POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP

Within the research project ‘Photofilmic images in contemporary art and visual culture’ the University of Louvain (Université catholique de Louvain, UCL), the Lieven Gevaert Research Centre for Photography (LGC) and the FNRS (Research Foundation – Wallonia/Brussels) invite applications for a two years full time post-doctoral position.

PROJECT:
The objective of the project is to understand the impact of photofilmic structures in the production, the function and the perception of images within contemporary art and visual culture. With Photofilmic images are meant images that are generated on the basis of both photographic and filmic processes. Consequently, they mingle different temporal, spatial and perceptional realities. In this sense, they are transitional images fluctuating between categories which were once attributed separately to photography or film, such as stasis and movement, past and presence, composition and narration. With the advent of digital technology, photofilmic images are getting increasingly widespread in recent years. Imovie, photosynth, AutoStitch and PhantaMorph for example are computer software which allow to create animated images on the basis of photographs. As such techniques are getting more and more important in different domains of image production in popular culture and the visual arts, the impact of photo-filmic images on our visual culture will have wide reaching consequences for our use, our perception and our understanding of images and thus for our view on the world given the fact that our access to that what we call reality is to a large extent mediated through images. For this reason, the project suggests a study of photofilmic images, which goes beyond well-established frontiers between the various disciplines and sectors where such images occur and where they are discussed, in order to understand how exactly images operate within our contemporary media society. This interdisciplinary approach considers different domains such as visual art, cinema, and popular culture and diverse academic disciplines such as film studies, photography theory, art history, visual culture studies, and media theory. Therefore, the following questions are fundamental: What technologies are used in which contexts and for what purpose? What for exactly have they been invented and how are they diffused and used in different contexts? How they are perceived according to these different contexts and uses?

The successful candidate is expected to advance his own research, and to contribute to the activities of the project (publications, organization of conferences, seminars, construction of image data base, international contacts).

SALERY:
The salary of the post-doctoral position is based on the standards of the Belgian National Science Foundation.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:
A PhD (completion not exceeding 6 years) in one of the following disciplines:
Contemporary Art History – Visual Culture Studies – Media studies – Film studies
Residence in Belgium is required.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants are required to send a letter of motivation, a detailed CV, two academic references, and a short account (max. 750 words) of their research project as PDFs by e-mail to: Prof. dr. Alexander Streitberger, Université catholique de Louvain (UCL), FIAL - Place Blaise Pascal 1, bte L3.03.13, B - 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

DATES:
The closing date for applications is Thursday 15 March 2012.

The successful candidate will start on 1 Mai 2012.

For more information please have a look at the homepages of the University of Louvain (UCL) (www.uclouvain.be) and the Lieven Gevaert Centre (www.lievengevaertcentre.be) or contact Prof. dr. Alexander Streitberger (alex.streitbergeruclouvain.be)