CFP: Virtual International Conference on #Glitching #Comics -The #ComicsStudies Society

In her 2020 publication Glitch Feminism: A Manifesto, Legacy Russell explores the notion of “glitch-as-error with its genesis in the realm of the machinic and the digital.” With this framing, she argues that glitches might “inform the way we see the AFK [Away-From-Keyboard or real] world, shaping how we might participate in it toward greater agency for and by ourselves” (8-9). With her sights set on social systems of gender, race, and sexuality in particular, Russell asks how embodied subjects who defy patriarchal white supremacist cisheterosexist norms are positioned or appear as glitches, as errors, in digital and AFK spaces. Rather than take for granted the normative understanding of glitch-as-error, Russell argues for a feminist praxis that reconceives glitches as a form of refusal and a means by which to challenge the status quo. Russell is particularly interested in how artists record, perform, and embrace the glitch to expose our flawed social systems, explore the in-between, and “imagine new possibilities of what the body can do, and how this can work against the normative” (14). To read Russell’s work online or to hear her talking about glitch feminism see here: https://www.legacyrussell.com/GLITCHFEMINISM  

Building on Russell’s bold and necessary work, the CSS Conference Committee invites members to join us in glitching comics. What can errors in production processes of print comics reveal about systems of racialization? How might digital reading practices expose industry sexism or ableism? What do creators accomplish when they embrace glitchy aesthetics? How do comics or comics media that dwell in the in-between or sit with discomfort help us to refuse violent social norms? How do marginalized creators take advantage of systemic failures? 

Like Russell, we recognize the feedback loop between digital and AFK spaces so we encourage participants to draw on print or digital comics, comics-related media, or texts that actively blur these distinctions. The Comics Studies Society invites proposals for 15-minute individual papers, pre-formed panels, media objects (such as critical making, comics, video, Twine, or performance), and pedagogy or other workshops that engage with how comics (across forms, genres, media, experiences, regions, and cultures) disrupt the status quo. 

Topics may include but are by no means limited to: 

• “Glitch Refuses”
  • Resistant narratives
  • Texts that defy genre distinctions
  • Subversive reading practices
• “Glitch Throws Shade”
  • Errors that expose hegemonic social norms
  • Aesthetics that reveal the fallibility of normative ideals
  • Reactivity in fan communities
• “Glitch is Error”
  • Comics that embrace the unknowable
  • Media that strive for elasticity
  • Historical errors that disrupted the status quo
• “Glitch is Anti-body”
  • Disability in comics
  • Production processes that prioritize accessibility for disabled creators and readers
  • Representations of bodies that glitch “hegemonic normative formulations”

• “Glitch is Virus”
  • Reception of or resistance to AI art in comics
  • The brokenness of labor standards in the comics industry
  • Infection or monstrosity as a “vehicle of resistance” to identity norms
• “Glitch Mobilizes”
  • How digital platforms/modes of creation provide opportunity
  • The promise of “newly proposed worlds” in comics media 
  • Fan activism
• “Glitch is Remix”
  • Retcon as a form of reclamation
  • The rearranging of creative traditions to generate something liberatory
  • Repurposing discomfort to reveal truths

We ask that you submit abstracts via the Google Forms below or on our website no later than 11:59pm Central Time (US) on February 16, 2024. All submissions will undergo transparent peer review. Notifications will go out and registration will open in March. The virtual conference will take place in June 23-26 2024.

