[Commlist] Call for Abstracts for ICA Preconference 2023 on Key Themes in Digital Disconnection Research

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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS: ICA PRECONFERENCE 2023

Key themes in digital disconnection research:

Authenticity, wellness, datafication and power

International Communication Association Annual Conference, Toronto, Canada

Thursday, 25 May: 9:00-17:00, Victoria University - University of Toronto

Sponsored by the following ICA groups: Activism, Communication and 
Social Justice Interest

Group; Intercultural Communication Division; Mobile Communication 
Division; Philosophy,

Theory, and Critique Division


Deadline for Abstracts: January 20, 2023


The preconference explores the topic of authenticity in disconnection 
studies, as authenticity

emerges as both a negative and positive motive: Citizens log off to 
avoid inauthentic social

media and hope to achieve a more authentic life by engaging in offline 
activities. However,

these motives are fraught with contradictions and ambivalence, to be 
explored at the

preconference. In particular, the preconference addresses how these 
tensions around

authenticity are situated in a broader context, promoting the discussion 
around the key topics

of wellness, datafication and power. Contributions are invited on how 
digital breaks are

facilitated or prevented by communication industries, socio-economic 
status, social networks,

cultural practices, and the relations between these different 
structures. The preconference

especially welcomes studies of disconnection across different domains 
and across social groups.

We are particularly interested in research focusing on a variety of 
sociopolitical contexts,

beyond the Anglo-Saxon and European experience.


Building on a successful preconference in Paris in 2022, this second 
disconnection studies

preconference has three main objectives:


1) Expand collaboration: the preconference in Toronto builds on the 
effort developed

during Covid years and in Paris, to invite scholars with fresh 
perspectives to contribute,

namely to expand approaches and collaborations across disciplines, media 
and regions

of the world.


2) Expand the range of topics and perspectives: the event stimulates 
studies that consider

the links between macro, meso, and micro perspectives through four 
critical themes.

Furthermore, the preconference aims to expand participation in the 
research area from

non-western sites, as well as studies focused on intercultural perspectives.


3) Stimulate networking and career development among junior and senior 
academics: the

fast development of the field calls for a need to facilitate contact across

national borders and disciplines that this event can foster.


We encourage abstracts emphasizing the following dimensions:

• Methodological approaches and empirical analyses of disconnection as 
it intersects with

authenticity, wellness, datafication and power

• Theoretical and conceptual advances of disconnection studies with 
respect to the

themes of authenticity, wellness, datafication and power

• Cultural, cross-cultural and historical perspectives on disconnection

• Explorations of motivations and consequences of digital disconnection 
practices

• Studies of disconnection practices in understudied locations, social 
domains and among

understudied demographics.


ABSTRACT REQUIREMENTS AND PROCEDURES


The conference is based on non-anonymous abstracts of no more than 300 
words, exclud.

references.

Submit abstracts as Word documents to disconnection[at]hum.ku.dk by 
January 20, 2023,

including info on author name, position and affiliation.

The abstracts will be subject to a review process by the organizing 
committee and placed in

thematic clusters for panel discussions and roundtable talks.

Decisions on acceptance will be communicated to applicants by February 17.

Authors of accepted abstracts are expected to attend the preconference 
in person.

Participation fee (including coffee break and lunch) is US $15 for all 
participants. Each

participant should cover their travel and accommodation costs.

The venue is Victoria University in the University of Toronto. It is 
located about 2km from the

big conference hotels and accessible via Subway.


ORGANISERS:

• Trine Syvertsen, Professor, University of Oslo

• Gunn Enli, Professor, University of Oslo

• Tero Karppi, Associate Professor, University of Toronto (Local host)

• Anne Kaun, Professor, Södertörn University

• Ana Jorge, Associate Professor, Lusófona University

• Stine Lomborg, Associate Professor, University of Copenhagen

• Mariek Vanden Abeele, Associate Professor, Ghent University

• Victoria Andelsman, PhD candidate, University of Copenhagen

• Christoffer Bagger, PhD candidate, University of Copenhagen

• Sara Van Bruyssel, PhD candidate, Ghent University

• Tom De Leyn, postdoc, Ghent University

• Bert Verhulst, PhD candidate, Ghent University


SPONSORS

The preconference is sponsored by The Institute of Communication, 
Culture, Information and

Technology at the University of Toronto; the research project Datafied 
Living, funded by the

Independent Research Fund Denmark and the ERC, at University of 
Copenhagen; and the

research project Digitox, funded by the Research Council of Norway, at 
the University of Oslo.


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