[ecrea] DIY Citizenship: Critical Making and Social Media

> DIY Citizenship:
> Critical Making and Social Media
> Centre for the Study of the United States, Munk School of Global
> Affairs
> University of Toronto
> Nov 12-14, 2010
>
> http://diycitizenship.com/
>
> Call for papers/presentations: due May 20, 2010
>
> Plenary speakers include: Anne Balsalmo, Suzanne de Castell, Ron Deibert,
> Paul Dourish, Henry Jenkins, Jennifer Jenson, Natalie Jeremijenko, Steve
> Mann, Trebor Scholz.
>
> Conference Organizers: Prof. Megan Boler, Associate Chair, Department of
> Theory and Policy Studies in Education, Ontario Institute for Studies in
> Education, University of Toronto; Prof. Matthew Ratto Assistant
> Professor, Faculty of Information, University of Toronto; Director,
> Critical Making Lab, University of Toronto
>
> A renewed emphasis on participatory forms of digitally-mediated
> production is transforming our social landscape. ‘Making’ has become the
> dominant metaphor for a variety of digital and digitally-mediated
> practices. The web is exploding with independently produced digital
> ‘content’ such as video diaries, conversations, stories, software, music,
> video games—all of which are further transformed and morphed by
> “modders,” “hackers,” artists and activists who redeploy and repurpose
> corporately-produced content. Equally, communities of self-organized
> crafters, hackers, and enthusiasts are increasingly to be found online
> exchanging sewing and knitting patterns, technical guides, circuit
> layouts, detailed electronics tutorials and other forms of instruction
> and support. Many of these individuals and collaborators understand their
> work to be socially interventionist. Through practices of design,
> development, and exchange they challenge traditional divides between
> production and consumption and to redress the power differentials built
> into technologically-mediated societies.
>
> “DIY Citizenship” invokes the participatory nature of these diverse
> “do-it-yourself” modes of engagement, community, networks, and tools—all
> of which arguably replace traditional with remediated notions of
> citizenship. The term “critical making” refers to the increasing role
> ‘making’ plays in critical forms of social reflection and
> engagement.
>
> This interactive conference seeks to extend conversations about new modes
> of engaged DIY citizenship and politics evidenced by the exponential
> increase of DIY media, “user-generators”, “prosumers,” “hacktivists,”
> tactical media interventionists, and other ‘maker’ identities. We invite
> scholars, activists, artists, designers, programmers and others
> interested in the social and participatory dimensions of
> digitally-mediated practices, to engage in dialogue across disciplinary
> and professional divides. All methodological and theoretical approaches
> are welcomed. Submissions may include paper proposals, works of art
> and/or design, short video or audio segments, performances, video games,
> digital media, or other genres and forms. Potential topics include: the
> relation between social media and the ‘making’ of new forms of
> citizenship engagement—thus, for example, making movements; making
> community; making news; making play; making bodies; making health; making
> public; making education; making networks.
>
> For the full conference call, see:
> http://diycitizenship.com/

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Nico Carpentier (Phd)
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University of Brussels
Centre for Studies on Media and Culture (CeMeSO)
Pleinlaan 2 - B-1050 Brussels - Belgium
T: ++ 32 (0)2-629.18.56
F: ++ 32 (0)2-629.36.84
Office: 5B.401a
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European Communication Research and Education Association
Web: http://www.ecrea.eu
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E-mail: (Nico.Carpentier /at/ vub.ac.be)
Web: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~ncarpent/
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