Call for Papers - Midwest Art History Society
Art in the Age of Digital Reproduction: How Artwork's Scale is Effected by Infinite Reproducibility
Omaha, NE - April 8-10, 2010
Proposals are due to session chairs on or before December 15. They should be no more than 250 words, single-spaced, and sent by e-mail as MSWord files.
Submitters should indicate MAHS in the subject heading of their e-mails. All papers presented at the MAHS conference must be in Powerpoint and ready for
Please send all submissions - as well as any questions you may have - to Liz Murphy Thomas:
Walter Benjamin's seminal essay "The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction" became the basis of much of the 20th century's discourse surrounding the effects of reproduction on the concept of originality in artworks. Now in the 21st century we enter the age of digital reproduction that, while seemingly similar to mechanical reproduction, is inherently different. Mechanical reproduction allowed for the concept of the “copy” which conversely implied an “original.” In digital production, there is no original, only data – data that can exist in infinite replication. Almost 50 years after Benjamin, Paul Virilio writes of Dromology, or the science of speed, and the ability of technology to compress distance, space and time. Digital production eradicates the limitations of distance, space and time by the very nature of binary data and lossless reproduction. This lossless reproduction capability creates an environment where imagery can be reproduced identically not only in one location, but simultaneously anywhere in the world.
How does this lossless/spaceless aspect of the digital medium affect the production of artwork? This session invites scholars and image-makers to discuss the nature of images today and to share written and creative works that explore concepts related to digital reproduction.
Presenters should remember to attach a c.v. and indicate their MAHS membership status. All participants must be MAHS members in the 2010 calendar year. Graduate students submitting proposals should do so with the approval of their adviser. Please provide the name and e-mail address of your academic adviser in your initial proposal. Graduate students whose papers are accepted may apply to the Charles D. Cuttler Student Travel Fund for assistance. Please contact the MAHS
Treasurer if you would like further information.
Registration forms for the conference and membership materials will be available soon at the Midwest Art History website. See mahsonline.org
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