I had the honor to serve as an external reader on Paulius Petraitis’ dissertation committee. Paulius defended the doctoral dissertation “Intermediality and Networked Meaning-Making in Contemporary Baltic Art Photography” on June 18, 2024.
Paulius is an artist and theorist of unparalleled scope and talent. See some of his work on https://www.pauliuspetraitis.com/! The dissertation adds a much-needed critical insight into the very recent and current processes in the art worlds of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia.
The dissertation was defended in the joint council of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, Lithuanian Culture Research Institute, and Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre.
Paulius’s committee included the advisor Dr. Agnė Narušytė and committee members Dr. Tomas Pabedinskas, Dr. Eugénie Shinkle, Dr. Renata Šukaitytė-Coenen, and myself.
Dissertation committee at work.
More information about Paulius Petraitis’ dissertation is available here: https://db.lmt.lt/lt/perziura/disertacijos/d-db/7566.html and here: https://www.lkti.lt/2024-06-18/
Abstract of Paulius Petraitis’ doctoral dissertation “Intermediality and Networked Meaning-Making in Contemporary Baltic Art Photography”:
“This dissertation investigates the evolving realm of contemporary Baltic art photography, focusing on intermediality and networked meaning-making. The research, concentrated on the period 2013-2023, scrutinises the profound transformations within art photography influenced by digital and network technologies. It frames its exploration around the integration of photography with other media forms and the shifts in how photographic meanings are constructed and perceived in the interconnected, networked milieu.
The study situates itself within the context of the digital transformation that has redefined the boundaries and functionalities of photography. It explores how contemporary photographic practices in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia navigate this new terrain. Tracing photography's journey from traditional roots to a networked image culture, it highlights the transition from classical to networked meaning-making paradigms. By contrasting contemporary frameworks with traditional modes of meaning-making, the dissertation highlights the role of algorithms and digital platforms in shaping how images are received and interpreted, underlining the complex interplay between technology and artistic expression in contemporary photography.
The thesis aims to contribute to the fields of photography theory, art history and visual studies by shedding light on the nuanced dynamics of intermedial art practices and by broadening the understanding of how contemporary Baltic photographic artists engage with and contribute to global art discourses.”