NYC CONFERENCE 8-9 May: Blowing Up the Brand: Critical Perspectives on Promotional Culture

CONFERENCE
Blowing Up The Brand: Critical Perspectives on Promotional Culture

WHEN: 8-9 May 2009

WHERE: New York University - Institute for Public Knowledge -
http://www.nyu.edu/ipk/

WEBSITE: http://www.nyu.edu/ipk/brand/

Keynote Address by Rob Walker, New York Times "Consumed" Columnist

Invited Panelists
Paula Chakravartty, UMass Amherst
John Corner, University of Leeds
Arlene Davila, New York University
Mary Ebeling, Drexel University
Jonathan Gray, Fordham University
Miriam Greenberg, UC Santa Cruz
Graham Knight, McMaster University
Celia Lury, Goldsmiths, University of London
Jeff Pooley, Muhlenberg College
Marita Sturken, New York University


Description
Creative cities, PR nations, celebrity diplomacy, Hype Machine, branded
philanthropy, YouTube identities.... These are both symptoms and effects of
what Andrew Wernick termed "promotional culture": the extension of
promotional discourses, practices and performances into virtually all areas
of public life.

What is at stake in these contemporary promotional paradigms? The
interpenetration of public and private interests, techniques and expertise
creates new anxieties and demands new forms of analysis. The goal of this
two-day conference is to develop a set of productive critical perspectives
on promotion in relation to contemporary culture. We seek to assemble
creative and interdisciplinary frameworks to identify common themes and
disjunctures inherent to these forms of communication. At issue is the
changing role of the consumer-citizen-user in contemporary life.


For complete schedule, or to RSVP, visit: http://www.nyu.edu/ipk/brand/

For more information, contact conference co-organizers Melissa Aronczyk and
Devon Powers at blowingupthebrand@gmail.com