Common Ground

Each year, the Common Ground conference gives graduate students the opportunity to showcase their completed and ongoing research. It also affords them opportunity to network socially with other graduate students and academics from inside and outside The Media School.

We named this conference Common Ground because it emphasizes the rich benefits derived from studying media from varied disciplines. Although we are from a plurality of approaches, we occupy a “common ground,” that is, the study of media in all its forms and contexts. Annually, we bring together graduate students from different fields to present research on media.

Call for papers

The conference will include both panels devoted to the presentation of research and conversational workshops devoted to working through specific questions. Additionally, submissions of media objects will be featured at the conference. Any graduate student from IU is welcome to apply. We will accept papers that have been submitted to other conferences or that have previously been presented at conferences. There are a few different ways to participate in Common Ground.

You may submit:

• An abstract for a paper presentation: If you wish to present a current research project, please prepare a 250-word abstract. We do not require full papers. If selected, you will be asked to give a 10-minute presentation of your project.
• A panel proposal: If you would like to submit a pre-constituted panel, please send a short description of the theme or topic of your panel and its connection to media research or practice, along with up to 250-word abstracts for each of the participants on your panel. Please make sure to designate a moderator for your panel in your submission.
• A workshop proposal: If you would like to hold a workshop, please submit the primary question and a short description (250 words) of what will be addressed in the workshop, along with a list of all workshop leaders. Please make sure to designate a moderator for your workshop in your submission.
• A media object: You can also submit a media artifact to be screened or featured. Please specify the format of the media object. Submissions could include, but are not limited to: short films, animations, photography, posters, sonic sculpture, music or data visualization. Video and audio presentations should not exceed 5 minutes.

With your submission, include a 50-word bio of the author(s) and keywords to identify your area of interest.

Submissions are due Feb. 14.