The Media of the Metapolis
Reflecting the knowledge base of urban research.
Rencontre Francois Ascher II
(CALL FOR PAPERS CLOSED)

Weimar, Germany
DEADLINE: 01.01.2012
Bauhaus-Universität Weimar
Institut Français d'Urbanisme
Institut für Europäische Urbanistik

The conference theme is related to the emergence of the new information and communication technologies that has had an enormous impact on urban life. The wide spread mobile phone and internet communication are just the spear head of more exciting technological innovations which are apparently lying ahead. While we are witnessing this information revolution, a more substantial analysis of the changes implied is obviously a practical and intellectual endeavour. 
The conference will attempt in bringing together different perspectives, projects, and ideas on the recent and future development of urban development, local politics, architectural and planning practices and theoretical interpretations of the media city.
The main assumption of the conference is that in the light of the work of Francois Ascher and his understanding of the predominating construction of the so-called metapolis, understood as a description of contemporary cities.

FIELDS OF INTEREST
The conference invites scholars from all relevant disciplines to send in abstracts related to the four main fields of interest:
1. Communicating the city
How do we understand the impact of the new technologies on the perception, reproduction, marketing, and identity? This workshop will enable a deeper discussion on what has changed with regard to the communication about the city and its political and societal understanding.
2. The New Public of the City
How has the appearance of social media changed the way of planning and political perspectives on the city? This workshop is dedicated to the discussion of urban planning as a communicative process where the role of the media needs to be reviewed under the conditions of the new opportunities of the internet.
3. Projecting Urban Future
The main question of this workshop is related to the new concepts developed with regard to future urban development on the basis of technological innovations. The focus will lie on the subject of political, social and planning concepts that are looking on the emerging opportunities deriving from the information revolution for addressing the most important urban problems.
4. Enhancing the Urban
This workshop seeks projects which are practice based or related reflections on ongoing projects trying to translate the new urban themes into artistic, architectural and planning experiments. It is especially calling for artists and media experimentalists to present recent projects.

IMPORTANT DATES
Applications deadline: 1st January 2012
Invited scholars are free of the conference fee and can apply for travel support. Please send your abstract (max. 500 words) to:
Frank.Eckardt@uni-weimar.de

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND CONTACTS
• Bauhaus-Universität Weimar website
• Media city project website
• Prof. Dr. Frank Eckardt