THE SYNTHETIC AESTHETICS OF NEW MEDIA ARTPresented by The New Media Caucus in Association with the College Art Association February 20-23, 2008; Dallas, TX http://conference.collegeart.org/2008/

Panel Chair: Carolyn Kane, PhD Candidate Media, Culture, and Communication, New York University clk267@nyu.edu

Contrary to traditional aesthetic theories that argue for the primacy of either the subjective and phenomenological, or formal and objective interpretations of artwork, the aesthetics of electronic media, like the logic of technical media itself, is thoroughly removed from anthropomorphic sensibility. One could say that electronic media aesthetics are marked by technical trauma.

However, much contemporary new media art criticism exemplifies a hermeneutic approach that seeks to rationalize and transform work into intelligible *art objects* for canonization and social theories. Is this approach problematic for the logic of technical media? Can certain attributes such as color, form, affect, or sound, effectively reconcile computer based artwork with the subjective and humanistic drives in art making?

The panel invites papers that address the aesthetics of New Media art in distinction to previous aesthetic models or media platforms. For instance, papers suggesting the ways in which color, sound, line, form, symbolism, affect, anti-aesthetics or ideology may be distinct to new media aesthetics are all welcomed. Essentially the panel inquires: what do theoreticians and practitioners address in New Media art, and why? Which artists and / or commercial work do you think best exemplifies these issues? Special attention will be given to those abstracts that are concerned with the use of color in New Media work.

Presenters can propose brief lectures; media or artist presentations of their own, or other artist's work; discussions; or other acceptable suggestions.

Timeline: Due by October 1, 2007: *Abstracts (max 500 words) * Paper / Presentation Titles *Confirmation that presenters will be able to travel to Dallas on February 20-23, 2008 * Current CV and a brief bio. *Specification of presentation format

Send proposals and / or any question to Carolyn Kane clk267 [AT] nyu.edu For CAA conference information visit: http://conference.collegeart.org/2008/