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7 Jul 2005 16:54:31
The University of Luton will this month play host to the first international conference on art, media and conflict at its £5.5 million School of Media, Art and Design.
Organised by Dr Makram Khoury, the two-day conference, entitled Art, Media and the Spectacle of Conflict, will bring together some of the leading commentators in this field from the USA, Jordan, Canada, Ireland, Portugal, United Arab Emirates and the UK. Keynote speakers wil include:
Professor Duncan Robinson – Master of Magdelene College, Cambridge, and Director of Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge
Mr Abd Al-Bari – Editor in Chief of Al-Quds Al-Arabi, London
Professor Laura Brandon – Curator of War Art at the Canadian War Museum
Professor Liam Kelly – School of Art and Design, University of Ulster, Belfast
Makram Khoury explains what the conference is about: “From the first televised war in the Gulf in 1991, to the destruction of the Twin Towers, and the night-vision cameras of the ‘shock and awe’ bombing of Iraq in 2003, modern conflict depends increasingly on the spectacle.
“The speakers will explore the role of visual art in times of political-military conflict, especially since the information and communications revolution of the last decade. These changes have led to an overlap between art and the media. We want to look at whether we can differentiate between the two in the case of modern conflict.”
Other issues being discussed at the conference include the political and commercial considerations of art and media in relation to conflict, the artistic content of media coverage of political-military conflict, and the role the media plays in the framing of the political world. It will also explore the ethics of art, media and conflict – looking at the apparently insatiable appetite for the spectacle of war.
The University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Les Ebdon, will give the opening speech at the conference. He said: “The University of Luton has a long-established reputation as a centre of excellence for media studies. We continue to lead the way with this first-ever international conference of its kind, which will explore an area that has attracted a great deal of interest from academics in recent years.
“We are delighted to be welcoming such high-profile and distinguished speakers from around the world to the University. We plan to make this an annual event, to create a forum for debate in this field.”
Running alongside the conference will be a photographic and video exhibition, entitled SCARS, at the Hat Factory Gallery in Luton.
Renowned video artist, Catherine Elwes, will exhibit The Six Lives of Erich Ackermman, which presents an individual’s experience of war, using both photography and audio. A video about the work of BAE Systems’ Electronic Warfare Research and Development site in Luton will be presented by University of Luton lecturer, Gordon Hon. His piece explores the relationship between war and corporate capitalism.
The conference, sponsored by the Research Insitute in Media, Art and Design (RIMAD), takes place on 14 and 15 July. Prices for the conference, including refreshments, start at £8 per person, with additional rates for lunch, dinner and a wine reception. To register for the event, call 07740 758523 or e-mail makram.khoury@luton.ac.uk. A conference flyer can be downloaded from www.luton.ac.uk/artmediaconference.
Latest news» 2005» Jul» University to Host First International Media and Conflict Conference
