Creative Practices in The New Virtuality

We’ve long passed the point where the digital is something that happens ‘somewhere else’. What we experience online now shapes how we behave, how we make sense of the world, and how we see each other beyond the screen. But how do we actually feel that influence in everyday life? On June 5, we’ll explore that question together at MU, with two experts, a video screening, and a late-night visit to the NERD_FUNK exhibition, which is open especially for this occasion.

Sophie Bishop, Associate Professor in Media and Communication at the University of Leeds, is an expert on influencer culture. She has been researching this world for over a decade, tracing it back to the early days of beauty bloggers. She now understands better than anyone how influencer culture has embedded itself into our daily routines. Tonight, she brings her sharp perspective on how this culture creeps into all corners of society.

Jenna Ng will offer a wider lens on our hyper-curated digital lives. As Professor and Head of the School of Communication and Arts at the University of Queensland, Jenna researches how AI, digital media, and creative tech collide with everyday life. Her award-winning project The New Virtuality, that we will screen during the night, offers a surreal yet razor-sharp lens on how the lines between screen and world, online and offline, have become blurrier. Where does the feed end and ‘real’ life begin?

In true hybrid spirit, the event happens in-person at MU, while our speakers log in from different corners of the world. Both bring their unique perspectives on NERD_FUNK, the exhibition that ties the evening together. NERD_FUNK focuses on the way social media affects how we perceive images and create culture. And what do we do with the constant avalanche of digital input that we continuously contribute to?

Aside from the talks and video essay, you’ll have a chance to explore the exhibitions NERD_FUNK and The Cowan Paradox. We’ll end the night with a live Q&A with Sophie and Jenna, so bring your questions, ideas, or thoughts!

This event will be held in English.