Projects

Ongoing Projects

The MAL has two major ongoing projects - Resident Practitioners and Technical Reports. We also have a number of projects that happen spontaneously, as ad-hoc expressions of day-to-day MAL activity. Here you'll find the ongoing projects.

MALware technical reports document events, research, teaching, and artist residencies taking place in and through the lab. Rather than white papers which are typically authoritative statements about solutions or policies, our technical reports are intended to be more processual – they can describe the progress or process of teaching, research or artistic activity in the MAL, or they may simply outline a particular problem in or related to the MAL. Our hope is that these technical reports provide a media studies and humanities-oriented outlet for investigations into technology.

The MAL residency program has attracted researchers, artists, musicians, and writers from the UK, Sweden, Canada, the Netherlands, Germany, Poland, and across the US. Residencies provide full access to the lab and its collection. In addition to working in the lab, MAL residents present a talk or produce a small publication, performance, or exhibition that features the residency project and its results. We are not currently accepting Residency applications, but you can sign up for our newsletter to be notified when we are. Previous residencies have been coordinated by Mél Hogan, Lauren Samblanet, Maya Livio and Darija Medić.

Residents

    MAL Technical Reports

    • Author:
      Aaron Tucker
      Title:
      Residency Talk - Archival Code: FORTRAN and the "Father" of Facial Recognition Technology
      Published:
      03/08/2024
      Abstract:

      Aaron Tucker presented this talk virtually via the Media Archaeology Lab residency 2023/2024. Slides can be downloaded and video of the talk can be seen here: [https://vimeo.com/922222972](https://vimeo.com/922222972)

      Download
    • Author:
      Media Archaeology Lab
      Title:
      Call for Applicants - 2023/2024 Residency Program!
      Published:
      04/11/2023
      Abstract:

      The Media Archaeology Lab (MAL) is excited to announce a relaunch of its residence program and together with it, an open call for the 2023/2024 season >>> We are open to proposals for residencies of up to 4 weeks which will be held over the course of the 2023/2024 academic school year, beginning September 1st 2023 until June 30th 2024 (10 residencies in total). Residencies include full access to the lab and its collection and logistical support to whatever extent is possible (we operate on a volunteer basis and foster the ethos of collaboration and independence in hands-on inquiry). In addition to working in the lab, MAL residents will produce some public output, which could be of various formats (a lecture, demo, video, publication, performance, exhibition...) and will feature the residency project and its results. Residents will also provide documentation of the project process for publication on the MAL website as a technical report.

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    • Author:
      Josette Lorig
      Title:
      Roland TR-08 Rhythm Composer
      Published:
      06/07/2023
      Abstract:

      An exploration of Roland’s TR-808 Rhythm Composer through Roland’s TR-08 miniatured replica.

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    • Author:
      Mathieu Halpin
      Title:
      From Modems to Message Boards: BBS and Its Impact on Online Dating
      Published:
      06/01/2023
      Abstract:

      This paper explores the technical aspects of BBSes, their history and evolution, and their use as a platform for early online dating. By examining the technical and social aspects of BBSes, we can gain a better understanding of the role they played in shaping the early days of the Internet and online communication.

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    • Author:
      Salwa Kazi
      Title:
      Switching Teeth
      Published:
      05/18/2022
      Abstract:

      Switching Teeth - is a research project that worked towards the documentation of typewriting technologies and access in India. Access to technology has never been equal across the globe. In order to make visible and tangible these dynamics of accessibility to technology this project presents narratives surrounding memories of typing technology to illustrate the complexities of access and technology in India. This report forwards photographic and anecdotal evidence of typewriters from India to present an understanding of the complexity behind accessing, teaching and learning typewriting through three different languages.

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