[Commlist] Conference registration for Code as Conversation: Transmedia Dialogues Around Critical Code Studies closes on 25 May!

CODE AS CONVERSATION: TRANSMEDIA DIALOGUES AROUND CRITICAL CODE STUDIES

What: A one day conference at Cambridge Digital Humanities (CDH) on the 
dynamic field of critical code studies.
When: Saturday 1 June 2024, 09:00 - 17:00
Where: SG1, Alison Richard Building, University of Cambridge
Convenors: Claire Carrol and Orla Delaney (CDH)
Keynote: David Berry, Professor of Digital Humanities at the University 
of Sussex

REGISTER HERE: https://www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/events/37778/ *Registration 
closes on Saturday 25 May*

ABOUT
‘Hello World!’ is how all computer programmers begin, and it’s how Mark 
C. Marino opens his manifesto for critical code studies. This elementary 
exercise in coding, accompanied by the instruction PRINT, demonstrates 
that “code exists not for machines but for humans who need to 
communicate with the machine and with other humans.” The code we write 
enables us to interface with the machine, sitting somewhere between 
human language and the calculations performed by the computer.

Here, we take up ‘conversation’ as a means of interrogating the 
performative, cultural, and functional nature of code. The discipline of 
critical code studies extrapolates outward from close readings of chunks 
of computer code to capture the broader phenomena at work behind them: 
the users, communities, engineers, teachers, critics, routers, servers, 
compilers, computers, chargers, and utility networks. The framework of 
the conversation places code into continuous mutual negotiation with 
these resources; compiling is only the beginning of the process.

However, critical code studies is frustrated by the increased 
preponderance of deep neural networks, which abstract code processes 
further from what is intelligible through language; human critique and 
understanding hinges on our ability to read and speak back to code. How 
do these conversations falter when language is obstructed, and how can 
we develop methodologies to keep understanding obfuscated code?

This one-day conference on the dynamic field of critical code studies 
will expand on these questions and on the conversations begun by the 
Cultural Politics of Code reading group at Cambridge Digital Humanities. 
Researchers and students from all disciplines, as well as those working 
in industry, are encouraged to attend.

WHEN AND WHERE?
The conference will be held in person at the University of Cambridge on 
Saturday 1 June 2024. Panels will take place between 9am and 5pm in Room 
SG1 of the Alison Richard Building on the Sidgwick Site. Lunch and 
refreshments will be served in the Atrium of the building, which is 
directly outside SG1. Participants should make their dietary and access 
requirements known on the e-sales form. Should you wish to discuss any 
specifics, please get in touch via (CodeAsConversation /at/ cdh.cam.ac.uk) and 
we will do our best to accommodate any requests.

PROGRAMME
We are delighted to share that David Berry, Professor of Digital 
Humanities at the University of Sussex, will deliver the keynote 
'Critiquing Code Alignment: Tracing “Forward Alignment” and “Backward 
Alignment” in Critical Code Studies'. The keynote will accompany a 
varied programme of panels and experimental talks from researchers in 
multiple disciplines and areas. Full programme available here: 
https://www.cdh.cam.ac.uk/events/37778/#programme

HOW TO REGISTER AND FEES
Registration closes at 23:00 UK time on Saturday 25 May, one week prior 
to the start of the conference. There are limited places available, so 
early booking is encouraged. Registration will become active once 
payment is received via the university eSales platform.

Standard (employed): £20
Subsidised (unemployed/student): £10
Speakers: no fee

BURSARIES
There are limited bursary places for individuals who are not able to 
afford the cost of the conference and can demonstrate how attending the 
conference will be beneficial for their work or study. If you wish to be 
considered for a bursary, please contact 
(CodeAsConversation /at/ cdh.cam.ac.uk) as soon as possible

CONTACT US
Any questions? For all enquiries, please contact 
(CodeAsConversation /at/ cdh.cam.ac.uk)

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