The Interface Conference, launched by the Cultural Mediations PhD cohort in 2004 with the topic “Cultural Mediations in Theory, Practice and Context,” remains organized by the program鈥檚 second-year students. Interface operates as a uniquely interdisciplinary, collaborative process, from selecting a theme, generating then distributing the Call or Papers, accepting submissions, and all logistics that accompany hosting such an event, including contacting a keynote speaker, scheduling, introducing, moderating and hosting the post-panel Q&As!
The range of Cultural Mediation students鈥� research areas and expertise results in a dynamic array of focuses, reflected in former Interface conference themes: 鈥淓ntanglements: Collisions and Tensions,鈥� 鈥淩econciliations,鈥� 鈥淟iving Stereo: History, Culture, and Multichannel Sound,鈥� 鈥淐reative and Critical Approaches in the Digital Humanities,鈥� and 鈥淢ateriality and Movement.鈥�
Now an integral part of the ICSLAC experience, Interface encourages and allows students to form connections within the department, faculty and broader academic community. At its helm, the drive and passion of ICSLAC students translate directly into innovative topics, experimenting with new forms, even now featuring a publishing opportunity since its 2023 revival. The theme, “The Cultural Inbetween: Exploring Distinctions Within High, Low and Popular Culture,” led to the founding of a department-hosted, double-blind peer-reviewed journal, Scaffold: Journal for the Institute of Comparative Studies in Literature, Art and Culture, which aims to publish two issues a year: a conference proceedings issue for the year鈥檚 Interface听papers, a nod to its origins, and the peer-reviewed standard issue.