13-14 May 2022

Virtual Conference

Deadline: March 15, 2022

Call for Contributions / Interdisciplinary PhD Communication Conference (IPCC 2022)

Organized by PhD in Communication Program at İstanbul Bilgi University

We are inviting paper abstracts and proposals for panels and round tables that revolve around, but not limited to, the following areas:

Transitions in Research and Learning Methods:

• Quasi long-distance research
• Digital ethnography
• Pedagogies

Transitions in Labor and Leisure:

• Changing landscapes and norms of labor
• Dating, and online dating norms
• Producing and storytelling, streaming and gatekeeping
• Data as labor

Transitions in Space:

• Transition of home, office, school, room, breakout room
• Social relations and the digital as a transformative space
• Queer spaces

Transitions in Sharing:

• Facts and fake news, the norm of sharing, humor and transgression
• Arguing, quarreling and reconciling in online spaces
• Representation
• Datafication

Transitions of the Self:

• Reconsidering experience and embodiment, also in research conduct
• Transition of the self as a researcher/ positionality
• On/off self and identity

Transitions in Politics:

• Platformization of politics
• Resistance and activism
• Resilience and vulnerability

Transitions and dichotomies can often conceptually define the process of communication and communication technologies and the pertinent ways through which we labor, resist and do research: online vs. offline, analog vs. digital, human vs. robot, public vs. private, political upheavals, neoliberalization of academia, transposing methodologies and scholarly learning methods. It is not always explicit however if we experience or perceive these dichotomies and transitions as either the locations of departure or arrival. As in the parable offered by David Foster Wallace, it is hard to live in the fish tank and also be able to describe the water we are in. There is always a degree of uncertainty while taking on the transitions as such, while questioning the effects and the relevance of the alleged departure point or while offering a conceptual understanding of the transitions we personally and as a community go through.

How should we think about the changing landscape of communication, laboring and social relations? And what might be the ethical implications? How should we reflect on being on-off-on-off-online? What is the relationship, if there is, between the analog and digital ways of social conduct and research? How to think about vulnerability and resilience in relation to digital/analog spaces divide? What are the changing norms of sharing and transmitting meaning? What does it mean to be ‘in communication’? Can it be a singular activity? What are the effects of such transitions on learning and research methods? And overall, should we consider transition as a matter of transfer, adaptation, co-existence, contradiction, transformation or synthesis?

We think it is also meritful to consider the transition and a certain degree of uncertainty involved here not as a drawback to be overcome but as a guiding challenge while taking on the issues that will be covered at the conference.

We invite PhD students or candidates as well as early-career researchers with PhDs earned in the last 5 years, who are interested in taking a step back or forward to re-think about the implications of the transitions within their field of interest, to submit their proposal and join the discussion.

In line with the mission of the PhD in Communication Program of Istanbul Bilgi University, IPCC priorities collaboration, dialogue and solidarity. Thus, the conference promotes a platform for the co-creation of knowledge, facilitated by the paper presentations, roundtable and free-form discussion sessions and workshops.

How can you apply?

We accept individual submission of a paper proposal, panel and round table proposal. Kindly send your submissions to ipcc@bilgi.edu.tr with an extended abstract of 500-750 words and a bio of 100 words by Monday, March 15, 2022.

Individual submission of a paper proposal should include an extended abstract of 500-750 words and a short bio of 100 words.

Panels with 3-4 paper presentations should consist of the panel title with a 500-750 words rationale followed by 150 words abstract of each paper presentations and short bios of the participants. Discussants can also be identified with a short bio.

A roundtable session provides an opportunity for participants to get together and explore issues related to the theme of the conference in an informal yet structured setting. If you are interested in hosting a round table, you can submit a topic or possible questions along with a 400-500 words rationale and a 100 words short bio of the facilitator(s).

Submissions will be notified via email by April, 15th.

For more information, please visit ipcc.bilgi.edu.tr

We look forward to receiving your contributions.