Editor’s Note

Welcome to the first issue of the International Digital Media and Arts Association’s Journal. The journal is a response to the need of an emerging field involving multiple disciplines and new and emerging areas of study.

Across the academic scene in the United States and Europe to the Far East, digital media activities, articles, and new degree programs have been appearing in somewhat erratic fashion since the late ‘90s, at least.

Most of these programs have lacked a clear discipline base. The areas of study often include multiple technologies including television and film, art, theatre, communication studies, architecture, computer science, journalism, technology programs, music, gaming, and others.

Interest is high and growing, students are enrolling, and in many situations faculty are without collegial reference points or networks essential to developing their scholarly work.

A group of academic leaders from campuses across the country recognized the challenges being faced as this new field pushed awkwardly forward, and in September 2002, with the assistance of a grant to Ball State University from the Lilly Endowment, they began a set of meeting which led to 15 universities creating the International Digital Media and Arts Association in March 2003, in Orlando, Florida.

The purpose of the association was to promote the development, application, and understanding of digital media. It was clear that as the field evolved, faculty and practitioners would benefit from a strong network of participating scholars and outlets such as conferences and journal where credible research, scholarship and experiences could be shared.

Thus, the association and its first conference were established. The Journal evolved from those efforts I a partnership with Ball State University.

Almost three years ago, also with the generous support of the Lily Endowment, Ball State University began a research project that resulted in the primary content for the first issue of this Journal. The research team, led by Robert Papper, Michael Holmes, and Mark Popovich, took a detailed look at media in Middletown America.

This study, inspired by the Middletown Studies conducted by Robert and Helen Lynd, sought to determine how digital and other media were used on a daily basis in typical American homes.

As the International Digital Media and Arts Association was forming it became clear to all parties involved that a partnership between the new association and the Ball State research project made imminent scholarly and economic sense, and, thus, the IDMAA Journal was established with the first issue focusing on the Ball State study with response to their work from scholars from across the country.

We believe the initial issue and its focus on this groundbreaking research effort will create the opportunity for much scholarly exchange over the year, and we invite our readers to respond, formally with articles or less formally with letters.

The Journal will provide an outlet for scholars to share their ideas and research in the digital median and art arena in either the refereed or the invited sections.

While it is only our first issue we anticipate 2-4 issues each year, and although most will be published electronically, at least once per years a paper version will be published.

We welcome your comments, ideas and participation. Peer reviewers are sought, as are new authors. Subscriptions are available and all IDMAA members receive the Journal as part of their membership benefits.

As with any new undertaking, we are evolving as we grow, and that means you are welcome to participate and to grow with us as the digital media and arts field bursts upon the campuses we call home.

Conrad Gleber
Editor

Download V1N1 PDF Version

In this issue

• V1N1: Middletown Media Studies

  By Robert A. Papper, Michael E. Holmes, Ph.D, Mark N. Popovich, Ph.D | July 22, 2013

  Abstract Three studies of use of a variety of traditional and digital media in “Middletown” are reported: a telephone survey, a diary study, and an observation study. The studies reveal people spend more that double […]