• Individual Paper Proposals
• Panel Proposals
• Roundtable Proposals
• Workshop Proposals

Please contact the Conference Committee with any questions: comicsstudiesorg@gmail.com

Contact Information

The Comics Studies Society

comicsstudies.org / comicsstudiesorg@gmail.com

Contact Email

comicstudiesorg@gmail.com

URL

http://comicsstudies.org

Attachments

Glitching Comics Conference Poster featuring an astronaut in a shattered mask, the conference title, and date

CFP: REIMAGINING MEDIA: NARRATIVES ON THE MARGINALIZED AND INCLUSIVITY IN THE MEDIA AND CONSUMPTION INDUSTRIES-Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communications

 REIMAGINING MEDIA: NARRATIVES ON THE MARGINALIZED AND INCLUSIVITY IN THE MEDIA AND CONSUMPTION INDUSTRIES

The many emergent voices in Indian media shape contemporary discourses on gender, consumption, economy, narratives, race, language, caste and identities. Such voices help contribute to how we view and understand the world, especially in the way inequalities are encountered and perpetuated by contemporary media, resulting in representational signals that reimagine the status quo. In this, the role of film, social media and brand communications appear to have been more significant, when compared to their conventional mainstream counterparts, such as print and broadcast media. The second edition of SCMC’s Pramana Research Conference strives to examine the contemporary construction of inclusivity in both cultural and business contexts, simultaneously looking at media representations as well as consumption practices. In a combined Call for Papers to educators, researchers and academicians, the Pramana Conference aims to explore the role and potential of ‘change agents’ as guides who influence the consumers’ imagination of intersectionality and inclusivity, unravel socio-cultural marginalization.

Theme 1: The Marginalized in Contemporary Indian Media

Social and cultural marginalizations of various types exist in all complex societies, including India; and with the advent of modern public life, many such enduring, yet historically changing, deeply ingrained marginalizations practiced in the subcontinent have been matters of significant discussion. The presence of constitutional and legal safeguards has not however amounted to such consciousness permeating into the social fabric, which continues to promote socially ingrained privileges, while keeping the conversation about discrimination and marginalization on the periphery. Many media industries remained overwhelmingly populated by privileged, educated social elites (Kureel 2021, Kumar 2009) and popular cinema narratives remained aligned to privileged social groups, with few tokenistic representations of lower social groups. The Mandal agitations of early 1990s and the immediately preceding militant anti-caste movements compelled representational space to lower caste and class groups, their realities and specificities. Simultaneously, this is also the moment when Dalit literature burst onto the Indian literary scene as an unavoidable force to reckon with. It is in the longue-durée context of this gradual emergence of representation of caste, gender and the marginalized in Indian public life that we want to situate our discussion of the politics of representation in contemporary Indian media: including in cinema, broadcast media, print and digital journalism, digital content and social media platforms. We especially want to delve into the use of the contemporary mediascape by socially marginalized groups for self-assertion and representation.

Topics (but not limited to):

• Contemporary Media Representation: Portrayals of the Marginalized in News, Entertainment, and Popular Culture;
• The Marginalized in the Digital Spaces: Online Platforms and Social Media Networks;
• Marginalized Groups and Journalism: Study of Caste-based Biases etc. and Reporting in Indian Media;
• Social Media Activism: Assessment of Social Media's Role in Mobilizing Anti-caste Movements etc. and Raising Awareness;
• The Marginalized, Media, and Policy: Evaluation of Policies Addressing caste-related and other issues in the media sector;
• Intersectionality, Class and Caste: Analysis of how these intersect with other identity markers in media representations;
• Marginalization and Hate: Examination of dogwhistling, hate speech and cyberbullying on Social Media;
• Media Initiatives for Social Change: Case studies of media projects promoting inclusivity and social equality.

