CONFERENCE
Blowing Up The Brand: Critical Perspectives on Promotional Culture
WHEN: 8-9 May 2009
WHERE: New York University - Institute for Public Knowledge - 
http://www.nyu.edu/ipk/
WEBSITE: http://www.nyu.edu/ipk/brand/
Keynote Address by Rob Walker, New York Times "Consumed" Columnist
**Invited Panelists**
Paula Chakravartty, UMass Amherst
John Corner, University of Leeds
Arlene Davila, New York University
Mary Ebeling, Drexel University
Jonathan Gray, Fordham University
Miriam Greenberg, UC Santa Cruz
Graham Knight, McMaster University
Celia Lury, Goldsmiths, University of London
Jeff Pooley, Muhlenberg College
Marita Sturken, New York University
**Description**
Creative cities, PR nations, celebrity diplomacy, Hype Machine, 
branded philanthropy, YouTube identities.... These are both symptoms 
and effects of what Andrew Wernick termed "promotional culture": the 
extension of promotional discourses, practices and performances into 
virtually all areas of public life.
What is at stake in these contemporary promotional paradigms? The 
interpenetration of public and private interests, techniques and 
expertise creates new anxieties and demands new forms of analysis. 
The goal of this two-day conference is to develop a set of 
productive critical perspectives on promotion in relation to 
contemporary culture. We seek to assemble creative and 
interdisciplinary frameworks to identify common themes and 
disjunctures inherent to these forms of communication. At issue is 
the changing role of the consumer-citizen-user in contemporary life.
For complete schedule, or to RSVP, visit: http://www.nyu.edu/ipk/brand/
For more information, contact conference co-organizers Melissa 
Aronczyk and Devon Powers at (blowingupthebrand /at/ gmail.com)