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Dear all,

Please find below an invitation to a seminar in Manchester on: *Understanding
digital being: questions of labour, work, and play*



*Date*: Wednesday 6th of July



*Time*: 10am – 4pm.



*Location*: Castlefield Rooms, Manchester (near Deansgate locks)



There is a growing body of literature and empirical research that seeks to
understand the impact of the digital being and the digital economy. This
has prompted questions about labour, work, and the blurring of the
boundaries between these and play. In this context there are a number of
important changes to consider including the creation of new digital work,
the transformation of existing forms of work in various ways, and the
tensions between paid and unpaid labour.



Within this field of research there are contested definitions about what
constitutes digital work and labour and how to understand the associated
phenomena. These conceptual problems can hold back the potential for
greater collaboration and empirical research. The changes that are the
subject of these discussions are ongoing despite this, and theoretical and
methodological research needs to be updated and renewed in this context.



The aim of this seminar is bring together researchers from across
disciplines to begin addressing the future research challenges of labour,
work, and play in the digital economy. This involves drawing on existing
research on crowdsourcing platforms, digital creativity, the production of
videogames, the growth of eSports, and labour process theory. In light of
the forthcoming ESRC funding initiative around digital being, digital work
and digital living, the intention of the day is to outline points of
collaboration, future research, and discuss the challenges that need to be
overcome in the process.



This is particularly important because critical research on labour and work
in the UK for example is at risk of developing in different streams,
lacking the communication between departments and analytical traditions
that could strengthen future research. This seminar provides a way to
collectively discuss the way forward, while sharing existing research.



The structure of the seminar will be as follows, ensuring plenty of time
for debate and discussion:

·         Philosophy

·         Method

·         Practice


To *register for the event* or for further information please email
[log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask] with your
name, organisation, any special dietary requirements and contact
information.



Thanks,

Dr Jamie Woodcock