Theme 2: Inclusivity in Brand Ecosystems: Structural and Marketplace Influences, Representational Narratives, and New-age Brand Philosophies

The integration of social awareness has emerged as a pivotal guiding principle for contemporary marketing strategies and this has led practitioners to shift their branding strategies towards content and communication that cater to varied sub-cultures and socially disadvantaged consumer groups. Despite this, many societal groups remain stereotyped, misportrayed and under-represented, with invasive and harmful imagery continuing to surface in the world of brand communication, media and branded content. Presently, there is a growing body of case studies and anecdotal evidence that show that inclusive marketing practices have a discernible impact across various dimensions of marketing (Thompson 2021). Many scholars specializing in marketing, such as Licsandru and Cui (2018) and Kuppelwieser and Klaus (2020), further developed and enhanced the theoretical framework underlying this notion. Despite extensive global research conducted in various areas such as inclusive marketing, there remains a notable dearth of comprehensive research in the field of inclusive branding and communication within mainstream marketing theory. We would like to enhance the field’s research potentials through the exploration of connections between existing research-based studies on inclusive brand communication and the development of research frameworks which aim at broadening the scope of inclusive brand communication as a practical domain. The track will focus on understanding the role of inclusivity’s contribution to social progress and brand growth, and its influence in shaping effective brand communication.

Topics (but not limited to):

• Exploring the internal and external motivation of brands to leverage inclusive marketing and communication;
• Effectiveness and efficiency of media platform to communicate inclusivity and consumers perception of the same;
• Inclusivity in Corporate Communications, employee relations and stakeholder relationships;
• Role of inclusive marketing communication in Advocacy and Internal Communication stakeholder management etc.;
• Marginalized groups in social and cultural space, Advertising, and Marketing: Exploration of marginalized-centric marketing strategies and their effects on consumers;
• Marginalized, Labour and Media Industry: The stratifications of Marginalized, class, linguistic, regions and caste in the labour hierarchy of various Indian media;
• Factors driving the effectiveness of inclusive advertising campaigns, DEI (Diversity, equity, and inclusion) in the media agencies;
• Role of AI (artificial intelligence) as enabling or hindering advertising inclusivity;
• Discussing the power dynamics between communication industry, government, politics, and consumer activists in promoting, negotiating, or resisting diversity and inclusivity movements.

Submission Guidelines:

Abstract Submission: Interested contributors are invited to submit an abstract of their proposed paper (250-300 words) along with a brief bio-note (50 words).

Language: English

Completed papers should be between 6,000 to 8,000 words, inclusive of references and citations can be submitted for a Conference compendium. Submissions must adhere to the APA style guidelines. We welcome original research, discussion notes, unpublished work, working papers etc.

Important Dates:

Abstract Submission Deadline: 30^th November, 2023

Notification of Acceptance: 15^th December, 2023

Conference Date: 19^th and 20^th January, 2024

Submission Process:

Please submit your abstract and bio-note as a Word document to pramana.conference@scmc.edu.in. Submissions will undergo a double-blind peer-review process, and selected researchers will be notified duly.

Conference Venue:

Symbiosis Campus in Viman Nagar situated in Pune.

Registration:

The conference registration details will be announced after the acceptance of abstracts.

 

Contact Information

Please submit your abstract and bio-note as a Word document to

pramana.conference@scmc.edu.in. Submissions will undergo a double-blind

peer-review process, and selected researchers will be notified duly.

CONFERENCE VENUE:

Symbiosis Campus in Viman Nagar situated in Pune.

REGISTRATION:

The conference registration details will be announced after the acceptance of

abstracts.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

For any inquiries regarding the conference or submission process, please

contact pramana.conference@scmc.edu.in.

Contact Email

pramana.conference@scmc.edu.in

URL

https://www.scmc.edu.in/SCMC-Pramana-2024

CFP: International Conference on "(Art)ificial Intelligence and the Problems of Language, Thinking, and Writing: Interrogations to #Jacques Derrida"

