Based on a few synopsises we’ve received in response to our call, some of you have noticed our experiment on the form of academic contribution, namely contribution via an audiovisual production. We’ve received some questions regarding what we mean by synopsises or videos. In this post, we would like to explain what we’re trying to achieve through this and to let you know that the deadline for synopsises is extended until the end of September.

During the initial planning of the symposium and scouting the field for open practices we started discussing about dr. Michael Wesch’s video “The Machine is Us/ing Us”. The video manages in just under 5 minutes to explain how the adaptation of digital technologies as tools for communication is affecting our lives. In artistic terms the video looks great and gets its message accross very efficiently – I recommend it to anyone interested in digital culture. What is even more interesting is that in some ways it can be considered as an academic essay.

Inspired by this video, OPEN 2009 welcomes academic audiovisual productions and video works that use audiovisual means to communicate research findings, results and process. Also remember that it has to be made of original content or, if made by someone else, with the author’s permission. Under these clauses we also welcome compilations and remixes of works. The accepted videos can be used in the symposium as stand-alone presentations, they can be part of your own presentations or we can use them as part of the symposium talks or panel discussions. Of course, you as the author will make the decision on its use. They don’t have to be similar in form, structure or content to dr Wesch’s, but you can decide these factors yourself – please just keep the length between 2 and 10 minutes. Just for inspiration, here are few possible forms of videos:

• recordings from presentations
• animations
• screencasts
• documentaries, testimonials or interviews
• visualisations
• concept or scenario videos

Prior to sending a completed video, please submit a written abstract or outline (synopsis) for the proposed work. If accepted, you can produce the video for the event. So you have nothing to lose if you participate. Now you have time until the 30th of September do it.

This information concerning the video submissions can also be found on the new Submission info page.