Computers & Writing conference 2011

[tishaturk]

I spent a couple of months this winter working on a research project that predates my work on vids and vidding: an academic essay that I wrote quite some time ago is finally going to be published this year, and I've been revising it to get it ready to go. I mention this only because the reviewers' comments made me see that some of the things I've been thinking about vids apply to other literary forms more specifically than I'd previously realized. So my extensive revisions to the article included the incorporation of some language that I've developed for talking about vids, and the editor was pleased with the changes. \o/

But in recent weeks I've been thinking and writing about vids again: working on an article to submit to the Transformative Works and Culture special issue on remix video, prepping for a couple of conference presentations this spring.

The exciting news there (and the reason for the title of this post) is that the Computers & Writing conference proposal reviewers responded to my proposal for a standard stand-at-the-front-of-the-room-and-talk presentation by saying "Vidding looks really interesting! And complicated! And we think you need to do a 75-minute mini-workshop on it rather than just a 15-minute talk, so you can explain the history and show more vids and lead a discussion of vids' pedagogical potential."

As a native midwesterner who has, however unwillingly, absorbed certain gendered behavioral norms, my immediate impulse was to say "Oh, gosh, are you sure? Really? Me?" Fortunately, I overcame this impulse (with the help of my fannish impulses, which were shouting YES SHARE THE SHINY FUN THINGS WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT LIKE THEM) and said "I would be thrilled to run a mini-workshop on vidding! Thank you!" Because, let's face it, vidding is awesome and more people should know that.

Having 75 minutes to work with means, among other things, that 1) I can show more than one vid, and 2) I can show longer vids. I love Star Trek Dance Floor, but I've shown it at conferences so often simply because it's short. Of course, I am now in danger of paralysis induced by the sheer vastness of options available to me, but I think I'm up to the challenge of narrowing my options. I may ask for help, though. :D

Comments

[laurashapiro]

This is AWESOME. I'm thrilled when those outside the community recognize that vids, and vidding, need context -- and respond by providing the space for it. Even more thrilled when you get to be the one explaining it all. \o/

[tishaturk]

I'm thrilled too! In retrospect I should have designated the proposal as a mini-workshop myself (it was one of the format options), but I just didn't want to assume that that many people would be interested. Shows what I know! It does make me VERY happy that my proposal managed to generate this much interest in two reviewers who'd never heard of the phenomenon. But that geeky tendency is one of the reasons I liked this conference so much last year, so go figure. :D

[laurashapiro]

Sounds like a win all round! Can't wait to hear how it goes.

[par_avion]

Excellent news!

[tishaturk]

I'm very excited!

[renenet]

\o/

[tishaturk]

:D

[oracne]

YES SHARE THE SHINY FUN THINGS WITH OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT LIKE THEM

YES YES YES.

[tishaturk]

EXACTLY.

[coffeeandink]

\o/

[tishaturk]

So much \o/!

[vonniek]

Oh, man. That sounds fantastic. I'm jealous of the academics who would be learning about vids for the first time from you -- they don't know what a treat they're in for!

You should do a mini-recap of how this all went come VVC time so that we could vicariously live through it. *g*

[tishaturk]

At first I thought "Oh no, how am I going to fill 75 minutes?" And then I thought about it for ten seconds and was like "Who am I kidding -- I can talk about vids for 75 minutes EASY." The hard part will be picking vids and planning an outline to make the presentation coherent rather than just a string of capslock and exclamation points. (!!!)

And I hadn't even thought of proposing a VividCon panel to do recap, but that's a terrific idea. I'd love the chance to explain how I'm representing us to my little corner of academia, let folks know how the academics are responding, and answer any questions that VVC attendees might have.

[lapillus]

I'm so glad that they realized that vids are interesting and complicated and have given you a suitable forum! Without you even asking for one! Your previous description of the conference has always made it sound like just the place for this sort of thing.

[tishaturk]

As I said to Laura upthread, I realized when I got the reviewers' comments that I should have designated the proposal as a mini-workshop myself (it was one of the format options), but I didn't want to assume that that many people would be interested. Note to self: be more assertive!

It does make me VERY happy that my proposal managed to generate this much interest in two reviewers who'd never heard of the phenomenon. But you're exactly right: this is why I've liked this conference so much in the past; it's the place where I'm most likely to find people who Get It even if they've never heard of vidding before.

[lapillus]

Well, there is something particularly reassuring that THEY were the ones suggesting the mini-workshop, rather than you. Since, one would hope, they have a better sense of what their attendees would find worth a mini-workshop. Although I do agree that there is something to be said for not selling yourself short.

[jackiekjono]

Actually, since VVC is going for programming ideas maybe you can submit doing a sort of recap of your presentation for one of the panels.

I mean, I realize most of the people at VVC already know most of the info you are presenting. We would probably be more interested how you present it and the reaction it gets.

(I enjoy volunteering other people for stuff.)

[tishaturk]

You and Vonnie are totally right; I should propose a VVC recap for folks who are interested. And yeah, everyone at VVC already knows this stuff, so focusing less on content and more on presentation and reception makes perfect sense.

[jackiekjono.livejournal.com]

I would recommend Greensilver and Eunice's "Papa Don't Preach" for Dr. Who and Torchwood. It really shows just how far you can go from cannon and is actually way more accessible than one might think.

It's really my goto vid for explaining to people why on Earth people think this is fun and why it actually is original and transformative and not just random clips from the show set to music.

[tishaturk.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, that's a great suggestion. I was thinking about laurashapiro's Aeryn/Starbuck crossover or the Buffy/Dean crossover, but I think you're right that "Papa Don't Preach" might be more accessible.

[renenet.livejournal.com]

\o/

[tishaturk.livejournal.com]

Comment on ALL the posts!

[dualbunny.livejournal.com]

Congrats! That's all kinds of exciting! :D

[tishaturk.livejournal.com]

It really is!