CALL FOR PRESENTERS
Image/Interface Symposium
University of Toronto,
Friday May 13 and Saturday May 14, 2016
Co-hosted by the Department of Arts, Culture, and Media, University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) and the Jackman Humanities Institute (JHI), University of Toronto St. George.
Deadline for submission of abstracts: Monday, February 29, 2016.
Notification of acceptance: Mid-March 2016.
Keynote Speakers:
The Otolith Group, London-based art collective
Lisa Parks, Professor of Film & Media Studies, UC Santa Barbara
Julian Stallabrass, Professor of Modern & Contemporary Art, The Courtauld Institute of Art
The Image/Interface symposium will explore the notion of technologies as physical objects—things, tools, apparatus, and the physically situated environment—for producing, receiving, and engaging with the increasing immateriality of imagery and visual cultures. The symposium foregrounds the materiality of technological practice while examining the reception, use, and sharing of cultural and political expression as well as the communication of embodied or situated knowledge and experiences.
We invite artists, creative practitioners, and scholars from across the fields of Media and Journalism Studies, Art History, and Visual Communication to present recent research and artistic work that critically reconsiders images in relation to:
- the materiality of the screen, the lens, and the interface
- the social and political ramifications of immersion, embodiment, and interactivity
- information sharing, surveillance and counter-surveillance
- the digital expression, construction and/or obfuscation of identity, gender, or ethnicity
- media-oriented social engagement, collaboration and social knowledge creation
Scholars from all stages of their careers (including PhD students) are welcome to apply. A honorarium at CARFAC rates will be offered to artists and creative practitioners.
The symposium will take place at JHI on Friday May 13 and at UTSC on Saturday May 14. If selected, each presenter will participate in a thematic panel and be asked to prepare a presentation of about 15-20 minutes. We ask that invitees attend the events on both days.
The Image/Interface symposium is part of the JHI 2015-2016 Program for the Arts. The program theme “Things that Matter” investigates how material culture carries “affective, social, cultural, historical, religious, economic, and political meanings and relation” and how things “provide insights into how people make sense of experience and come together as societies” (http://humanities.utoronto.ca/Announce_ProgArts15-16).
Abstract Submission Guidelines and Format:
Please submit the following to
https://www.humanities.utoronto.ca/funding/id=61.
- An abstract (maximum 300 words). The abstract should indicate the format of your proposed presentation, i.e. academic paper or creative work.
- Institutional affiliation and short bio (maximum 200 words).
- For Artists and Creative Practitioners:
- a CV (maximum 5 pages)
- a PDF portfolio (maximum 5MB)
For more information please contact:
Researchers: Evie Yi GU, (yi.gu /at/ utoronto.ca)
Artists and creative practitioners: Will Kwan, (wkwan /at/ utsc.utoronto.ca)
Conference Organizers:
Ruoyun Bai, Associate Professor of Media Studies
Kenzie Burchell, Assistant Professor of Journalism
Evie Yi Gu, Assistant Professor of Art History
Will Kwan, Associate Professor of Studio