[spectre] Call for Submissions: URBAN SCREENS 2005

[Geert Lovink]

Call for Papers and Project Presentations

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URBAN SCREENS 2005
Discovering the Potential of Outdoor Screens for Urban Society

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TIME:  Friday, 23 Sept. 2005 (extended to 24th according to feedback)
LOCATION: Amsterdam, the Netherlands
ORGANIZATION:
- Institute of Network Cultures, Interactive Media, Hoogeschool van
Amsterdam
- Department of Art and Public Space, Gerrit Rietveld Academy /  
University
of Amsterdam
- Urban//ReseARTch, Berlin
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SUMISSION DEADLINE: 1 May 2005
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URBAN SCREENS 2005 is an international conference ranging from critical
theory to project experiences by researchers and practitioners in the  
field
of Art, Architecture, Urban Studies and Digital Culture. The focus is on
understanding how the growing infrastructure of large digital displays
influences the visual sphere of our public spaces. How can the  
commercial
use of these screens be broadened and culturally curated to contribute  
to a
lively urban society?

The conference will feature three main topics:

- Shaping the urban media-scapes
- Addressing the social value and civic culture
- Experiences from practical case studies

Public space has always been a place for human interaction, a unique  
arena
for exchange of rituals and communication in a constant process of  
renewal,
challenging the development of society. Its architectural dimension,  
being a
storytelling medium itself, has played a changing role of importance in
providing a stage for this interaction. The way the space is inhabited  
can
be read as a participatory process of its audience. The (vanishing)  
role as
space for social and symbolic discourse has been often discussed in  
urban
sociology. Modernization, the growing independence from place and time  
and
the individualization seem to destroy the city rhythm and its social
systems. New virtual spaces have been populated instead. Starting with  
the
development of virtual cities within chat rooms and spaces for  
production of
identity, we now face community experiments like collaborative wikis,  
blogs
or mobile phone networks in the growing field of social computing.  
Parallel
to this development an "event culture" has evolved in the real urban  
space
of internationally competing cities, focusing on tourism and  
consumption. In
the context of this rapidly evolving commercial information sphere,
developers are bringing new digital display technology into the urban
landscape.

Considering the social sustainability of our cities it is necessary to  
look
closer at the liveability and openness of public spaces. The experience,
made in the new digital communication spheres, might serve as an  
inspiration
for the social enhancement of our urban surroundings. Instead of just
showing commercials, could the large outdoor displays function as
experimental "visualization zone" of the fusing of the virtual public  
spaces
and our real world? Can screens function as a new mirror reflecting the
public sphere, a medium of communication of the city with itself?

The conference wants to launch a discussion about how digital culture  
can
make use of the existing and future screening infrastructure, in terms  
of
art and social or political practices, generating a higher value for its
operators and "users". We want to address the existing commercial
predetermination and explore the nuance between art, interventions and
entertainment to stimulate a lively culture. Other key issues are:  
mediated
interaction, content, participation of the local community,  
restrictions due
to technical limits, and the incorporation of the screens in the
architecture of our urban landscape. We are happy to announce our  
special
guest speakers Lev Manovich, Visual Arts Department, University of
California, San Diego and Mike Gibbons, Chief Project Manager, Live  
Events,
BBC.

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CALL FOR PAPERS AND PROJECT PRESENTATIONS

Researchers and practitioners in the field of Art, Architecture, Urban
Studies and Digital Culture are invited to submit proposals for papers  
and
presentations on key issues and implemented cutting-edge projects.

The following aspects might serve as guideline for content, addressed in
submissions:

Topic 1  "Shaping the urban media-scapes"

- The historical overview of the development an urban media-sphere.
- Future technologies and visions shaping the media-scape
- Critical review of visual and sonic noise versus liveability
- Peoples predetermined media perception in public space
- Melting layers of technology and the cityscape creating a new  
dimension
- Investigating the aesthetics of design in the context of the urban
landscape

Topic 2  "Addressing the social value and civic culture"

- From consumer entertainment to participation of a wide range users
- Limits and challenges of new responsible public-private partnerships
- Mediated interactions as new forms of civic culture and use of public
space
- Issues of censorship in content management
- Possible social applications for the community addressing local  
events,
social integration, education

- Long-term value of local identity and cultural diversity through open
access?
- Urban branding changing the perception of locations

Topic 3  "Experiences from practical case studies"

- Experiences with production of new and old cultural content for  
screens
- Technological limits and challenges in content creation and  
enhancement
- Evaluation studies, responses from participants and interactions
- Case studies of cultural screenings
- The role of government involvement, policy, planning and management
- Experiences with public and private cooperation
- Cooperation with other art forms and creative industries

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APPLICATION FORMAT

1. Name of the project/paper
2. Author(s)
3. Contact person (e-mail/phone/fax/postal address)
4. Short 350-word abstract of the paper/presentation
5. Short biography of the author(s)
6. Related web-links
7. Description of the type of media needed for the presentation

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ADDITIONAL CALL FOR SUBMISSION OF DIGITAL IMAGES

For a visual screening we are collecting various pictures of urban  
screens.
Please submit high-resolution images in digitalized format, together  
with
the date, the name of the location and photographer.

For your inspiration look at the Russian Internet Journal about large
electronic LED screens: http://www.screens.ru/

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FURTHER INFORMATION - MAILINGLIST

Preparations of the event will include an online discussion via a  
special
mailinglist. During and after the conference live web-casting and other
online documentations will present the content to a wider audience.

To subscribe and participate in the urbanscreens-l mailinglist register  
at:
http://listcultures.org/mailman/listinfo/urbanscreens-l_listcultures.org

If you would like to know more, have a look at the background text:

http://culturebase.org/home/struppek/Homepage/ 
urbanscreens_background.html

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CONTACT FOR SUBMISSIONS:

Mirjam Struppek
urbanscreens at networkcultures.org

Institute of Network Cultures
t: +31 (0)20 5951866
f: +31 (0)20 5951840
www.networkcultures.org