Introduction

The Organizing Committee proudly announces that Call for Papers on International Conference Visuality 2023: Media and Communication in the Age of (Dis)Information is now open. 

In his work Picture Theory: Essays on Verbal and Visual Representation (1994), W. J. T. Mitchel claimed that a post-structuralist interest in language and textuality (often referred to as ‘linguistic turn’) had given way to a new interest in the concept of visuality. Since language could not offer a full explanation of reality, theorists of society and culture were united in their increasing emphasis on the power of the visuals in art, science and indeed, everyday life (Blair 2010). In other words, visuality is intertextual, cross-sectoral and coextensive with the phenomenal field in which we live, interact and communicate (Kačerauskas, Mickūnas 2020).

One of the main regions of the above mentioned field is socio-political space, which nowadays rotates mainly about various forms of media and (dis)information they spread. Visual communication as the intersection point of visuality, creativity and communication plays a very significant role in this area. Namely, visual communication points to the contemporary political context and particularly to the visual aspects of new media and (dis)information. In the contest among  media and politics, a more imaginative player usually succeeds. Moreover, visuality has connotations of truth in a propagandistic war. Visual information discloses the brutal reality of the war, provokes political reaction, memorandums and protests. On the other hand, visuality becomes the means of disinformation. Therefore, despite or even instead of the post-truth situation, visual communication forces to choose one side or the other, namely, truth or disinformation.

One of the most effective measures for preventing or at least mitigating the impact of disinformation is critical thinking supported and followed by scientific knowledge the spread of which requires relevant communication.  For a long time, science communication has been related to the written format and research papers. However, the rising importance of the Internet and information technologies has profoundly changed the way science is communicated. Researchers, science communicators and other players are using audio-visual media to reinvent their stories, deconstruct complex phenomena and increase the outreach of scientific publications. Digital tools also allow elevating public engagement in higher levels through the inclusion of citizens and other stakeholders into scientific processes. In this case, citizen science acts as one of the most discussed practices of such arrangement. This is a broad area covering a range of engagement levels from being observers or funders to tagging pictures or collecting observations. As a quite new phenomenon, this type of engagement requires more research leading to new ways, strategies and methods.  

 

Key questions on visuality

Within the aforementioned theoretical frameworks and beyond, our conference will attempt to address the following questions about a number of various contexts of visuality as we understand them today: 

•    What role does visuality play under war conditions? 
•    What kind of communication is dominant in creative industries? 
•    What are the philosophical aspects of communication and media? 
•    What is the relationship between visuality, media and politics and how are these areas connected?
•     What are the aspects of visuality in the urban environment? 
•    What is the relationship between visuality, media education and propaganda? 
•    What implications does visuality have on (dis)information? 
•    What are the historical aspects of media war? 
•    What is the role of creativity under (dis)information conditions? 
•    What is the role of science communication and citizen science under (dis)information conditions? 
•    Does visuality eliminate or encourage creativity in media? 
•    What are innovative methods for science communication and citizen engagement?

PRECONFERENCE EVENTS
Activities initiated by FabCitizen
Location: VILNIUS TECH, The Faculty of Creative Industries
9:00 – 11:00 Teacher training “How to adapt Citizen Science Scenarios at school”
Coffee break 
11:30 – 13:30 Multipliers’ discussion “How to multiply the effect of Citizen Science in Schools”
Launch of VILNIUS TECH Citizen Science Hub 
Location: VILNIUS TECH, The Faculty of Creative Industries
15:00-15:10 Launch of VILNIUS TECH Citizen Science Hub
Welcome speech from the Vice-Rector of Studies dr. Živilė Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė, Dean dr. Vaida Asakavičiūtė, Head of Citizen Science Hub dr. Monika Mačiulienė
15:10-15:45 Vignette of Citizen Science focused projects at VILNIUS TECH:

• Presentation by the lead of FabCitizen Project (Erasmus+. FabCitizen: Data-centered Citizen Science for Schools in the Environment of FabLabs, GA: 2020-1-DE01-KA203-005692) presented by Dr. Jan M. Pawlowski (Professor Business Information Systems, Ruhr West University of Applied Sciences)
  • Igniting Curiosity and Creativity: The Power of Citizen Science in Schools 
     
• Presentation by the coordinator of CLIMAS project (Horizon Europe: CLIMAte change citizens engagement toolbox for dealing with Societal resilience, GA 101092100), presented by dr. Kristina Kovaitė (VILNIUS TECH): 
  • Empowering Citizens for Climate Resilience
     
