Computers and Writing 2007
The major problem with conferences is attempting to divide your attention between the location and the presentations. I was way too rushed in my presentation yesterday and left out most of what I wanted to say. People seemed to enjoy our panel though, so at least that’s something. It was good to hear Jim Ridolfo, Jake McCarthy, and Doug Eyman’s panel on research methods—the interesting thing about their research is its focus on practical aspects of writing in digital environments rather than interpretive strategies for writing. I’m always a bit put-off by the multiplicity of readings that pronounce what a particular type/venue for writing “means.” I can’t really talk about their presentation in a way that does it justice. I’m no good as a conference blogger. Jim’s work on creating a vocabulary for the way that press releases circulate on the web is of particular interest to me; analyses of circulation usually work to interpret what the proliferation of texts does—Jim wants to figure out how to make them circulate. It’s a distinction between techne and hermenutics that I find essential to real growth in theorizing electronic texts.
The photographer/urban studies professor Helen Liggett is going to speak soon; that seems quite promising to me. I wish I could have kind words about the location. Lunch yesterday was not thrilling, causing a severe migraine/problems that made me miss Geoff Sirc’s keynote. I’m sad about that.
