[ecrea] CfP Media Mutations 4 - University of Bologna

MM4
Narrative ecosystems: flows, transformations, social uses
May 22nd and 23rd 2012

The encouraging feedback received by the third Media Mutations conference dedicated to narrative ecosystems (MM3. Narrative Ecosystems. Environment, tools and models Dipartimento di Musica e Spettacolo, Bologna, May 24th-25th 2011), have encouraged the organizers to continue exploring such a fruitful area of interest. The ecosystemic approach has proven capable of illuminating many relevant aspects of contemporary media production: the complexity of intermediality and intertextuality, the dynamism which distinguishes enduring but mutable narrative universes from self-sufficient, closed texts, the homologies across media which suggest abandoning a “medium specific” approach for a holistic point of view.

Crucial for the 2011 conference were issues regarding the definition and analysis of narrative forms. Media Mutations 4 will focus on processes taking place within media ecosystems. The aim is to provide explanatory patterns for change by taking into account how ecosystems work in terms of narrative, culture and economies.

We are particularly interested in addressing the following issues:

Dynamics of content flow: Content flow issues are connected with logistics, that is organization, management, handling and coordination of both commodities and information in a complete productive chain. How can an ecosystem work across multiple media channels? What narrative strategies are employed to link the various elements together? How does content flow redefine relationships among all the actors in the ecosystem (audience, broadcasters and policy makers, technology, media content)?

Ecosystem transformations: Ecosystems’ resilience deserves particular attention in terms of the ways in which they respond to transformation. For instance, what happens to the narrative of a TV series when, for some reason, the main actors are no longer available? Is there a relationship between serialization and an ecosystems durability? Such questions could be addressed through the sampling and analysis of empirical data, perhaps employing quantitative methodologies that are too often overlooked in the media studies field.
Patterns of usability: How do media ecosystems reconfigure user relationships with content? How are the traditional notions of “social use of media” and “media relations” redefined? a particularly intriguing area of research in this regard is that of videogaming, especially Alternate Reality Games (ARG) are concerned given the immersive experiences they offer.

New policies and new business models: Finally, we need to consider how policies and business models have changed. What strategies have been developed by institutional actors such as governments, supranational organizations, broadcasters, to deal with practices affecting ecosystems such as digital piracy? How relevant will non-monetary economies (with exchanges based on reputation, emotion, relationships) be? What is the importance of communities, participatory cultures, sharing practices?	

Deadline for paper abstract (3000 characters max) submission: January 31st 2012
Notification of acceptance by: February 29th 2012
For further information please contact: Claudio Bisoni ((claudio.bisoni2 /at/ unibo.it)) and Veronica Innocenti ((veronica.innocenti /at/ unibo.it))

Submission of paper abstract through this link:
https://www.easychair.org/conferences/?conf=mm4




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