Metaverses of the Global South
About the event
Over the last few years, the world has become rocked by a number of crises: COVID, the Russian attack on the Ukraine, increasing block building and continuing or even increasing financial inequality. At the same time, technology and its inventors and peddlers are expanding, with AI powered image and text generators and Metaverse infrastructure and content evoking equally fear and excitement in people coming to the fore. This conference will take these social changes as its base and will attempt to find answers, engaging sociological paradigms, art, management and economic proposals, technological and indigene studies and others. It takes seriously Ottino and May’s 2022 theory of The Nexus as a place where art, technology and commerce meet and can cross-fertilise each other, but will squarely shift attention from the usual suspects of the global north to the Global South, conceptually and practically. In order to do so, the conference will engage the UN’s 2015 Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) vis-à-vis digital media.
These Goals are No Poverty; Zero Hunger; Good Health and Well-being; Quality Education; Gender Equality; Clean Water and Sanitation; Affordable and Clean Energy; Decent Work and Economic Growth; Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; Reduced Inequality; Sustainable Cities and Communities; Responsible Consumption and Production; Climate Action; Life Below Water; Life on Land; Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and Partnerships to Achieve the Goal.
Furthermore, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has emphasized the importance of guaranteeing public access to information and safeguarding fundamental freedoms, in compliance with both domestic laws and global accords (United Nations, 2015). The media play a crucial role in safeguarding public access to information and upholding fundamental freedoms. In 2018, a Media Compact was introduced as a means to promote greater understanding and recognition of these goals, serving as an entry point for entrepreneurs and corporate executives keen on strengthening their dedication to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The utilization of independent and community media, along with social media, is imperative in implementing the ‘leave no one behind’ pledge of the (SDGs) by providing a platform for individuals who are frequently marginalized to express their opinions. Against this backdrop, it is crucial to guarantee the involvement of the media in critical processes related to policy formulation and the management of social and economic matters, as well as that of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector. The primary objective of the conference is to deliberate on the critical way of enhancing the role of the media in achieving the SDGs at the local, regional, and global levels.
The future of Media 2023 is an upcoming international conference that focuses on the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. The conference aims to facilitate the gathering of media professionals, policymakers, academics, and civil society representatives from various parts of the world.
In particular, the following issues will be addressed:
- How does digital technology impact on different strata of society, and especially so on its excluded minorities?
- How can such technology be conceptualised and applied in order to help social cohesion?
- What is the role businesses can play to support its application in achieving millennial goals?
- How to deal with image and text generators in the media and in education?
- What are the ramifications of virtual reality vis-à-vis non-virtual reality?
- How does the visual turn interact with virtuality (e.g. Deepfakes)?
- How can and should government consultation and legislation help to assuage the more negative implications of the digital world in general and the Metaverse in particular?
- How does the Metaverse impact on gender, race and class issues?
- How can/ should digital media interact with the SDGs?
The upcoming conference will encompass a range of activities, including keynote addresses, panel deliberations, exhibitions, film presentations, and interactive sessions. Additionally, attendees will have the chance to engage in networking and collaborative endeavors. The conference will encompass a variety of workshops and training sessions, designed to equip media professionals and policymakers with the requisite competencies and expertise to proficiently advocate for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and their media (re-)presentation. The proposed platform aims to facilitate knowledge exchange and collaboration among professionals engaged in the intersection of media and sustainable development goals (SDGs). It is anticipated that this conference will serve as a significant stride towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via the media.
We therefore invite poster presentations, workshops, panels, talks and similar on any aspect of the above mentioned topics. Please send your proposals (no more than 200 words) and a 10 line biographical sketch to: ……. Deadline is 15 October 2023.
For all other information, please consult the conference’s website, https://futuresofmedia.com. It will be updated as further speakers are announced and additional information becomes available.
Sir Padampat Singhania University
Sir Padampat Singhania University (SPSU) in Udaipur, an initiative of JK Cement Ltd. -one of the largest in the cement industry was established 2007. The 100-acre campus offers a tranquil academic environment with modern amenities like smart classrooms and project labs. SPSU is dedicated to academic excellence and holistic student development, with programs featuring global certification courses and industry partnerships, including Xebia, NorthStar, ACCA, CMA, SAS, and many more. The university has received several accolades, such as “A+ Grade” in OBE Rankings 2022, AAA+ rating for B.Tech by Careers 360, Diamond Band (A+) grade in SII Green Rankings 2023. Ranked among top 10 higher education institutions for Best Academia Industry Alliance, Education World 23-24.
SPSU provides a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in engineering, management, liberal studies, and other fields, aligning with the NEP 2020 guidelines. Highly qualified faculty and state-of-the-art facilities nurture critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The university has several Centers of Excellence, including those for Sustainable Energy, Innovation in Skills & Social Entrepreneurship, and Research and Publications etc.
The campus offers excellent sports facilities, NCC, NSS units, and numerous student-led clubs and cultural groups. SPSU organizes events with industry leaders and has international collaborations with universities like La Trobe Australia and Chiba University of Commerce. Situated in Udaipur, popularly known as the “City of Lakes,” SPSU benefits from the city’s rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty. More about Udaipur can be found at https://www.tourism.rajasthan.gov.in/udaipur.html.
The city of Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, colloquially referred to as KL, is the capital city of Malaysia. It is the country’s largest city, and also its cultural, financial and economic centre. Kuala Lumpur has undergone rapid development in recent decades and is home to the tallest twin buildings in the world, the Petronas Towers, which have since become an iconic symbol of Malaysia in general.
A hub for cultural activities and events in Malaysia, it has become the centre for new media, innovation and creative industry development in the region.
Many of its concert venues are hosting international talent, and especially its Jazz community is continuing to grow at a rapid rate. Small clubs like ‘No Black Tie’ or ‘The Saxophone Store’ offer an unforgettable and intimate live music experience.
Conference Schedule
Day 1
Jan 21, 2022
09:30 - 10:00Welcome: Markus Heidingsfelder (United International College, co- director FoM)
By Dr Markus Heidingsfelder Journalism Programme Xiamen University Malaysia
17:30 - 18:30Keynote: Kai Hafez (University of Erfurt) A New "Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere“? Ten (or so) Theses against the Widespread Assumption of an All-Powerful Internet
Day 2
Jan 22, 2022
16:00 - 17:00Invited: Anne Grüne (University of Erfurt) Communication Theory and Global Comparative Media Analysis: In Need of a Cultural Turn 2.0.?
By Holger BRIEL
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