media language
3rd Hanoverian Workshop: Call for Papers
March 26th to 27th, 2010 – Leibniz Universität Hannover
Announcement and Call for Papers
Participation, interactivity, social networks, fusion of communication services and contents: These and other keywords used in context with 'Web 2.0' characterize technological advancements, which might have a deep impact on the lingual-communicative aspects related to information processing, self-portrayal and forming of communities. The aim of this workshop is a critical analysis of tendencies that are generally subsumed under the term 'Web 2.0' from the perspective of linguistics, media studies and communication studies. Focus lies on the following aspects:
Connecting ways of communication
Connecting several communication channels within one platform is one of the key characteristics of Web 2.0: What has previously existed separately – Website, message board, chat, guestbook – is now growing together and used in combination. The formation of such digital nets of diverse written contents is often accompanied by a fusion of professional and user generated contents. This trend meets a growing research interest for intertextuality, hybridisation and the development of particular stylistic repertoires in environments of Web 2.0. Additionally it rises the question, whether and how stylistic conventions are formed and maintained in a form of public communication, which is nearly beyond institutional control.
Connecting modalities
The possibility to combine different sign systems has always been a strength of web in general, but this potential is multiplied by Web 2.0. Text and picture, typography and layout have always been aspects of web analysis – but now this bundle of different codes is enriched by audio streaming and embedded video; their availability and operation becomes simpler. What implications does this increasing multi-modality have on production and reception of text-based information? Which interactions between text, picture, video and other codes are currently characteristic for the different fields of activity, and which new possibilities are provided by video platforms with regard to visual communication?
Connecting individuals
Community is another important keyword in the popular discussion of Web 2.0. Evidently community-forming in the internet is not a new, Web 2.0-created ability, but has already been detected in text-based environments. It poses the question, whether and how the growing opportunities of linking and multi-modality in Web 2.0 affect tendencies of forming communities, and in what way such communities in Web 2.0-environments are structured qualitatively different in comparison to those formed on more simple platforms.
We welcome submissions which show the state of the art in the fields discussed above, and those which present empirical studies and their consequences for methodology and theory-forming.
The workshop will be held in German and English.
Interested?
If you are interested in giving a presentation at the workshop, please submit your abstract online until November 30th, 2009. If you want to attend, we recommend to register to ensure you receive the program and all information required:
Registration (with and without presentation option)
Organisation and contact
Deutsches Seminar, Leibniz Universität Hannover
Peter Schlobinski
Torsten Siever
For general information, please address
Franziska Meurer
Torsten Siever