This inter- and multi-disciplinary conference aims to examine, explore and critically engage with the issues and implications created by the growing adoption of information technologies for inter-human communication. The project will also focus on assessing the continuing impact of emergent cybermedia for human communication and culture. In particular the conference will encourage equally theoretical and practical debates which surround the cultural contexts within which cybermedial and technological advances are occurring.
Papers, presentations, workshops and reports are invited on any of the following themes:
1. Cyberspace and Cyberculture
Theories and Concepts of Cyberspace and Cyberculture. Identifying Key Features and Issues.
2. Cybercultures and Online Communities
Emerging Practices in Social Networking. User-generated Content and the Change of Cultural Practices. Social Identity in Cyberspace. Concepts and Meaning of Online and Co-located Communities.
3. Cyber-Subcultures
Glocal, Multi-National, Cross-Continental, Cross-Generational and Online Diaspora Communities. Youth, Fan and Alternative Online Sub-Cultures.
4. Design for Social Networking
Design and Communication Strategies and Practices. Trends in Web Services and Interfaces: Accessibility, Usability and Design. Creativity in Interactive Media. Mobile Communications. Future Web.
5. Cybercultures and Politics
Governance and Control over the Online Environment. Cyber-Democracy and the Impact on National and Global Politics. Surveillance and Privacy in the Online World. Cyber-Activism and Social Mobilisation. Digital Divide. Digital Rights in Virtual Environments. Cybercrime vs. Ethical Hacking. Pirate Party Politics.
6. Cybermedia and Cyberjournalism
New Media Discourses. Digital Communications and Free Speech. Censorship and Content Regulation. Grassroots Journalism, Activism and Hactivism. Open Access, Copyright vs. Copyleft.
7. Interactive Media Literacies
Educational Use of Virtual Environments and Computer Games. Cultures of Online Learning. Global and Local Learning in the Age of Convergent Cultures.
8. Digital and Interactive Arts
Digital Artistic Practices and Aesthetics. Performative and Collaborative Use of Digital Media. Preservation of Digital Media Heritage.
The Steering Group particularly welcomes the submission of pre-formed panel proposals.
In order to support and encourage interdisciplinarity engagement, it is our intention to create the possibility of starting dialogues between the parallel events running during this conference. Delegates are welcome to attend up to two sessions in each of the concurrent conferences. We also propose to produce cross-over sessions between two and possibly all three groups – and we welcome proposals which deal with the relationship between Cybercultures and/or transmedia narratives, immersive worlds and/or monstrous geographies.
What to send:
300 word abstracts should be submitted by Friday 6th December 2013 If an abstract is accepted for the conference, a full draft paper should be submitted by Friday 14th March 2014. 300 word abstracts should be submitted simultaneously to both Organising Chairs; abstracts may be in Word or RTF formats with the following information and in this order:
a) author(s), b) affiliation as you would like it to appear in programme, c) email address, d) title of abstract, e) body of abstract, f) up to 10 keywords.
E-mails should be entitled: Cubercultures 9 Abstract Submission.
Please use plain text (Times Roman 12) and abstain from using footnotes and any special formatting, characters or emphasis (such as bold, italics or underline). We acknowledge receipt and answer to all paper proposals submitted. If you do not receive a reply from us in a week you should assume we did not receive your proposal; it might be lost in cyberspace! We suggest, then, to look for an alternative electronic route or resend.
Organising Chairs
Daniel Riha: rihad@inter-disciplinary.net
Rob Fisher: cyber9@inter-disciplinary.net
The conference is part of the ‘Critical Issues’ programme of research projects. It aims to bring together people from different areas and interests to share ideas and explore various discussions which are innovative and exciting. All papers accepted for and presented at the conference will be eligible for publication in an ISBN eBook. Selected papers may be developed for publication in a themed hard copy volume. All publications from the conference will require editors, to be chosen from interested delegates from the conference.
For further details of the conference, please visit:
http://www.inter-disciplinary.net/critical-issues/cyber/cybercultures/call-for-papers/