• Presentation by researcher at INCENTIVE project (H2020: Establishing Citizen Science Hubs in European Research Performing and Funding Organizations to drive institutional change and ground Responsible Research and Innovation in society”) presented by dr. Monika Mačiulienė (VILNIUS TECH):
  • Creating a Legacy of Democratic and Collaborative Research: The Case of Citizen Science Hubs

• Presentation by researcher ar CHILD project (Erasmus+ Key Action 2 Sector: K220-SCH – Cooperation partnerships in school education, GA: 2021-1-CY01-KA220-SCH-000023910) presented by Vaida Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė (VILNIUS TECH):
  • Challenging of pre-schools for an innovative and creative environment

15:45-16:45 World Cafe Seminar with the stakeholders of Citizen Science Hub on the future of Citizen Science in VILNIUS TECH, Lithuania and the Baltic region. Chaired by prof. dr. Aelita Skaržauskienė (coordinator of INCENTIVE project). Participation by Jan Pawlowski (lead coordinator of FabCitizen project), dr. Kristina Kovaitė (coordinator of CLIMAS project, vice-dean), prof. dr. Vytis Valatka (vice-dean for science at Faculty of Creative Industries, VILNIUS TECH)
Coffee break 
17:00-18:00 Roundtable discussion with the policy-makers: Citizen Science initiatives and hubs in the context of Lithuanian R&I policy. Chaired by dr. Monika Mačiulienė.
18:00 Networking event: creating new synergies between Citizen Science initiatives.
Scientific seminars
Venue: Traku 1, Vilnius, The Faculty of Creative Industries
16:20 - 17:50  Prof. habil. dr. Marta Joanna Dynel "How to Get Published in Top Journals"
18:10 - 19:40 Prof. dr. Nico Eduard Carpentier "Arts-based Research in Communication and Media Studies: A Series of Examples and Experiences"
THURSDAY, APRIL 20
N.B. Vilnius Time (CET + 1) is applied in the conference programme
8:30 – Registration 
09:15-09:30 Opening of conference. (ONSITE and ONLINE)
Welcome by 
Welcome speech from the Vice-Rector of Studies dr. Živilė Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė, Dean dr. Vaida Asakavičiūtė, Chairman of the Scientific Committee prof. dr. Tomas Kačerauskas.
09:30-13:45 PLENARY SESSION (ONSITE and ONLINE)
Moderator: Aistė Ptakauskė
09:30-10:00 Marta Dynel, University of Lodz, Poland; Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Hashtag Affinity Spaces: Where Political Discussion Meets Humour and Creativity
10:00-10:30 Aelita Skaržauskienė, Monika Mačiulienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Science vs. Misinformation: How Open and Citizen Science Can Lead the Charge
10:30-11:00 Nico Eduard Carpentier, Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic; Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Beyond Information: Mapping Discursive Struggles over the Environment in Swedish Media
11:00-11:30 Coffee break
11:30-12:00 Yevhen Fedchenko, National university “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, Ukraine
The Role of Visuals in Promoting Ukrainian Strategic Narratives in the First Stage of the Full-Scale War
12:00-12:30 Janis Chakars, Neuman University, USA
Information Wars, Nationhood and Sovereignty in The Baltic States
12:30-13:00 Asta Zelenkauskaitė, Drexel University USA; Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania
Disinformation Research Relevance Today: Approaches and Implications
13:00-13:40 DISCUSSION
LUNCH BREAK 13:45-14:50
14:50-18:10
WORK IN PARALLEL SESSIONS (see below)
19:00 
NETWORKING RECEPTION. ADRESS: MO MUSEUM, address: Pylimo 17, Vilnius (just across the street from the Faculty).
 SECTION 1: CONCEPTS OF VISUALITY (Arts, Philosophy, Humanities, Social Sciences)
14:50-17:30 (ONSITE)

Moderator: Vytis Valatka  14:50 – 15:10 Tomas Kačerauskas, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Communication Wars: How To Fight Democratically Against Disinformation? 15:10 – 15:30 Yiorgis Sakellariou, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania  Dis-embodied Art: Presence and Absence in Virtual Environment 15:30 – 15:50 Ulrika Varankaitė, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania  Creative Music Listening In The Modern Western Socio-cultural Context: Extramusical Approach 15:50 – 16:10 Ignas Staškevičius, Audrius Lelkaitis, JSC “Rado-rodo”, Lithuania Ideal mass 16:10 – 16:30  COFFEE BREAK  Moderator: Tomas Kačerauskas 16:30 – 16:50 Tautvydas Vėželis, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Is it True That Art Gave Birth to Technology and Became Unnecessary? Several Interesting Theoretical Interpretations of Van Gogh's Painting 16:50 – 17:10 Joe Pilotta, Ohio State University; In-Nova.1, LLC, USA  Communication And Autopoiesis: Transdisciplinary Concepts 17:10 – 17:30 DISCUSSION

