[Discussion] UPDATE: MIT4: The Work of Stories (1/1/05; 5/6/05-5/8/05)

[Sule Tarakcioglu]

From: seawell@mit.edu
Subject: UPDATE: MIT4: The Work of Stories (1/1/05; 5/6/05-5/8/05)

MEDIA IN TRANSITION CONFERENCE

revised call for papers

MIT4: The Work of Stories

May 6-8, 2005
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Some say storytelling is at the heart of social life and personal
identity. It is common today to speak of political candidates'
"competing narratives," or of a group or culture's need to invent "a new
narrative" for changing times. Stories are embedded in our commercials
and our newscasts. Ancient narratives of humiliation and revenge are
said to drive the lives of millions. New and emerging technologies have
given global reach to stories old and new.

The fourth Media in Transition conference will explore storytelling as a
cultural practice, a social and political activity as well as an art form.

We want to talk about why some stories last, how they migrate across
media forms within their own societies as well as other cultures and
historical eras. We hope to encourage speculation about the ways in
which stories are deployed in periods of media in transition, and about
the way some stories easily inhabit different media simultaneously while
other stories seem less adaptable.

Topics include (see link below for more complete list of topics):

* The nature and function of storytelling practices in specific cultural
contexts

* How the skills of storytelling are transmitted within a folk culture
or a creative industry

* The migration of specific stories, characters, or themes across
different media systems

* Why certain stories persist against social, cultural, political,
economic, or technological changes

* Do new or distinctive forms of story-telling emerge at moments of
media in transition?

* Theories of story-telling and contemporary media

* Narrative uses for emerging technologies

Abstracts will be accepted on a rolling basis until January 1, 2005, and
early submissions are encouraged. Abstracts should be no longer than 250
words, should be submitted as Word attachments or in the body of an
email, and sent to Brad Seawell at seawell@mit.edu. Please put MIT4 in
the subject line, and please include a brief biographical statement of
no more than 100 words.

See http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum/mit4.

_________________________
Brad Seawell, Coordinator
MIT Communications Forum
http://web.mit.edu/comm-forum
14N-430
MIT
Cambridge, MA 02139
v 617.253.3521
f 617.253.6105



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