Between presentations at the symposium VIU First Nations Studies student Kirsten Gellein discussed the talks that inspired her with Dr. David Witty, VIU Provost and Vice-President Academic.
May 5, 2016 - 2:00pm
VIU’s faculty and students host international conference exploring media manipulation, hauntings and the penal system
Vancouver Island University (VIU) Social Sciences and Master of Community Planning faculty and students recently presented at a three day symposium held at VIU’s Nanaimo campus alongside internationally renowned experts. The topics covered a wide range of areas within Social Sciences with keynote speakers exploring topics including Donald Trump’s manipulation of the media, the impact hauntings can have on our lives, and whether or not we should abolish our penal system.
The international symposium is an annual event for the Society for the Study of Symbolic Interaction (SSSI). It’s designed to create a space for scholars to explore some of the most pressing social engagement challenges of our time.
VIU Criminology Chair, Dr. Elizabeth McLin, says the broad range of topics covered at the event under themes such as Gender and Sexuality; Language and Vitality; Environment and Sense of Place; and Digital Identities highlight the diversity within the social sciences.
“We were honoured to have some of the world’s leading symbolic interactionists here in Nanaimo to share their work at the Couch Stone Symposium,” said McLin. “For those of us practicing and teaching in the field it was an opportunity to connect with colleagues in a meaningful way and it gave VIU students a chance to be inspired and see where a career in the Social Sciences might lead them.”
Fourth year VIU First Nations Studies student Kirsten Gellein presented with her partners VIU sociology student Kelsey Yamasaki and VIU MBA student Dmitry Morozov on their research project entitled “Community Conversations: Giving Voice in Community Planning”. Gellein said presenting at an international conference and actively participating in workshops and discussions was a great confidence booster.
“It was an environment where I could participate as an equal and be included in high-level conversations with experts in their field. These are topics the researchers are incredibly passionate about so it was easy to be inspired,” said Gellein.
VIU Provost and Vice-President Academic, Dr. David Witty, supported the Couch Stone planning committee from the beginning and attended several events.
“The Couch Stone Symposium is an excellent example of the world class opportunities VIU can offer our students and faculty. It takes a lot of planning to make something like this happen and I congratulate the team from the Faculty of Social Sciences for their hard work,” said Dr. Witty.
The event brought presenters from Hong Kong, across the United States, and England. After more than 15 presentations and workshops, Arizona State University Professor Emeritus, Dr. David Altheide, provided the closing keynote address with a presentation entitled “The Media Syndrome and Contemporary Crises.”
Over the past 40 years Altheide has studied the role of media and how it is used to shape the direction of global international conflict. He said in his talk that in an ever advancing social media age the public is increasingly “caught up in a media wave that is guiding our experience in ways we don’t fully understand.”
Altheide highlighted US presidential candidate Donald Trump in his talk saying he is an excellent example of how social media can be used to manipulate the media. Trump, with millions of Twitter and Facebook followers, often controls entire national media cycles and doesn’t have to spend a dime to do it.
“My research shows that the politics of fear fits well with communication formats that are personal, instantaneous, and visual. I call it media syndrome. We’re not simply talking about how media covers events, but increasingly how events are shaped by and informed by the media we use,” said Altheide.
Other presenters included Dr. Pam Shaw, VIU Master of Community Planning Program Director; Matthew Bowes, VIU Geography Professor and VIU student researchers Tanner Mackinnon, Hugo Montero, and Mikaela Whitelaw.
The symposium was made possible thanks to funding from SSSI, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, and VIU.
For more information about VIU Social Sciences Department go to: www.viu.ca/socialsciences/
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