Department of Art History, University of Vienna, August 25 - 26, 2016
Deadline: Feb 26, 2016

2nd Art + Science Conference on Empirical Methods in Art History and
Visual Studies

Over the last decade we have been observing a new trend in the
humanities towards the systematic use of empirical methods. The first
Art + Science Conference on Empirical Methods in Art History and Visual
Studies in 2015 proved that Art History and the Visual Studies are no
exception to this international trend. Methods for example
traditionally stemming from Psychology and Neurology or the Social and
Computational Sciences are gradually implemented in art research not
only to question premises of classical approaches but to tap new
perspectives on our field. The incorporation of these methods also
allows transcending encrusted disciplinary boundaries and fosters
interdisciplinary dialogue as well as interdisciplinary connectivity.

Despite the uncontested benefit of interdisciplinary research when
accessing new methodological ground, the crucial necessity to at least
partly re-embed one owns work in the ancestral field remains: a goal
that can only be reached, if the art sciences find common ground not
only with regard to theoretical but also with respect to methodological
issues within their own field. The aim of the Art + Science Conference
series is to give new approaches in the art sciences a platform and to
support exchange among scholars concerned with empirical approaches to
art research.

For the conference we welcome contributions that discuss or explicitly
revert to scientific methods for the investigation of questions of art
historical relevance in a wide variety of domains, including for
example research on aesthetic experience and art reception, museum
studies, digital art history, neuroarthistory, cognitive research in
art history, or the investigation of historical data.

The Art + Science Conference on Empirical Research in Art History 2016
encourages different types of contributions. You may submit abstracts
for panels, symposia, individual talks or posters.

Panels
Panels should plan a series of 4-5 talks on an overarching topic. The
total duration of each panel should not exceed 120 minutes. The
duration of each talk should be approximately 25 minutes in total and
include 5-10 minutes time for discussion. For proposing a panel please
submit a 450 words proposal stating the aim of the panel including a
statement on the relevance of the topic. Calls for individual
contributions to panels will be sent out after the notification of
acceptance.

Symposia
Symposia should consist of a series of 3-4 talks on an overarching
topic. The total duration of each symposium should not exceed 90
minutes. The duration of each talk should be approximately 25 minutes
in total and include 5-10 minutes time for discussion. The symposia may
also be organized by a series of talks followed by a last slot for an
open discussion. For proposing a symposium please submit a 450 words
proposal stating how the individual talks are related and clarifying
the benefit of a joint representation. Before submitting a symposium,
chairs are requested to collect abstracts of all the individual
contributions of their symposium and to attach them to the general
symposium proposal. Each individual abstract should consist of no more
than 250 words.

Individual talks and posters
For proposing a talk or poster please submit a 250 words abstract.
Individual talks should be scheduled for approximately 20 minutes.
Please specify on your abstract your preferred form of presentation
(individual talk or poster). The committee will review all submissions
and in case of acceptance make the final decision on the presentation
format.

Please see our website for further information and more details on the
submission guidelines: artandscience.univie.ac.at.

Please submit your abstracts including a brief c.v. (two pages max.),
and full contact information latest by Feb 26, 2016 for panels
latest by March 7, 2016 for symposia, individual talks or posters.

Unfortunately travel costs cannot be reimbursed.

Please direct your communication to:

Laura Commare
artandscience.kunstgeschichte@univie.ac.at

Department of Art History
University of Vienna
Universitätscampus Hof 9
Spitalgasse 2
1090 Vienna