Making Sense of Visual Culture

University of Rochester

April 1st-3rd, 2011, Rochester, New York

The Graduate Program in Visual and Cultural Studies at the University of Rochester invites scholars from across disciplines to discuss the evolving institutional and methodological contours of our field.  From April 1st-3rd, 2011, “Making Sense of Visual Culture” will address large-scale disciplinary questions as well the development of new approaches to an expanded range of sensory objects, phenomena, and practices.

We invite innovative work by graduate students and non-tenured faculty for a series of round-tables, workshops, and panels that will address the two major, interlinked concerns of the conference: sensory experience and the future of the field.

There are many ways to participate in this discussion, even if you cannot join us in April.

1. We are circulating a questionnaire.  All responses will be posted to an open access website to create a broad dialogue.  (Instructions for accessing the questionnaire are here.)

2. We solicit 300-word abstracts for 20-minute paper presentations on work that exemplifies, challenges and expands the field of visual studies.  Possible topics include, but are not limited, to: multi-sensory approaches to material culture and memory – the “hegemony of the visual” – the practice of visual culture as method, discipline or sensibility – visualizing sensory experience – cultural difference and the senses – epistemology of the senses – histories of perception – lending form to affect – synesthetia – the interface of vision and touch – changing practices of visualizing information – the present and future of medium specificity (in both artistic and scholarly practices) – the role of technologies in sensory perception.

Please include a brief CV with your submissions.  Deadline: January 15, 2011.   Please email these documents to submissions@makingsenseconference.com