ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A series of discussions at Muhlenberg College will focus on artificial intelligence in film, cultural ramifications of social media and the treatment of extremist groups.
As part of its "Ethics of the Image" series,the Center for Ethics will hold three seminars starting in February inside Moyer Hall, 2400 W. Chew St.
All discussions will be free and open to the public.
The ethical concerns of Al
Eduardo Navas will discuss how artificial intelligence is changing the way images represent and record history at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5.
Navas, a research professor of digital arts and media design at Penn State, has studied the way the technological innovation of Al has affected photography and films.
He will reflect on the ethical implications of images produced with Al models (which rely on remixing images) and how certain aspects of authorship and originality are being delegated to non-human agents — thus entering into an emerging state of metacreativity.
Selfie overload
"Now You See Me: the Tangled Legacy of Selfies on Social Media," will feature a panel discussion by Chelsea Butkowski at 7 p.m. on Feb. 26.
Butkowski, assistant professor of data, media and identity at American University, will share her findings from studies on how people use media technologies to represent and understand themselves and their communities.
Through her research, she investigates practices, experiences and effects of media representation and digital media technologies across contexts — with a strong focus on social media.
To register, click here.
A look at ISIL
Rounding out the series, Christine Gruber will speak about "From Isis to the AFD: Ultraist Rhetoric and Visuality in Alt-Orientalist Concurrence," at 7 p.m. on March 20.
Gruber is a professor and curator of Islamic art at the University of Michigan.
Her discussion will focus on how ISIL fighters within the last six years were labeled a "medieval marital movement."
"Since then, however, scholars have shown how this particular extremist group—one among many ultraist socio-political formations active worldwide—should in fact be considered hyper-modern in its use of futuristic-nostalgic rhetoric, astutely crafted visual messaging, and vast portfolio of media and communication technologies," a release from the Center for Ethics reads.
For info on Gruber's discussion, click here.