The first English translation of Jacques Derrida’s La Voix et le Phénomène (1967) translated as  Speech and Phenomena: And Other Essays on Husserl's Theory of Signs is completing its 50^th anniversary in 2023. This is “an event, perhaps” (Salmon, 2020). This book was translated again in 2011, this time with the title Voice and Phenomenon: Introduction to the Problem of the Sign in Husserl’s Phenomenology. Derrida’s views on translation “as transaction and as transfer” (2001) is too well known not to think of this series of translation events as, at least, “dubious”. We are using “dubious” of course to underline the fact that this International Conference which is being organized to commemorate Speech and Phenomena may not be celebrating the “original” book let alone celebrating Voice and Phenomena. Therefore, the question of authenticity and originality is, not putting too fine a point on it, an aporia. We use this aporia of original, translation, and multiple productivity of texts to investigate and contribute to the contemporary debates on artificial intelligence, machine learning, writing, ChatGPT, and several other concerns emerging from the current time of the “algorithmic self” (Pasquale, 2015). This investigation is through interrogations of Jacques Derrida and the series of “events” that his three books of 1967 helped initiate: De la grammatologie translated into English as Of Grammatology (1976); L'écriture et la difference translated into English as Writing and Difference (1978) apart from Speech and Phenomena this conference is celebrating.

We are using “interrogation”, fittingly to the aims of the conference, in the way Oxford’s A Dictionary of Computing (2008) defines the term. Interrogation in this sense is “the sending of a signal that will initiate a response. A system may interrogate a peripheral to see if it requires a data transfer. The response is normally a status byte. When a number of devices are interrogated in a sequence the process is called polling.” This International Conference, therefore, is in a way sending “signals” to Derrida and the texts associated to that proper name, especially Speech and Phenomena. We want to investigate if these texts signal back and to what extent on the questions of language, thinking, and writing that first animated Derrida and which now need a serious revisit, reformulation, and reconsiderations.

With the advances being made in AI and computing, we need a better understanding of how these technologies are changing (or not changing) how we understand language, thinking, and writing. This seems to be one of the urgent tasks of philosophy and theory. The optimism of Hilary Putnam (1995) that “AI has so far spun off a good deal that is of real interest to computer science in general, but nothing that sheds any real light on the mind” (392) to the Chinese Room Argument by John Searle (1980) where he claims that “no program is sufficient for intentionality” (424) have tried to wrest some ground of thinking from computation and algorithm but the field remains highly contested and contentious. Works such as Alien Phenomenology (2012) among many others have shown interesting ways in which interactions and thinking may happen within and between objects. Similarly, with natural language processing (NLP) which enables a predictive model of writing generating signifiers based on big data and algorithm the very notion of “writing” is perhaps undergoing a radical change. If we take Derrida’s claim that “writing thus comprehends language” (1976, 7) it is now an urgent task to see if probabilistic writing is or is not transforming the concept of writing all over again. Derrida’s task of revealing the ethnocentrism that controlled the concept of writing which was seen as “phoneticization of writing” (3) needs to be taken up in the light of the promises and ambitions of “predictive writing.” If Derrida indeed deconstructed the logocentric nature of ethnocentric writing, does predictive writing “liberate” us finally from the stranglehold of the logos? Is algorithmic also logocentric or is it not? There are suggestions that it may just be the case and that what Derrida and others were theorizing about language and writing may have ultimately been triumphant (Underwood, 2023). This conference will think about these questions deeply and hopefully will result in certain insights which give us newer ways of conceptualizing thinking, language, and writing.

This International Conference invites paper submissions from scientists, media scholars, philosophers, literary scholars, Science and Technology Studies (STS) scholars, historians, anthropologists, practitioners, professionals, and others. The papers can have varied perspectives and aims. They can be exploratory and speculative and could also be based on empirical studies or lab results. The only requirement is that the papers should be in conversation (or as we mentioned above, in the nature of “interrogation”) with the range of concepts used by Jacques Derrida that pertains to language, thinking, and writing. The topics include but are not limited to:

• Deconstruction and AI
• Derrida and Ethics of Language and AI
• Derrida and Digital Humanities
• Derrida, Politics, and Social Media
• Derrida and AI generated Digital Selfs and Cultures
• Conversational AI and the Presence of Speech
• Trace in the Digital

Please send an abstract (500-750 words) with 3-5 keywords to mithilesh.kumar@christuniversity.in 

Conveners:

Avirup Ghosh, Panihati Mahavidyalaya, Kolkata, India.

