Exploring Video Games: Art, Narrative, and Cultural Significance in Five Dimensions
This course dives deep into the multifaceted world of video games, examining major themes such as the tension between art and industry, narrative versus gameplay, and the implications of sensitivity versus insensitivity. Participants will analyze the economic, cultural, aesthetic, and educational value of video games. Through methods like ethnography, textual analysis, and philosophical inquiry, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of gameplay and its broader societal impact. A rich exploration of video game theory and design awaits you!
Exploring Video Games: Art, Narrative, and Cultural Significance in Five Dimensions
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Presentation Transcript
HOW TO STUDY VIDEO GAMES Major Themes to be Explored in this Course: • Art vs. Industry • Narrative vs. Gameplay • Sensitivity vs. Insensitivity • Fun vs. Analysis • Body vs. Machine • Authorship vs. Freedom • Structure vs. Meaning
WHY STUDY VIDEO GAMES? • Economic value • Cultural value • Aesthetic value • Educational value
HOW TO STUDY VIDEO GAMES • RULES • The structure/form of the game itself • Narrative vs. gameplay • Narratology vs. ludology • Textual analysis/“close reading” • Meaning • Film studies/literary study • Formalist
HOW TO STUDY VIDEO GAMES • PLAY • Human experience of the game; the player • Ethnography, interviews, observation • Player interactions • Communication/Sociology • Situationist • CULTURE • Culture of gaming, culture at large • Media ecology (multiple uses of games, relation to other cultural objects and practices) • Sociology/cultural studies • Situationist
HOW TO STUDY VIDEO GAMES • ONTOLOGY • Philosophical conception of games and gaming • Definition: What is a video game? • Relation between video games and other media/art • Film studies/philosophy/literature/game design, etc. • Formalist
WHAT IS A VIDEO GAME? • Graphics • Interface • Screen, speakers, input devices/controllers • Player activity • Ergotic (physical) • Diegetic activity, nondiegetic activity • Algorithm • Representation • Responses • Rules • Randomness
Agenda 1/25/12 • King of Kong • Discuss Presentations • Review of last class material • Video game theory/What is a video game? • Discussion of “Theory By Design” REMINDERS • Please return Video Game Theory Reader 2 and get The Video Game Theory Reader when it arrives in the bookstore (or order online) • No lab this week • Class cancelled on Monday 1/30 • Wed 2/1: Discuss Video Game Industry and History, Game Theory