 SECTION 2: IMAGES, COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION
14:50-17:30 (ONSITE)

Moderator: Ron Ringer  14:50 – 15:10 Sigita Bukantaitė, Živilė Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Disinformation in Fashion Communication: How the ephemeral fashion brands’ content created by Artificial intelligence misinforms consumers 15:10 – 15:30 Aistė Ptakauskė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania  International TV Formats In Lithuanian TV: Between Global Rules And Local Values 15:30 – 15:50 Kayako Takagi, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Creating Videos as an Outcome of Language Learning: How Students Perform Their Japanese Knowledge In the Video Project 15:50 – 16:10 Vida Navickienė, Gintarė Mikolavičiūtė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Defining the Possibilities of Visual Communication in an Academic Environment: Lecturers' Perspectives 16:10 – 16:30 COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Sigita Bukantaitė 16:30 – 16:50 Ron Ringer, Syntax Writing Services Pty Ltd, Australia Mass Communication, Mass Society, and Fin-de-siècle Angst: The World in 1900 – Fears and Anxieties 16:50 – 17:10 Paweł Bytniewski, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland  Regarding the Pain of Others: Do We Need Teleethics? 17:10 – 17:30 DISCUSSION

 SECTION 3: VISUALITY, VISIBILITY, CORPOREITY
14:50-18:30 (ONLINE)

Moderator: Robert Leščinskij 14:50 – 15:10 Jonas Miklavčič, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia Visibility of Everything: The Concept of Transparency in the Digital Age 15:10 – 15:30 Yong Liu, University Brunei Darussalam, Brunei 3D‘s Enhancement of Water As the Worlding Nexus In „Avatar 2“ 15:30 – 15:50 Linda de Feo, University of Naples Federico II, Italy For a Sociology of Corporeity: The Virtual Dance Between "Electrons Of Sense” and Mythological Semantism 15:50 – 16:10 Janez Juhant, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia Embodied Christian Vision: Lambert Ehrlich and the Vision of the Christian World 16:10 – 16:30 COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Jonas Miklavčič 16:30 – 16:50 Ines Nerina Râmbu, University of Bucharest, Romania The Role of Conventional Lies in Medical Communication 16:50 – 17:10 Nerijus Stasiulis, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania The True in Sense Perception 17:10 – 17:30 Jolanta Saldukaitytė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Ethics of Representation: Levinas and Sebald 17:30 – 17:50 Michael J. Hyde, Wake Forest University, USA Regenerative Medicine, Visualization and Documentary Film 17:50 – 18:10 Gary L. Kreps, George Mason University, USA  Visuality as a Form of Immediacy to Enhance Understanding of Relevant Health Information 18:10 – 18:30 DISCUSSION

 SECTION 4:  VISUALITY, DIGITAL LITERACY, (DIS)INFORMATION, SUSTAINABILITY
14:50-18:10 (ONLINE)

Moderator: Robert Radziej 14:50 – 15:10 Erika Gerardini, Associazione JUMP - Gioventù in riSalto, Italy EU-READ&art - Literacy And Digital Competences: The Power Of Book Trailers As Potential New Communication Business For Young People In The Digital Labor Market 15:10 – 15:30 Emanuela Ferreri, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy Along The Contingency 15:30 – 15:50 Ewa Wylezek-Targosz, University of Silesia, Poland The (Dis)service and (Dis)information of Cancel Culture – An Analysis of Images Gone Wrong 15:50 – 16:10 Kristina Juodinytė, Jolita Šliogerienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania The Role Of Empathy Under (Dis)information Overload on the Internet 16:10 – 16:30 COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Kristina Juodinytė-Kuznetsova 16:30 – 16:50 Robert Radziej, Katarzyna Molek-Kozakowska, University of Opole, Poland  Making Abstract Values Tangible: How European University Alliances Construct Their Visual Identity 16:50 – 17:10 Dalia Marija Stančienė, Klaipėda University, Lithuania Media as Technological Simulations of Consciousness  17:10 – 17:30 John Ely, JSC „Heartland“, USA Why Sustainability Will Be The Next Revolution 17:30 – 17:50 Eric M. Kramer, University of Minnesota, USA Bearing Witness  17:50 – 18:10 Marina Rigou, University of Athens, Greece Deepfakes and Visuality: Implications of Visual Disinformation on Public Opinion and Politics

