working on…

Abstract for ‘A seminar on 3D Virtual World and Social Learning’ organised by: CS Ang, David White, Steven Warburton, P Edirisingha,  Panayiotis Zaphiris. Funder: EMERGE JISC. City University. March 17th 2009.

Second Life: Voice, Deafness and Difference
Diane Carr
The proposed presentation involves a work in progress – a journal article on the topic of identity, perceptions of disability, experiences of deafness, and Second Life. Virtual worlds raise questions about access and usability. Additionally, virtual worlds offer researchers an opportunity to examine the ways in which social aspects of ‘disability’ (deafness, in this instance) manifest in online communities.
Drawing on Deaf Studies, Disability Studies, Feminist philosophy and Cultural Studies literature, the author will explore the discursive construction of deafness and difference in Second Life, based on participation, observation and interviews with Second Life residents who identify as deaf/Deaf or hearing impaired in their first or everyday lives. By these means issues of identity and subjectivity in virtual worlds will be explored, in relation to questions of agency, discourse and power.

Autism, Narrative and Textuality

The first issue of the journal Popular Narrative Media is titled ‘Autism, Narrative and Textuality’ – the contents are listed here. 

http://popularnarrative.lupjournals.org/articles.aspx?issueid=275

See also Stuart Murray’s book Representing Autism: Culture, Narrative, Fascination (thanks for the links David).

Conference, 2010

Present Difference: The Cultural Production of Disability

Manchester Metropolitan University in Conjunction with BBC Northwest and the Cultural Disability Studies Research Network

Wednesday 6th  Friday 8th January 2010

This conference seeks to address the contemporary cultural production of disability within and across local and global contexts. Its focus is upon representation both in the sense of the production and circulation of particular narratives, ideas and images of disability and non-disability, and in the sense of the participation of disabled cultural practitioners in the production of culture.  

We invite proposals from all stakeholders in the mass mediated production of disability across a variety of themes and from a diversity of perspectives within this disparate field of enquiry. 

Submissions are invited from both disabled and non-disabled media producers and policy makers, creative practitioners, disability activists and academics. 

Suggested themes include but are not limited to:  

policy and practice, television, film, radio, literature, life writing, journalism, comedy, advertising, new media, social networking, theatre, art, popular music, animation, gaming and marketing and publicity in the charity and voluntary sectors.

Topics to include (but are not limited to):

•         How do different mediums construct the relationship between disability and non-disability, human variation and human difference?

•         In what ways do and have policy makers responded to the call for inclusive practices and representations of human variation?

•         What is the relationship between genre and the discursive relations of dis/ability?

•         What is the role of the audience in the recognition and construction of dis/ability?

The conference aims to be as varied and inclusive as possible so suggested formats include but are not limited to: Roundtables, Forums, Debates, Panels, Posters, Creative Pieces, DVDs, Websites and Media and Art projects in progress. Sessions will be timetabled for 1hr 30 mins.

Abstracts (max 250 words) and biographical notes (max 150 words) for individual and/or group papers, panels or alternative formats to be sent by Friday 10th April 2009 to presentdifference@yahoo.co.uk.

Enquiries to: Dr Lucy Burke, Manchester Metropolitan University, l.burke@mmu.ac.uk  If you are interested in attending the conference, please contact l.burke@mmu.ac.uk with your contact details and email address