<nettime-ann> Geocode of Media (conference in Siegen/BRD)

[geert lovink <geert@desk.nl>]

.
The Geocode of Media
A position definition of the spatial turn

http://www.spatialturn.de/inner-engl.html

Conference of the Project "Media Geography" at the Collaborative 
Research Center "Media Upheavals", University of Siegen, Germany

October 12th to 14th, 2006
  
As demonstrated by Philosophy Atlas (Holenstein 2004) or automotive 
navigation systems, geocoding enables the process of matching maps to a 
variety of other data information. Especially because of the freely 
accessible and (collaboratively) editable Google maps (mashups) at the 
hurricane disaster in the USA, the mapping of geographical data also 
gained public recognition in the media in 2005.

In particular during periods of crisis, there obviously exists a basic 
need for creating a stable point of communication via spatial 
representation (Kuhm 2003). GPS therefore no longer stands for a form 
of mobile communications technology alone, but more and more for 
spatial, dynamic surveillance, tracking, and navigation systems.

Mapping as the process of creating maps and the transformation of 
geographical data opens new perspectives for local search operations on 
the internet, as well as the physical exploration of space. The 
interactions of virtual and real space in “Augmented Reality” (Frieling 
2004), or the recent trend game “geocaching”, serve as an example of 
this.

These are only a few indications of the growing phenomenon of a new 
spatial paradigm, which meanwhile has become obvious: from social 
sciences to historical sciences, urban studies, art history to 
literary, cinematographic, and media science, debates are raging on the 
conceptualization of space, spatial practices and the so-called 
“spatiality” of discourses.

Even if there is no consensus yet on what to label this reversal – 
whether “topographical turn” (Weigel 2002), “spatial turn” (Schlögel 
2003) or “topological turn” (Günzel 2005) – the first steps in 
direction of a multidisciplinary discipline building process 
(approximately analog to science) already have been taken 
(Kessl/Reutlinger/Maurer/Frey 2005).

Just as clearly, however, criticism of this new paradigm is emerging 
already: decades of “spatial obliviousness” in cultural and social 
sciences seem to turn into a „spatial obsession” 
(Geppert/Jensen/Weinhold 2005), abusing space as a category for 
resubstantiation (Köster 2005). Only recently now, are professional 
geographers themselves – after having observed for a conspicuously long 
time the “cross-over” (Miggelbrink 2005) occurring in other disciplines 
– taking action to defend their particular spatial competence in the 
discipline against losing its status as a unique characteristic 
(Lippuner 2005).

It appears that the question no longer needs to be: do we need a new 
space paradigm? But rather: why does a space paradigm exist?

In view of this finding, it seems to be promising, if not even 
essential, to gather supporters as well as opponents of the spatial 
turn for a joint conference, to debate the advantages and disadvantages 
of the new space paradigm. Three central issues appear to be 
particularly promising:

 1) Is there any common ground for systemizing each individual 
scientific explanation of a “spatial turn”?

 2) What importances do / should the space concepts have in geography? 
So far, discussions between cultural and social scientists with 
professional geographers have been neglected. Why? Will the new space 
paradigm evolve without the involvement of geographers?

 3) How does the increased scientific concern with space relate to 
media relations? Can the new paradigm be seen as the reaction to a 
dictate, based on media influences, of the „disappearance of space“ in 
view of the fundamental changes in communications due to 
digitalization? And, if yes, is this reaction already marked by 
characteristics of a hypercorrection?

Representatives of all disciplines currently subject to questions of 
space and spatiality are invited to participate in the discussion of 
these issues. We are looking for presentations not only oriented 
towards space theory or the history of paradigm, but that also 
demonstrate a material example from one’s own space science research 
experience. In addition to hat, we are organizing professionals willing 
to serve as respondents to papers of each individual discipline. The 
conference itself will have a strong emphasis on debates, with equal 
time slots reserved for discussions and individual presentation.
  
Selected Literature:

 Frieling, Rudolf: The Archive, the Media, the Map and the Text. 2004. 
Online available: http://www.medienkunstnetz.de, 2006.
 Geppert, Alexander/ Uffa Jensen / Jörg Weinhold (Eds.): Ortsgespräche. 
Raum und Kommunikation im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert. Bielefeld 2005.
 Günzel, Stephan: Topologie. WeltRaumDenken. November 10, 2005. Online 
available: http://www.geophilosophie.de, 2006.
 Holenstein, Elmar: Philosophie-Atlas. Orte und Wege des Denkens. 
Zürich 2004.
 Kessl, Fabian / Christian Reutlinger / Susanne Maurer / Oliver Frey 
(Eds.): Handbuch Sozialraum. Wiesbaden 2005
 Köster, Werner: Deutschland, 1900-2000: Der Raum als Kategorie der 
Resubstanzialisierung. Analysen zur deutschen Semantik und 
Wissenschaftsgeschichte. In: TopoGraphien der Moderne. Medien zur 
Repräsentation und Konstruktion von Räumen. München 2005, p. 25-72.
 Kuhm, Klaus: Telekommunikative Medien und Raumstrukturen der 
Kommunikation. In: Funken, Christiane / Martina Löw (Eds.): Raum – Zeit 
– Medialität. Interdisziplinäre Studien zu neuen 
Kommunikationstechnologien. Opladen 2003, p. 97-117.
 Lippuner, Roland: Raum – Systeme – Praktiken. Zum Verhältnis von 
Alltag, Wissenschaft und Geographie. Stuttgart 2005.
 Miggelbrink, Judith: Die (Un-)Ordnung des Raumes. Bemerkungen zum 
Wandel geographischer Raumkonzepte im ausgehenden 20. Jahrhundert. In: 
Geppert, Alexander/ Uffa Jensen / Jörg Weinhold (Eds.): Ortsgespräche. 
Raum und Kommunikation im 19. und 20. Jahrhundert. Bielefeld 2005, p. 
79-105.
 Schlögel, Karl: Im Raume lesen wir die Zeit. Über 
Zivilisationsgeschichte und Geopolitik. München 2003.
 Weigel, Sigrid: Zum ‚topographical turn‘. Kartographie, Topographie 
und Raumkonzepte in den Kulturwissenschaften. In: Kulturpoetik 2 
(2002), p. 151-165.
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