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*Research Seminar ‘Media Philosophy & Media Theory’ — edition 2014-2015 - 2nd semester*
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You are cordially invited to the four research seminars ‘Media philosophy & Media theory’ which will take place from 2
to 4 pm on February 26, March 27, April 30, and May 19 at VUB, Campus Etterbeek (more practical information, see
below).
In these interdisciplinary research seminars we discuss themes at the crossroads of the philosophy of media and
technology, communication and media studies (media sociology), and the philosophy of culture. During each session, an
invited speaker will present (part of) his/her research, followed by an extended and thorough group discussion.
The seminar is organized by Prof. dr. K. Verstrynge (research center ETHU) and Prof. dr. J. Bauwens (research center
CEMESO).
The organizing committee consists of Prof. dr. Jo Bauwens (SCOM), Prof. dr. Karl Verstrynge (FILO, SCOM), dr. Yoni Van
Den Eede (FILO) and dr. Katleen Gabriels (FILO).
Registration?
Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. To encourage debate, the number of participants is restricted
to 20 participants per seminar. To register, please send an e-mail to katleen.gabriels@vub.ac.be
Location?
All research seminars take place at VUB, Campus Etterbeek, Pleinlaan 5, room 2.03 (second floor), 1050 Brussels.
Doctoral student?
The research seminars are part of the doctoral school. Doctoral students receive 1 credit per research seminar.
Schedule?
RESEARCH SEMINAR 1
Thursday February 26, 2-4 pm
Pleinlaan 5, room 2.03 (second floor)
Invited speaker: Rob Van Kranenburg (independent scholar): The ethical implications of the Internet of Things (IoT)
RESEARCH SEMINAR 2
Friday March 27, 2-4 pm
Pleinlaan 5, room 2.03 (second floor)
Invited speaker: Prof. dr. Tilo Hartmann (VU University Amsterdam): Does it feel bad to harm a virtual child? The moral
implications of virtual violence
RESEARCH SEMINAR 3
Thursday April 30, 2-4 pm
Pleinlaan 5, room 2.03 (second floor)
Invited speaker: Prof. dr. Karolien Poels (Universiteit Antwerpen): How the virtual world shapes everyday life: Gamebiased perceptions and associations among avid MMORPG players
RESEARCH SEMINAR 4
Thursday May 19, 2-4 pm
Invited speaker: Prof. dr. Johnny Søraker (University of Twente): When is the virtual real? Meaning, relationships and
well-being in virtual worlds
More extensive information on the speakers and their talks can be found below. We hope to welcome you at our
research seminars!
Best wishes,
Jo Bauwens
Karl Verstrynge
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February 2015
Rob Van Kranenburg (independent scholar)
Thursday February 26, 2015: 2-4 pm
Title: The ethical implications of the Internet of Things (IoT)
Abstract: Internet of Things (IoT) is a paradigm shift and an ontological change. Our very notions of what it means to be
human and what it means to be ‘in the world’ are based on subject-object dichotomies. IoT brings a third party into the
equation, a database, algos and scenario reality that is always present in any interaction between object and subject. This
is not an indifferent reality, however, but one of real stakeholders and investors. Where are you in this transition? We
would like to start an open-ended discussion on the underlying aims of IoT and to explore its societal and ethical
challenges, by presenting the following questions: http://www.theinternetofthings.eu/questions-iot
Biography: Rob van Kranenburg wrote The Internet of Things. A critique of ambient technology and the all-seeing network
of RFID, Network Notebooks 02, Institute of Network Cultures. He is co-founder of bricolabs and the founder of Council.
Together with Christian Nold he published Situated Technologies Pamphlets 8: The Internet of People for a Post-Oil World.
He currently works as Community Manager at the EU Project Sociotal. He is consultant to IoT China, Shanghai 2014. He
Chairs AC8 - Societal Impact and Responsibility in the Context of IoT Applications of the IERC, The European Research
Cluster on the Internet of Things.
March 2015
Prof. dr. Tilo Hartmann (VU University Amsterdam)
Friday March 27, 2015: 2-4 pm
Title: Does it feel bad to harm a virtual child? The moral implications of virtual violence
Abstract: Video games range among the most popular virtual media applications. A common theme in video games is
violence. But how do users experience virtual violence? Users’ may experience violence in video games primarily in a
state of moral disengagement in which they perceive their own actions as being directed against seemingly real or
existing social beings, but also as appropriate and instrumental. This is the basic assumption of the “moral disengagement
in violent video games model” that I developed based on a series of studies. I will outline the theoretical rationale of the
model and existing empirical evidence. In this context, I will also briefly tap into my recent ideas about a dual-system
model of perceived media reality that tries to explain how we feel vs. think about reality while processing virtual media,
including characters in video games.
