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Friday September 20th @ The University of Michigan

The NMC is gathering resources, references, syllabi, and texts for a new initiative, “Decolonizing the New Media syllabus.” Are you already working on this at your institution? Have ideas? We need your help! 

We are hosting an initial, informal workshop at the upcoming Border Control symposium at the University of Michigan on Friday, Sep 20 for anyone interested in contributing to this effort (precise scheduling details TBD at the event). 

As a starting point for this project, we are consulting “Decolonization is Not a Metaphor” by Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang, which unpacks how rhetorics of decolonization, when deployed metaphorically instead of literally, actually reinforce settler colonial ideology, serving as what the authors call part of a strategic “settler move to innocence.” 

The short term goal of the initiative is not symbolic posturing through decolonial metaphorization but an actionable starting point for teachers developing new media syllabi who want to implement structural changes in how they approach the topics. As such, the initiative may ultimately drop the term “decolonize” in favor of alternate language. It’s a first step, which is why your input is needed.

All resources gathered in advance of and during the symposium will be shared with the NMC community; we will also determine future directions and possible collaborations. In the meantime, please send materials to johannagosse@gmail.com or nadav@newmediacaucus.org. If you have experience in this area or are working on related initiatives, please also get in touch with us, we’d love to hear from you and get you involved in making the NMC a hub for resources in this field. 

Thanks!

Nadav Assor, Board of Directors, New Media Caucus
Johanna Gosse, Executive Editor, Media-N: Journal of the New Media Caucus