Mithilesh Kumar, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India.

Namitha Shivani Iyer, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.

Abstracts will be selected through a double-blind review process. Papers presented at the conference will be published as a special issue in Tattva Journal of Philosophy (UGC-CARE Listed Journal. Group I, Arts and Humanities)

Important Dates and Fees:

1. Deadline for submission of abstracts: September 30, 2023.
2. Notification of selected abstracts: October 10, 2023
3. Registration link: October 15, 2023.
4. Deadline for registration: December 01, 2023.

Registration fee: Paper presenters (India)- INR 5,000

Paper Presenters (International)- US $75

Participation- INR 1,000 (India)/US $15 (International)

 

References:

Bogost, Ian. Alien Phenomenology, or, What It’s like to Be a Thing. University of Minnesota Press, 2012.

Daintith, John, et al., editors. A Dictionary of Computing. 6th ed, Oxford University Press, 2008.

Derrida, Jacques.  Of Grammatology. Johns Hopkins University Press, 1976.

---. Speech and Phenomena, and Other Essays on Husserl’s Theory of Signs. Northwestern University Press, 1973.

---. Writing and Difference. University of Chicago Press, 1978.

---. Voice and Phenomenon: Introduction to the Problem of the Sign in Husserl’s Phenomenology. Northwestern University Press, 2011.

---. “What Is a ‘Relevant’ Translation?” Critical Inquiry, vol. 27, no. 2, Jan. 2001, pp. 174–200. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1086/449005.

Pasquale, Frank. “The Algorithmic Self.” The Hedgehog Review, https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/too-much-information/articles/the-algorithmic-self. Accessed 7 Aug. 2023.

Putnam, Hilary, and James Conant. Words and Life. Harvard University Press, 1994.

Salmon, Peter. An Event, Perhaps: A Biography of Jacques Derrida. Verso, 2020.

Searle, John R. “Minds, Brains, and Programs.” Behavioral and Brain Sciences, vol. 3, no. 3, Sept. 1980, pp. 417–24. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X00005756.

 

 

 

Contact Information

Mithilesh Kumar- mithilesh.kumar@christuniversity.in

Contact Email

mithilesh.kumar@christuniversity.in

Call For Publications: "Online Hate Speech: Impacts, Prevention, and Intervention" -Rotura - Journal of Communication, Culture & Arts

 In the last decade, the increase in visibility and exposure of online hate speech has raised cultural, social, and academic concerns. This issue encompasses topics such as social, political, and religious polarization, the dissemination of hate ideologies, the promotion of violence through online propaganda and recruitment, and the impact on the well-being of individuals involved, with implications for the construction of a pluralistic discourse in peaceful, just, and inclusive societies.

With the aim of deepening knowledge on the subject and addressing effective ways to prevent and intervene in online hate speech, we invite the scientific community to submit studies and theoretical and empirical approaches that contribute to understanding the following topics:

Topics of Interest:

• Impact of online hate speech on society.


• Influence of the digital environment on the behavior and development of children, youth, and adolescents.


• Interactions of online gamers and digital gaming communities as conducive spaces for the spread of hate speech.


• Analysis of effective strategies and initiatives for preventing and intervening in online hate speech.


• The role of social media in promoting a culture of peace, justice, and strong institutions.


• Impact of the pandemic and distance learning on children's exposure to online hate speech and risky behaviors.


• Public policies and regulatory frameworks to address online hate speech and violence.


• Other studies related to hate speech.

Rotura is indexed on RCAAP, DOAJ, Scielo, Google Scholar, Latindex, ERIHPLUS, SUDOC, ROAD, Jisc and INDEXAR.