FRIDAY, APRIL 21
 SECTION 5: VISUALITY, GEOPOLITICS, IDEOLOGY, (DIS)INFORMATION
09:00-12:40 (ONSITE)

Moderator: Darius Remeika 09:00 Morning introduction 09:20 – 09:40 Tomislav Levak, Academy of Arts and Culture in Osijek, Croatia; Lana Ciboci Perša, Catholic University of Croatia Visual Elements in the Service of Publishing and Disseminating Disinformation Content in the Media and Social Networks 09:40 – 10:00 Eglė Grėbliauskaitė, Vilnius University, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Envisioning the Autonomous Society and Autonomous Art Symbiosis: What Must Be Sacrificed? 10:00 – 10:20 Svitlana Pryshchenko, State University of Infrastructure and Technologies, Ukraine The Poster as a Propaganda Tool: Ukrainian Context 10:20 – 10:40 Wojciech Gizicki, John Paul II Catholic University, Poland Disinformation in the Time of War: Poland's Perspective 10:40 – 11:00 COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Eglė Grėbliauskaitė 11:00 – 11:20 Renata Stonytė, Vilnius University Showing the War: Russo-Ukrainian War in Documentary Films 11:20 – 11:40 Juna Janonė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Algorithms of Death 11:40 – 12:00 Darius Remeika, Vytautas Magnus University Authenticity as the New Alternative: Mediation of Visuals in the Unmoderated Platform Telegram 12:00 – 12:20 Rafał Bieryło, University of Warsaw, Poland Visual Promotion of Ukrainian Armed Forces on Youtube: From Ministry of Defence, through Ukrainian Artists to Revival of #Natowave 12:20 – 12:40 DISCUSSION

 SECTION 6: VISUALITY AND THE CITY
09:00-12:20 (ONSITE)

Moderator: Basia Nikiforova  09:00 Morning introduction 09:20 – 09:40 Jekaterina Lavrinec, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Developing the Local Networks of Trust and Mutual Help: On the Spatial Aspect of Communication In the Neighbourhoods 09:40 – 10:00 Özer Özgür Gizem, Senel Aslihan, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey Mapping Architectural Education in Periodical Media in Turkey 10:00 – 10:20 Donata Bocullo, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania Contemporary Genius Loci in The Visual and Narrative Myth Building: the Case of the Festival „Kaunas – European Capital of Culture 2022“ 10:20 – 10:40  Kristina Stankevičiūtė, Margarita Gedvilaitė-Kordušienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Irony in Street Fashion: Communicating the Consumers' Perspective 10:40 – 11:00 COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Kristina Stankevičiūtė 11:00 – 11:20 Basia Nikiforova, Lithuanian Culture Research Institute, Lithuania The Deconstructed Image of Borders Through the Discourse of Social Activists 11:20 – 11:40 Özer Özgür Gizem, Istanbul Technical University, Turkey The Illusion of Urban Experience: The Objects of Vision Created Through the Eye-Centered Space Perception 11:40 – 12:00 Tomas Butvilas, Kristina Kovaitė, Robert Leščinskij, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Communication of Communities in the Virtual Learning Environment 12:00 – 12:20 Kristina Kovaitė, Robert Leščinskij, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Virtual Learning Environment as a Data Based Platform in Meta Universe Context 12:00 – 12:20 DISCUSSION

 SECTION 7 VISUALITY, CREATIVITY, VIRTUALITY
09:00-12:40 (ONSITE)

Moderator: Vytis Valatka   09:00 Morning introduction 09:20 – 09:40 Skirmantė Bikaitė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Importance of Communication in Citizen Science And Artificial Intelligence 09:40 – 10:00 Rytė Žiūrienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania; Laura Juliane Wagner, Institute of TH Köln University of Applied Sciences, Germany Students and AI Team Up to Create a Unique Birthday Present to Vilnius 10:00 – 10:20 Luís Moreira Pinto, University of Lisbon, UBI University, Portugal; Ruben de Matos, UBI University, Portugal Designing a Creative Game: Exploring the Possibilities of Interactivity as Methodology to Learn and Teach 10:20 – 10:40 Vaida Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Comic Book Inking: Unique 2D Aesthetics in Order to Communicate Feeling 10:40 – 11:00 COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Rytė Žiūrienė 11:00 – 11:20 Marina Valentukevičienė, Vilnius University, Vytis Valatka, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Visuality, Eco-Design and Education in Times of Social Crises 11:20 – 11:40 Viktorija Žilinskaitė-Vytė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Liquid Visuality Between Media and Reality 11:40 – 12:00 Dovilė Lisauskienė, Elena Kocai, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania The Power of Creative Activities in the Recreational-socio-educational Field 12:00 – 12:20 Tigran Simyan, Yerevan State University, Armenia Sergei Paradjanov as an Aesthetic Converter of Cultural Memory (On The Example Of Hakob Hovnatanian)

