Politics of the Screen

Screen Cultures Symposium

The accelerating proliferation of screens is a signature feature of contemporary life. Screens located on computer, cinema, television or mobile platforms offer possibilities for entertainment, communication, art, manipulation and surveillance, creating new forms of identity, community, expression and social control. These developments in turn have created a rich and rapidly changing set of research initiatives in the Humanities and Social Sciences.

In order to explore some of the implications of these possibilities and initiatives the Politics of the Screen research cluster at the University of Sydney will hold a One-Day Symposium on Friday, February 23, 2007. We aim to bring together researchers from some of the diverse fields investigating Screen Cultures to discuss that productive diversity, as well as points of overlap, contestation and confluence. Our own research interests include the creation of screen communities and identities, the remediation of screen technology into other cultural forms, developments in mobile screen technology and audiences, the use of screens in visual and data surveillance. The Symposium will not be restricted to these topics, but they do offer some departure points for the projected discussions.

The format for the Symposium will be semi-formal: participants will not be required to present a full-blown conference paper, but instead will present short position papers (no more than 10 minutes long) that outline major elements of their research, as well as key questions, problems or prospects worth raising with interested colleagues. These papers will be circulated in point form before the Symposium itself. The position papers will provide the starting point for mediated discussion.

Download a pdf version of the Symposium program by clicking on this link.

Download a pdf version of the presentation overviews by clicking on this link.

The Symposium will provide the catalyst for an international conference on Screen Cultures in December 2007.

If you are unable to attend the Symposium but wish to be kept informed of proceedings, contact Dr Marks.

We encourage you to alert colleagues working in these areas who may be interested in the Symposium or the planned conference.

The School of Letters, Art, and Media at the University of Sydney can provide some assistance with costs for the event. Please include any questions on this matter in your application to Dr Marks. We look look forward to your participation. Dr Peter Marks Co-convenor, Politics of the Screen research cluster.