June 28-30, 2007 | University of Amsterdam

In network theory, the object of study has shifted from the virtual community and the ‘space of flows’ to the smart mob. When the object of study changes, so do the distinctions that dominate the schism between place-based space and place-less space, as organised and given life through networks. The conference sought to devise new ways of writing network theory to reflect the changes to the object of study – a post-Castellsian network theory, if you will, that takes technical media seriously.

The time had come to look for elements that compose a network theory outside of post-modern cultural studies (which marvelled at place-less space) and ethnographic social sciences (which recalled place-based space). The study of network culture is currently dominated by a science-centric ‘unified network theory’ (Albert-László Barabási). What network theory needs – to paraphrase Lev Manovich – is a ‘language of new networks’ that includes both aesthetic and political elements.

themes: network theory, the link, locative media, networks and subjectivities, networking and social life, art and info-aesthetics, actor-network theory and assemblage, networks and social movements, mobility and organisation, anomalous objects and processes, and the global and the local.

speakers: Katy Börner, Wendy Chun, Noshir Contractor, Florian Cramer, Rob Stuart, Jean-Paul Fourmentraux, Matthew Fuller, Valdis Krebs, Olia Lialina, Noortje Marres, Anna Munster, Warren Sack, Alan Liu, Ramesh Srini-vasan, Tiziana Terranova, Siva Vaidhyanathan, and many others.

website: Audio and video documentation of the conference at: www.networkcultures.org/networktheory.

credits: Organised by the Institute of Network Cultures in collaboration with Media Studies, University of Amsterdam, and the Amsterdam School for Cultural Analysis. Concept: Geert Lovink, Sabine Niederer, Richard Rogers and Jan Simons.