By David Madden
In May 2013, scholars from around the world gathered in Montreal for Differential Mobilities: Movement and Mediation in Networked Society. The international conference, hosted by the Mobile Media Lab (MML) in the Communication Studies department at Concordia University, brought together researchers, artists, community organizers, activists and students concerned with issues, questions and articulations connected to what Mimi Sheller and John Urry (2006) have coined, the “new mobilities” paradigm. This paradigm has been described as a turn within humanities and social science research. It focuses on contemporary social, cultural, spatial, and technological practices within an increasingly mobile world. It opens frameworks for critical inquiry and, simultaneously urges the question: what is mobilities?
