from digital ECHOS to virtual ETHOS
Music technology meets philosophy

Call for Contributions in the Special Sessions

Call for contribution in Special Sessions

ICMC2014 | SMC2014ATHENS, 14-20 September 2014

Special Session 1. Technologies and Sound: Questions and Philosophical Views

(Chair: Agostino Di Scipio)

     In recent times the domain of technology has become as pervasive and ubiquitous to represent less and less a source of tools, devices and effective designs coping with specific problems and activities, and even more an environment to the human being - encompassing everything from one's everyday dwelling in the world and the society, to the experience of one's own body and indeed of one's Self. To some extent, that process consists in an increasingly deeper integration of digital technologies within and across infrastructures made of a variety of technological layers. Current developments in music and the sound arts, regardless of specific aesthetic orientations, seem to well reflect such changes: indeed, they can be understood as ways to sonically - or better, audibly - make sense of the profound reconfiguration of human perception and cognition that is under way. It could hardly be different: they signify changes taking place in auditory and musical cognitive skills, slight but crucial rearrangements in our bodily perception of the vibratory mechanics of the environment.

     We invite contributions interested in a discussion of these and related issues. Contributions are welcome from a variety of perspectives, including but not limited to audio culture studies: Critical Theory of (Music) Technology, Music and Cognitive Science, Phenomenological Analysis Man-Technology-Environment Interactions, Ethics of Musical Action, Politics of Sound, History and Philosophy of Sound and Music Technologies, Anthopology of Hearing, Aesthetics of Computer Music and the Sound Arts, Media Theory, and others.

   The organizers may eventually split each special session in two or more sessions, depending on submissions. A session is expected to have 5 to 8 papers. The allocated presentation time for each paper is 25 minutes plus question time. The organizers will designate a chair and a co-chair for each of hesessions. 

     Each author is limited to presenting no more than 2 papers (including poster papers) at the conference and is required to register in advance.
     To include a paper of the special sessions in the proceedings, it has to be submitted for reviewing through the Conference Management System according the Call for Papers (http://www.icmc14-smc14.eu/submissions/papers.html).

     The deadline for proposing papers in special sessions is before the 1thApril  2014
  
  

Special Session 2. Iannis Xenakis: Technology and Philosophy

 (Chair: Makis Solomos)

     Xenakis’ pioneering role in new music technologies is well known. He contributed to their development through his electroacoustic works (DiamorphosesConcret PH, Légende d’Eer…), his theories (stochastics, granular paradigm…), his machines (UPIC), his multimedia realizations (polytopes). His first studies as (civil) engineer sharpened his efficiency. But his practical mind was coupled with a speculative mind, oriented towards philosophical interrogations. In his writings, he offers thoughts on questions concerning the relation between music (art) and technology. For instance, he is critical about the domination of Technique or the blind use of computer (“The computer can only give results, he can calculate according to your intuition. And if your instructions are based on no intuition, you follow haphazardly a combination of formulae, of systems […] But if you have a direction, an intuition, an ‘idea’ […] and your are trying, you could have surprises […]. Xenakis, interview by J.M. Leclerc, “L'ordinateur, instrument du XXème siècle”, Pédagogiques vol.2 n°2, 1977). More generally, his thoughts on the relationship between the creative mind and technology are still relevant today.

     This session is opened to all critical inquiries on the relationship between technology and philosophy based on the combined study of Xenakis’ music and writings. It is opened to musicologists, theoreticians, composers, artists, philosophers… The contributions can be devoted to Xenakis’ studies or be more speculative.

     The organizers may eventually split each special session in two or more sessions, depending on submissions. A session is expected to have 5 to 8 papers.

The allocated presentation time for each paper is 25 minutes plus question time. The organizers will designate a chair and a co-chair for each of the sessions.

Each author is limited to presenting no more than 2 papers (including poster papers) at the conference and is required to register in advance.

To include a paper of the special sessions in the proceedings, it has to be submitted for reviewing through the Conference Management System according the Call for Papers (http://www.icmc14-smc14.eu/submissions/papers.html).

 

     The deadline for proposing papers in special sessions is before the 1thApril  2014 (Extended deadline 15th April 2014)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Session 3. Dematerializing - Rematerializing:  Tangibility in Computer Music
(chair: Claude Cadoz)

 

Tangibility and sense presence through physical interaction present ongoing challenges in digitally mediated technologies. These are particularly pertinent in time based Arts such as Computer Music and Sound Art because of the level of intimacy and directness that are required.

The democratization of Computer Arts and Computer Music have, because of the dematerialization afforded by digital technologies, considerably pushed the boundaries of creativity. However, this creates the problem of reconciling this openness with modes of experience characterized by notions such as embodiment, presence, enaction and tangibility, that can be said to be inherent in and fundamental for any creative process, and of course of finding the good alliance between them and the immaterial.

The European Art-Science-Technology Network (EASTN), proposes a dedicated session to the joint ICMC/SMC 2014 conference and invites contributors to submit  hilosophical as well as Technical Papers discussing the notion of tangibility in the above sense.

Topics can be, but not exclusively : Embodiment / Tangibility / Enaction / Computer Arts / Interaction in Music / Interaction in Arts / Interfaces / Sensors / Actuators / Physical Modeling / Modeling / 3D Printing, etc.

     The submission webpage is:
http://icmc14-smc14.iema.gr/submissions/papers.html
An extension of the deadline is expected to be announced by the end of March.

     Topics can be, but not exclusively : Embodiment / Tangibility / Enaction / Interaction in Music / Interaction in Arts / Interfaces / Sensors / Actuators / Physical Modeling / Modeling / 3D Printing, etc.

     The deadline for proposing papers in special sessions is before the 1thApril  2014