http://www.kk.kau.se/mct/start.html

This is a call for papers for the 4th Issue of M/C/T a journal/e-zine
concerned with Media, Culture and Technology. For this issue, we have the
following special theme:

The Fake Issue

What's real? What's true? These may seem like outdated questions in these
hyper wired times of ours. Indeed, as Jean Baudrillard pointed out years
ago, the question of authenticity no longer matters in the same way, now
that we are fully immersed in an environment of virtual simulation. The
quest for authenticity is not only pointless but dissatisfying as well.

Consequently, there are better questions to ask: which simulation is more
convincing than the other? Which fake is more real than the next? What
truth is most suitable to the moment at hand? As cynical as these questions
might sound, the point here is that the traditional boundaries between the
real and the fictional, between fact and fantasy, between the original and
the copy have been blurred to the point where they are no longer
recognizable. This is particularly the case in the study of media, culture
and technology where much ink has been spilled to assess how new media
technologies have altered the understanding and representation of both the
real and the imaginary. For instance, one of the more powerful aspects of
digital technology is its ability to conjure up virtual environments that
are as engaging and meaningful as anything that we might encounter in
so-called real life. This applies not only to the primitive text only
environments of MOO's but also to the million dollar virtual realities
constructed by the likes of Disney. On either end of the scale, "realties"
are being created - realities that are both meaningful and seductive.

The upcoming special issue of MCT will explore the nature of contemporary
reality by focusing on the key word "fake." What does it mean to be a fake
in a world that is increasingly determined by virtuality, simulation and
perfect copies? Does it still make sense to argue that there is such a
thing as an original or that the real is more meaningful than the
simulated? Are virtual realities lies, as indicated by the popular film
"The Matrix?" To what extent has human culture always been driven by
"fakes," in the sense that the true and the authentic can't be accessed or
represented by anyone?

We invited submissions that explore such questions in a variety of formats:
essays, parodies, stories, art works, fake (or real) documentaries,
reviews, jokes, multimedia works, virtual environments, rants, raves, tunes
and scribbles. Especially encouraged are submissions that take advantage of
the multimedia aspects of the Web.

________________________

M/C/T has it's home (and server) at the Department of Media
and Communication, Karlstad University, Sweden. It is an initiative of the
Communication: Media and Information Technology research group. Our current
editorial board consists of, Robert Burnett, Managing Editor; Andreas
Kitzmann, Text Editor; Steve Gibson, Multimedia Editor; and Peter Bergting,
Art Editor.

      You can contact M/C/T in the following ways:

      By mail: M/C/T - Journal of Media, Culture and Technology
      Media and Communications
      Karlstad University
      S-65188 Sweden

      By e-mail:

      General Inquiries: Robert.Burnett_at_kau.se
      Article submissions: Andreas.Kitzmann_at_kau.se
      Multimedia submissions: Steve.Gibson_at_kau.se
      Art submissions or commentary on the web site: Robert.Hamilton_at_kau.se

      We would like to acknowledge our sister journal, M/C out of the Media
and Cultural Studies Centre, University of Queensland, Australia. We
encourage you to check out M/C.

http://english.uq.edu.au/mc/indexmain.html

_________________________________________________________________
Dr. Andreas Kitzmann andreas.kitzmann_at_kau.se
Senior Foreign Lecturer University of Karlstad, Sweden
Media and Communications 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
Universitetsg. 1 Fax: 46-(0)54-838445
Voice: 46-(0)54-700-2105 e-mail: andreas.kitzmann_at_kau.se

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Received on Tue Mar 21 2000 - 13:12:01 EST