Call for Papers: CTRL+ALT+DH Journal, special issue Digital Dilemmas

CTRL+ALT+DH is excited to announce a Call for Submissions for our upcoming issue with the theme of Digital Dilemmas. We invite all undergraduate students at the University of Guelph to submit original research, essays, and creative works that explore the complexities, ethical challenges, and unforeseen consequences of digital technologies in the humanities and beyond.

Theme: Digital Dilemmas

Digital tools and technologies are reshaping how we engage with information, culture, and communication, but they also present new dilemmas. From ethical concerns surrounding data privacy and AI to the implications of algorithmic bias, environmental impacts, and mental health awareness, our theme asks contributors to critically explore the opportunities and challenges that these dilemmas pose and to consider potential future solutions. 

Focus Areas:

We encourage submissions on the following topics but welcome any innovative work that engages with the topic of Digital Dilemmas, including critical questions such as:

• Technological Accessibility: How can digital technologies be made more inclusive and accessible to all communities, especially marginalized groups?

• Environmental Impacts of Technology: How do digital technologies contribute to environmental sustainability or degradation?

• Artificial Intelligence: What are the ethical and social implications of AI in society, including questions around bias, automation, and human-AI collaboration?

• Digital Representation: Who is represented in digital spaces, and why? How do issues of identity, power, and inclusion play out in digital environments?

• Digital Art: How does art in the age of technology create digital dilemmas, such as AI-generated artworks, and questions of authorship?

• Damaged/Lost Records: What are the challenges and strategies for dealing with damaged or lost digital records in archival and preservation contexts?

• Social Media and Technology in Academia: What is the impact of social media and other technologies on education and academic research?

• Mental Health and Digital Media: How is mental health awareness represented on the web? What are the impacts of mass media and technology on well-being, and how do they shape public discourse?

• Diversity & Discrimination: How do digital spaces perpetuate or challenge issues of discrimination and inequality?

• Digital Privacy and Surveillance: How do we navigate the complexities of data privacy, surveillance, and personal security in the digital age?

Submission Guidelines:

• Format: Submissions can be one of the following:

  • Academic papers  

  • Multi-media (video essays, blogs, photo essays, games, twine, podcasts, music, etc.)  

  • Creative works (graphical satire, short stories, collage/artworks, poetry, mini scripts) 

  • Data Visualizations (timelines, story maps, charts, infographics, collage)  

• Citations: Authors are encouraged to follow the Chicago style (17th edition) for citations. To learn more about Chicago formatting, check out the University of Guelph’s Citation website, or Purdue Owl. 

• Media: We encourage multimedia submissions, including audio, video, or interactive components, especially for creative and experimental works. Alongside your submission, we ask that you please write a brief description of your work and an explanation of your process to give readers added context.

Timeline

Monday, October 28th, 2024 (extended deadline): The last day for submissions. To submit your work, please go to the submission portal on the CTRL+ALT+DH website, or https://ctrlaltdh.pubpub.org/submit-your-work

Early December 2024: Publication of Paper

You will be contacted before publication if your submission is chosen for this year’s issue and for editorial feedback.

Why Submit to CTRL+ALT+DH?

CTRL+ALT+DH is a cutting-edge journal that provides a platform to share undergraduate work at the intersection of digital technologies and the humanities. Our visually engaging, multimedia-friendly format allows for innovative presentations of research, as well as creative works that push the boundaries of traditional academic publishing. With a theme like Digital Dilemmas, we aim to foster dialogue about the ethical, social, and cultural challenges of our digital age.

For questions or further information, please contact us at [email protected].

We look forward to reading your contributions!