis of the Internet in China has focused primarily on governmental control of the internet and the use of the Net by dissident movements and actors. However, as the Internet and related technologies are becoming more fully integrated into a wide spectrum of social life, there is need for a fresh look at digital media in China. Thus, the theme of the Fifth Annual Chinese Internet Conference is "New perspectives on the Internet in China." Participants will seek to move beyond the simplistic portrayals, as well as the "cyberutopianism" of much of the early research. We will reassess first-generation analyses and develop more subtle, grounded theory and empirical research examining the wide range of issues associated with digital media in China. We invite participation from diverse voices, including both younger and senior scholars from Mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, so as to understand the role of digital media in China in a more realistic perspective. Potential paper topics include a wide variety of issues that examine the role and use of the internet in the Greater Chinese cultural area, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the overseas Chinese diaspora. Some potential areas might include: * Rethinking China and the Internet * Bridging the political divide: the Internet and Cross-Straits Relations * "Internet pollution" and social impacts * "Let a billion voices bloom" - e-government, e-democracy * The impact of wireless technologies and the "mobile Internet" * The Internet in Chinese International Relations * Digital media and social identity * The Chinese diaspora and the Internet * China and global Internet governance (ICANN, WSIS etc) * China's role in Asia's Digital Future * Information and Communications Technology for development (ICT4D) in China Submissions: We invite individuals to submit papers that are relevant to the conference themes, and relate to Internet use, policy, and impacts in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or elsewhere in the Chinese cultural world. Abstracts should be at least 1500 words in length and references must be in APA style. Abstracts may be in English or Chinese. All abstracts received will be peer reviewed and selected on the basis of quality of submission and relevance to the conference themes. Submissions must be sent via email to Carmen Suen at csuen(a)ipomail.tamu.edu by February 15, 2007. Authors will be notified of acceptance by March 15, 2007. After acceptance, full and complete papers, written in English, must be submitted by May 1, 2007. Selected papers from the conference may be published in an edited volume or a special symposium issue of an academic journal. Participation in the conference will neither guarantee nor compel publication of a paper. In order to be considered for publication, the full paper must be received by the conference organizers before May 1, 2007. For more information, contact Carmen Suen at csuen(a)ipomail.tamu.edu, or see the conference webpage at http://international.tamu.edu/ipa/projects/conference.asp Randy Kluver, Ph.D. Director, Institute for Pacific Asia Texas A&M University 204 Coke 3371 TAMU College Station, TX 77843-3371 Phone: (979) 845-3099 Fax: (979) 845-3085 http://international.tamu.edu/ipa/

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Re: [Air-l] Petition Tony Blair, online that is
by Ildiko Kaposi 17 Nov '06

17 Nov '06

Wainer, What's the reason for your disbelief? I took only a cursory glance at the sight, so I'm not well-informed. First of all, I don't know what the online petitioning implies exactly, i.e. whether there are any obligatory consequences for the Right Hon. Blair or government policy. But online petitioning as such is practised elsewhere, and e-democracy has been something of a priority for the UK government, so this seems to fit the pattern. Am I misreading the initiative? Ildiko >>> "Wainer Lusoli" <w.lusoli(a)lse.ac.uk> 11/17/06 1:56 PM >>> http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ Still rubbing my eyes in disbelief Any thoughts, anyone? Wainer -------------------------------------------- Wainer Lusoli http://www.lusoli.info http://del.icio.us/lusoli http://www.i-pol.org -------------------------------------------- _______________________________________________ The air-l(a)listserv.aoir.org mailing list is provided by the Association of Internet Researchers http://aoir.org Subscribe, change options or unsubscribe at: http://listserv.aoir.org/listinfo.cgi/air-l-aoir.org Join the Association of Internet Researchers: http://www.aoir.org/

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