[ecrea] Full Time PhD position, Free University of Brussels

Vacancy: Full Time PhD position, Free University of Brussels

The Centre for Ethics and the research centre 
IBBT-SMIT of the Free University of Brussels 
(Vrije Universiteit Brussel) offer a full time 
PhD position in the fields of Media and 
Communication Studies and Philosophy. The vacancy 
is open for a research position of 4 years, in 
order to realize a PhD on virtual media, the 
reconfiguration of proximity and the social, 
cultural and moral consequences thereof. The 
position starts February 1st 2011, and is 
supervised by Prof. J. Bauwens, Prof. M. Van den 
Bossche and Prof. K. Verstrynge.

Candidates are expected to show strong affinity 
with and interest in the domain of media 
philosophy and media sociology, and are holder of 
a Masters degree in Philosophy or Communication 
Studies. Applications are to be sent latest by 
January 6th 2011 to Prof. J. Bauwens or Prof. K. 
Verstrynge. When applying, a motivation and an 
elaborated vision on the theme under concern are 
expected to be included with the CV.


Contact information:

Prof. dr. J. Bauwens
Dept. of Media and Communication Studies
Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brusssels
E-mail: (jbauwens /at/ vub.ac.be)
Tel.: (0032) 2-629 1829

Prof. dr. K. Verstrynge
Dept. of Philosophy
Free University of Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Pleinlaan 2
B-1050 Brussels
E-mail: (karl.verstrynge /at/ vub.ac.be)
Tel.: (0032) 2-629 2596


Description of the research theme:

The increasing virtualisation of processes of 
communication and interaction has important 
consequences for the definition and experience of 
proximity. In particular the reconfiguration of 
time and space is, according to several 
media-theoreticians, the crucial challenge of the 
Ôdigital ageÕ (a.o. Virilio 1996; Morley 2007; 
Castells 2001): the accelerated speed of 
communication affects in a determining way the 
meaning of presence and absence of others, of 
their distance and the community they belong to 
(Silverstone 2007; Moores 1999).

In a virtual context, the dialectical relation 
between distance and proximity, as a condition 
for genuine interpersonal relations (e.g. Levinas 
1961; Bauman 1993; Silverstone 2007; Virilio 
2009), is subjected to great pressure. In line 
with this observation, two important evolutions can be detected.

First, the increasing interaction with others 
takes place through mediatised, i.e. digitized 
and virtual representations of the other (e.g. 
avatars in games, chatpartners in chatrooms, 
textualized and photographed ÔfriendsÕ on social 
network sites). In this perspective, several 
studies have shown that this 'evaporation' of 
(online) alterity does not harm the strong 
affective character of online relationships.

Second, there is a changing role of emotionality 
in our society, by some described as 
'post-emotionality' (Mestrovic 1997; cf. Giddens 
1991), by others conceived as 'affectual 
postmodernism' (Maffesoli 1988a) or even as a 
sort of hyper-emotionality (cf. Ôcommunisme des affectsÕ, Virilio 2009).

Both these observations are the background for a 
philosophical and media-theoretical research 
project that focuses on the question how 
emotionality and affectivity should be understood 
in virtual forms of social interaction, from a 
phenomenological, ethical-existential and sociological point of view.

Because of the growing success of all kinds of 
social virtual worlds (ranging from social 
networking sites as Facebook to Instant Messaging 
communities and MMORPGs) and its impact on the 
meaning of social connectivity, closeness and 
grouping, this project addresses the following 
key research question: How do emotions and 
affections underpin the rise, organization, 
maintenance and disappearance of virtual tribes? 
This key research question is addressed from a 
philosophical and social theoretical perspective. 
The first tackles the philosophical discussion of 
the altering meaning of emotion and affect in 
virtual environments. The second perspective is 
rooted in media and communication theory and 
draws on sociology of emotions, 
cyber-anthropology and cyber-sociology to 
understand the role of emotionality and 
affectivity in computer-mediated interactions. 
The research project advocates a theoretical 
cross-fertilization of different fields of research and thought.

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