ASLE 2015 Conference Review Part 1

It was an absolute pleasure to attend the 2015 ASLE conference in Moscow, ID last week. As we all resurface from the conference and turn back to individual research, teaching, and summering, it’s important to reflect on what we accomplished and where we might go from here.

Over the next week or two, I’ll be asking conference attendees to share their thoughts on panels or events they attended.

In summary, the impact of ecomedia studies at ASLE was felt across the conference.  Eleven panels, each comprised of three to four speakers, formed the Visual Arts and Film stream in the conference program. Additionally, visual media were the primary focus of more than a dozen other speakers spread throughout other panels. All told, that’s more than fifty conference presenters focused on visual arts and media. Video games studies was represented by a complete panel of four presenters (details below). While none of the plenary speakers at the conference was an ecomedia scholar, many of the presenters included visual media in their presentations. Two thought provoking films, Even Though the Whole World is Burning and Goodbye Gauley Mountain: An Ecosexual Love Story, were screened at Moscow’s independent theater, the Kenworthy and a first ever ASLE mini film festival featuring seven films by Pacific Northwest filmmakers was currated by Stephen Rust and Salma Monani. Perhaps most importantly, the Ecomedia interest group meeting was attended by twenty core members, who have dedicated themselves to growing the field in the years to come.

Meeting Report: Ecomedia Studies Interest Group