CFP: New Directions in Media Ecology (10/23/04; MEA/ICA, 5/26/05-5/30/05)

Media Ecology Association at the International Communication Association – May 26-30, 2005

Panel Title: “New Directions in Media Ecology”

The Media Ecology Association seeks submissions for a special session sponsored by the MEA at the 55th annual conference of the International Communication Association to take place in New York City from May 26-30, 2005 at the Sheraton New York. The Media Ecology Association (www.media-ecology.org) is dedicated to promoting the study, research, criticism and application of media ecology in education, industry, political, civic, social, cultural and artistic contexts and the open exchange of ideas information and research.

This year’s ICA conference theme, “Communication: Questioning the Dialogue” is a perfect one for media ecological inquiries.

Media ecology denotes an approach to media studies that is multidisciplinary in its origin, scope and practice. Drawing upon philosophy, linguistics, the history of technology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, information science, rhetorical studies, economics, general semantics, ecology, and literature, media ecology seeks to examine the multifaceted and often concealed roles that complex communication systems play in the environments in which they operate and which they create. As a discipline, media ecology has its roots in the work of Marshall Mc Luhan, Neil Postman, Walter Ong, Lewis Mumford, Harold Innis, etc. and has evolved since the 1970s as innovations such as computer-mediated communication, the Internet and digital technologies have changed traditional analog mass media forms, person-to-person interactions and the ways in which cultures create, manipulate, and transmit information. It also reflects the increased emphasis on interdisciplinary inquiry that h
as transformed communications scholarship in these decades. In short, it is a Renaissance discipline that seeks to ask and explore questions that challenge our assumptions about “communication” and in doing so redefines the scope of communication scholarship as well as the permeable and ever expanding boundaries of media ecology itself.

To this end, the Media Ecology Association is sponsoring a panel to bring together a group of diverse scholars whose innovative work pushes against and works across disciplinary boundaries to create “new” media ecological frameworks, perspectives and inquiries.

For consideration, please submit the following via email:
1. In a separate, cover page, identify your name, rank, institutional affiliation and personal contact information including email.
2. The title of your proposal and a 300 word abstract (no self identification in the abstract, please.)

Proposals should be submitted to:
MJ Robinson
Department of Culture and Communication
mjr206_at_nyu.edu
Questions can be referred to MJ Robinson at 212-992-9499 or via the email above.

DEADLINE FOR PROPOSALS: OCTOBER 23, 2004. Submissions earlier than this date are particularly appreciated. All proposals will be blind-reviewed.

Each selected paper will have a maximum of 10-12 minutes of presentation time on the panel Due to prohibitive costs, the MEA cannot provide A/V presentation equipment other than what is already provided in the conference room. Selected authors are expected to send three copies of their completed papers one month prior to the conference so the panel’s chair and respondent can have sufficient time to prepare their comments.

Applicants need not be a member of the Media Ecology Association to submit a paper for this panel, However, authors of selected papers must be members of MEA prior to the time of their appearance. Note: paid MEA members are entitled to ICA member registration rate at the conference because the MEA is an organizational affiliate of the ICA.

MJ Robinson
Instructor
Department of Culture and Communication
New York University
239 Greene St., 7th Floor
New York, NY 10003
212-992-9499
mj.robinson_at_nyu.edu

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Received on Mon Oct 11 2004 - 11:02:47 EDT