Contact Information

Editors:

Anthony Brooks (Aalborg University)
Ana Filipa Martins (CIAC, Universidade do Algarve)
Janice Richardson (Digital Citizenship Expert, Council of Europe)
Susana Costa (CIAC, Universidade do Algarve, Universidade Aberta)

Contact Email

rotura@publicacoes.ciac.pt

URLhttps://publicacoes.ciac.pt/index.php/rotura/chamadas-de-trabalhos

Call for Book Chapters - Purpose Washing and Woke Capitalism: The Stories Organizations Tell Us

 

Call for Book Chapters

Working title - Purpose Washing and Woke Capitalism: The Stories Organizations Tell Us

Proposed Book Publisher: Springer

Our Editorial team seeks contributors to join us for this edited book with the working title “Purpose Washing and Woke Capitalism: The Stories Organizations Tell Us” . This volume aims to bring together theoretical and practical insights into the workings and vocabulary of purpose washing in organisations. To improve their reputation and achieve a competitive advantage, many organisations have adopted the rhetoric of social justice, diversity, inclusivity, and sustainability in recent years. However, they are unable to bridge the gap between rhetoric and action. This phenomenon has been termed 'purpose washing', and it raises important questions about the role of organizations in society, the ethics of corporate communication, and the potential for social change. It also questions the neoliberal logic of ‘progressive posturing’ by these organizations.

We welcome chapters that critically examine Organizations, including an investigation into their marketing, advertising, corporate structure, recruitment policies, DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) policies, ESG ( Environmental, Social and Governance) concerns to expand our understanding of green-washing, pink-washing, and white-washing and other areas of Woke capitalism. Through examining organizational case studies and using empirical and theoretical approaches, this volume aims to uncover the ways in which organizations use storytelling to promote their purpose-driven image and engage with contemporary social issues.

Possible audiences for this book include undergraduate and graduate students, especially cross-disciplinary scholars from the area of critical management, media and communication, public policy, political sciences, development studies, cultural studies and psychology. We are looking for papers that provide theoretical and empirical insights on the following (but not limited to) issues.

● Cross-cultural issues and purpose washing: How do cultural context and geography, or other broader social, political and economic issues, impact the push for a purpose-driven image?

● Types of organizations and purpose washing: Comparing and contrasting different kinds of organizations (size, type, structure). For example - between organizations operating in different sectors ( Energy, finance, FMCG etc. ) or organizations with different structures (Start-ups, MNCs, Governmental organizations)

● Storytelling and purpose washing: What effects do businesses' use of storytelling have on the general public's perception, stakeholder participation, and social movements? How do organisations develop and express their purpose-driven image?

● Counter-narratives and purpose washing: How can alternative storytelling approaches like participatory approaches challenge and transform purpose washing and woke capitalism, and what are the opportunities and limitations of these approaches?

● Ethical Issues in purpose washing: What are the ethical concerns associated with purpose washing and woke capitalism, and how can organizations and stakeholders address them?

We welcome contributions from academics and professionals working in a variety of fields, including but not limited to anthropology, management, marketing, sociology, communication and political science. We seek original research papers, theoretical essays and case studies that engage with the issues above and provide insights into the nuanced and dynamic interactions between organisational storytelling, woke capitalism, and purpose-washing.

Submission Guidelines: Authors are invited to submit an extended abstract (500 words) by 30th May 2023 to Shubhda Arora at shubhda.arora.30@gmail.com The abstract should clearly state the research question(s), theoretical and empirical background, methods, and expected contribution(s) to the volume.

Authors whose abstracts are accepted will be invited to submit a full chapter (8,000-10,000 words) by 30th October 2023. All submissions will be subject to a double-blind peer review process.

Timeline:

● Abstract submission deadline: 30th May 2023

● Notification of acceptance: 30th June 2023

● Full chapter submission deadline: 30th November 2023

● Review and revision period: December 2023 to June 2024

● Expected Publication: December 2024

Contact Email: 

shubhda.arora.30@gmail.com