Recommended readings
Hartmann, T. (2011). Players’ experiential and rational processing of virtual violence. In S. Malliet & K. Poels (Eds.), Vice
City Virtue. Moral Issues in Digital Game Play (pp. 135-150). Leuven: Acco.
Hartmann, T. (2012). Moral disengagement during exposure to media violence: Would it feel right to shoot an innocent
civilian in a video game? In R. Tamborini (Ed.), Media and the Moral Mind (pp. 109-131). New York, NY: Routledge.
Biography: Dr. Tilo Hartmann is an Associate Professor at the Department of Communication Science at the VU University
Amsterdam. He holds a PhD in Communication Science from the University of Music, Drama and Media Hannover. In his
research he applies media-psychological approaches and methodology to study people's experience of mediated illusions
(e.g., parasocial interaction, presence, virtual violence), media choice, and health communication behavior. Tilo Hartmann
is editor of the book Media Choice: A theoretical and empirical overview, and editorial board member of Journal of
Communication, Human Communication Research, and Media Psychology.
April 2015
Prof. dr. Karolien Poels (Universiteit Antwerpen)
Thursday April 30, 2015: 2-4 pm
Title: How the virtual world shapes everyday life: Game-biased perceptions and associations among avid MMORPG
players
Abstract: A substantial part of digital gaming research has focused on what happens after game-play. Both negative
effects (e.g. aggressive behavior) and positive effects (e.g. bonding, leadership training) have been documented. Less is
known about how playing digital games affects the daily life of players in subtler, perhaps even more mundane, ways.
Inspired by the concept of brain plasticity and based on findings from human perception theory, I will explain that -due to
specific characteristics of digital games- elements from the virtual game environment can be transferred to the players’
perceptual and experiential mental system. As a consequence, their perception and interpretation of real-life
environments will be (partly) shaped by the virtual game environment. In this talk I will elaborate on these so-called
game-biased perceptions and associations. Based on recent empirical work in the context of Massive Multiplayer Online
Role-Playing Games, I will discuss the theoretical underpinnings, the manifestation of the phenomenon, and challenges
for future research.
Recommended readings
Poels, K., IJsselsteijn, W. A., & de Kort, Y. A. W. (2014). World of Warcraft, the Aftermath: How Game Elements Transfer
into Perceptions, Associations and (Day)dreams in the Everyday Life of Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
Players. New Media & Society: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1177/1461444814521596
Biography:
Karolien Poels is an Associate Professor of Strategic Communication at Department of Communication Studies, University
of Antwerp, Belgium. She is a member of the research group MIOS (Media & ICT in Organizations & Society). She holds an
MA in Communication Studies and a PhD in Social Sciences, both from Ghent University. She worked as a postdoctoral
researcher at the Human technology Interaction Group of Eindhoven University of Technology. Her research topics
include: 1) advertising and consumer psychology and 2) digital games and social media. Emotions form a central topic in
(most of) her studies.
May 2015
Prof. dr. Johnny Søraker (University of Twente)
Thursday May 19, 2015: 2-4 pm
Title: When is the virtual real? Meaning, relationships and well-being in virtual worlds
Abstract: Whether my life fares well or not seems inextricably related to whether the states of affairs that contribute to
my well-being are real or not. Thus, we are constantly exposed to and troubled by claims of unreality: Is this real love?
Get a real life! What is my real identity? Is she a real friend? Am I escaping my real obligations? Is there really a God? We
are either relieved or disappointed when a particularly lifelike dream turned out not to be real, or by realizing that a
particular state of affairs turned out not to be true after all. When so much of our lives and well-being is tied up with
concerns and claims about reality, it should come as no surprise that the impact of virtuality on our lives is a controversial
topic. Indeed, philosophers, policy makers, researchers and journalists often make claims to the effect that wasting one’s
life on virtual surrogates for the real thing amounts to being bereaved of what real life has to offer; that virtual worlds,
entities and experiences might give immediate gratification, but not deliver the kind of authentic happiness that a life
engaged with reality can offer. In this lecture, I will discuss to what extent virtual worlds and entities are “real”, whether
the things we regard as meaningful in life can be replaced by virtual surrogates, and more generally how virtual
environments of various sorts can affect our well-being.
Biography: Dr. Johnny Hartz Søraker is Assistant Professor of Philosophy of technology at the Department of Philosophy,
University of Twente. He defended his PhD cum laude at the same department, dealing mainly with the epistemology,
ontology and ethics of virtual worlds, with a particular focus on their potential impact on personal well-being. Søraker's
main research interests and publications lie in the intersections between Information Technology, on the one hand and
both theoretical and practical philosophy, on the other. He often grounds his work in psychological research, especially
work in the field of Positive Psychology and is developing this toward a comprehensive methodology entitled “PrudentialEmpirical Ethics of Technology (PEET)”.