POM Beirut 2019 – Politics of the Machines – Art/Conflict - Index

Abstract

In an area afflicted with multifaceted conflicts, art can become an agent for dialogue, an agent for resolution, or it can get itself involved in the clash. POM Beirut 2019 was a four days of conferences with multiple tracks of paper sessions, panels, workshops, exhibitions, and keynote speakers. The tracks were generated based on a call for topics contextualized under the wide frame of Politics of the Machines, art/conflict. POM Beirut addressed subjects related to art practices in relation to conflicts and questioned several topics on the politics of the machines, and art production in the context of conflicts. It tackles art practices and the relation of art to the machine. In parallel, it also focused on understanding the influence and relation between art and conflict. POM tends to explore the connection between the violence of conflict and violence as a process in art production; the role of conflict in the sociopolitical environment and how it relates to the field of art, science, and technology. The 2nd edition of the POM Conference on Art/Conflict, POM Beirut 2019 was hosted by the Institute of Visual Communication (IVC) at the International University (IU) – Beirut campus, Lebanon. The POM – Politics of The Machines is a conference series founded by Laura Beloff, Aalto University Finland, and Morten Søndergaard, AAU Copenhagen, Denmark. POM Beirut 2019 was organized by the Institute of Visual Communication IVC under the International University of Beirut, Lebanon. POM Beirut will comprise four days of conferences with multiple tracks of paper sessions, panels, workshops, exhibitions, and keynote speakers. The tracks will be generated based on a call for topics contextualized under the wide frame of Politics of the Machines, art/conflict. Each track will have several smaller thematic sessions for submission, each chaired by participants selected from the call for topics phase. Through its suggested tracks, POM Beirut will be addressing subjects related to art practices in relation to conflicts and will be questioning several topics on the politics of the machines, and art production in the context of conflicts. The goal of this edition of POM will be to tackle art practices and the relation of art to the machine. In parallel, it will also focus on understanding the influence and relation between art and conflict. POM will tend to explore the connection between the violence of conflict and violence as a process in art production; the role of conflict in the sociopolitical environment and how it relates to the field of art, science, and technology. POM Beirut will also try for a better understanding of the engagement and responsiveness of people and organizations to conflict, exploring how art may serve as a tool for resolution and for social inclusion; or as a counter-argument, a tool for conflict and/or violence. Conflict can also be understood as a contradicting force within an artwork, artistic methods or in a subject matter, it may also push for ethical questions or reveal conflict of interests. The conference will also encompass few more technical approaches: some tracks may focus on technology employment and conflict, be it armed conflict or conflict provoked by art, the effects of the constant monitoring, surveillance and how we dwell in the panopticon. How today’s simulations reflect what is actual and how technology, at this level creates or allows for error, failure and risk. POM will also cover the need to problematize certain aspects of teleworking, telemarketing and tele-surveillance and seek to understand the affinity of technology, violence and power relations.