The EAST Workshop on Art, Science, and Technology(AST) Writing

The EAST Workshop on Art, Science, and Technology(AST) Writing is open to young writers (and curators) exploring the intersection of art, technology and humanities.

Since the dawn of the 21st century, artistic writers have faced many new challenges, including the decline of the long-standing influence of humanism; the expansion of art inventors from human beings to machines, algorithms, and other non-human species; the emergent use of new media and new technologies (genetic engineering, artificial intelligence, new materials, etc.) in the field of art; the increasingly close relationship between high technology and capital; and numerous others. In the eyes of technological optimists, “technology” or “machines” will eventually possess subjectivity and a right to life on par with humans. Meanwhile, those who hold the opposing view believe that in the post-human era, “soft despotism” and a small number of tech giants will dominate people’s lives.

As part of the second EAST Season of the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA), the EAST Workshop on AST Writing will invite writers and researchers from around the world to come and participate. They will ponder the role that “writing” plays in the fields of technology and the humanities against the backdrop of today’s complex social context. Participants will also explore the creative concepts, methods, authoring tools, themes, and critical theories of technological art. The workshop will encourage all participants to write report-style articles or experimental essays that revolve around the subject of AST. The content can be theoretical critiques, analyses of works, exhibition reviews, in-depth investigations, etc.

The workshop will also invite eminent journalists and contributors from major global media outlets (including Xinhua News Agency), professional art publications (such as The Art Newspaper China), and technology-based art journals (such as Leonardo). Young writers and media contributors from around the world can apply to participate in the workshop as students. Over a three-day period, professors and students will explore topics related to technology-based art. In addition, students will have the chance to participate in other conferences, workshops, and lectures at the second EAST Season to facilitate in-depth discussions and exchanges with famous technological-art scholars and artists, and they will be asked to write articles based on these interactions.
Application Details:
Time:
Stage 1 (Intensive Lecture): November 14-16, 2018
Stage 2 (Investigation, Interview, and Creation): November 17-21, 2018
Place: Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing
Application Method:
Please email your application to: east.info@cafa.edu.cn.
(In the email subject, please indicate: “Technology Writing Workshop + [your name]”.)
Application deadline: November 8, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.
Application Requirements:
Chinese and English CVs
Deion of your interests (500 characters, with detail your plan for participating in the workshop as well as what you hope to gain if selected to attend.)
1-2 related samples of your personal writing
Applicants must participate in an interview.
Applicants who pass the interview are required to attend the three-day workshop in Beijing and must complete their corresponding essays.