 SECTION 8 VISUALITY AND ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
09:00-12:20 (ONLINE)

Moderator: Barbala Jasz  09:00 Morning introduction 09:20 – 09:40 Miglė Černikovaitė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania; Karina Tylingo, Mykolas Romeris University, Lithuania  Application of Creative Initiatives in Formation of the Image of Vilnius City 09:40 – 10:00 Maciej Bialous, University of Bialystok, Poland Visuality of Historical Films and Cultural Memory In Contemporary Polish Society 10:00 – 10:20 Arto Mutanen, Finnish Naval Academy & Finnish National Defense University, Finland  Art: Search For Visual and Emotional Knowledge 10:20 – 10:40 Nuno Amaral Jeronimo, UBI University, Portugal; Angelė Tamulevičiūtė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania From Rousseau to Marceau: Humor in the Classroom 10:40 – 11:00  COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Nuno Amaral Jeronimo 11:00 – 11:20 Borbala Jasz, Institute of Philosophy, Hungary; Kodolanyi Janos University, Hungary  Static-Dynamic Dichotomy In Developing (Mental) Images of The City 11:20 – 11:40 Vilmos Katona, University of Pecs, Hungary Fractal Aesthetics for Urban Regeneration: A Methodological Overview 11:40 – 12:00 Zsolt Bátori, Kodolanyi Janos University, Hungary Photographic Deception and Trust in Photographs 12:00 – 12:20 Zhengrong Hu, Jiayi Jing, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Short Video as New Medium: Chinese Netizens’ Digital Engagement on Major International Events Taking 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake as Example 12:20 – 12:40 Nuno Amaral Jeronimo, UBI University, Portugal; Angelė Tamulevičiūtė, Rasa Smaliukienė, Živilė Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Youth perceptions of humorous TV sketches - the case for Lithuanian "Dviračio žinios"

SECTION 9 VISUALITY, SOCIETY, POLITICS, CULTURE
09:00-12:40 (ONLINE)

Moderator: Nerijus Stasiulis 09:00 Morning introduction 09:20 – 09:40 Jūratė Černevičiūtė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuania Surrealism as Consciousness of an Era That Has Chosen War 09:40 – 10:00 Genevieve Guetemme, University of Orléans, France  Image Education as Civic Education  10:00 – 10:20 Linda Gedina, University of Latvia, Latvia  Disvisuality: Visibility + (Dis)information 10:20 – 10:40 Ilona Valantinaitė, Vaida Asakavičiūtė, Živilė Sederevičiūtė-Pačiauskienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Visual (Dis)information in Distance Communication - A Place for Memory and/or Imagination? 10:40 – 11:00 COFFEE BREAK Moderator: Vaida Nedzinskaitė-Mitkė 11:00 – 11:20 Mehmet Elibol, Istanbul University, Turkey; Ilona Valantinaitė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania  Mentor's Activity as Support Communication to Students in Software Development Projects 11:20 – 11:40 Algis Mickūnas, Ohio University, USA; Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania Mass Media and Rhetorical Images 11:40 – 12:00 Mariia Kononets, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, Ukraine Aelita Skaržauskienė, Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, Lithuania;  Fake News: Features of Spread In Ukraine and Possible Ways to Counteract 12:00 – 12:20 John W. Murphy, University of Miami, USA; Carlos Largacha-Martínez, Fundacion Universitaria del Área Andina, Colombia Avoiding Culturalism In Technological Development 12:20 – 12:40 Rozália Klára Bakó, Sapientia Hungarian University of Transylvania, Romania; Gizela Horváth, Partium Christian University, Romania Simply Contemporary: Visual Culture for Gen Z

12:40 – 13:30 FINAL DISCUSSION AND CONFERENCE CLOSING. (ONSITE and ONLINE)
Chaired by the Chairman of the Scientific Committee, prof. dr. Tomas Kačerauskas
13:30 – 14:30 LUNCH TIME
15:30-18:00 EXCURSION IN THE NATIONAL MUSEUM – PALACE OF THE GRAND DUKES OF LITHUANIA