Course detail
Digital Games Critical Analyses
FaVU-1KADH-LAcad. year: 2023/2024
The course introduces the issue of digital games from the perspective of semiotics and cultural studies. Combines lectures with active student input based on home preparation.
Language of instruction
Number of ECTS credits
Mode of study
Guarantor
Department
Entry knowledge
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
- 3 papers (summaries of selected texts from reccommended literature)
- oral presentation of project
- final paper.
Minimal requirement is 60 % from each part.
Povinná docházka (tolerované množství absencí upřesněno v úvodu semestru).
Aims
After successfully finishing this course, students will be able to:
1) Recognize various meaning carying elements in the game;
2) Analyze digital games as meaningful cultural artifacts;
3) Explain the way computer games work as a medium, their affordances and limitations;
4) Discuss the ideology and bias built in games' rule systems and representations.
5) Form opinions on the current state of the medium of the digital game;
6) Interpret games in terms of their narratives and game mechanics.
Study aids
Prerequisites and corequisites
Basic literature
Gamingessays on algorithmic culture. Edited by Alexander R. Galloway. London: University of Minnesota Press, 2006. xiii, 143. ISBN 9780816648511.
JUUL, Jesper. Half-real : video games between real rules and fictional worlds. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2005. ix, 233. ISBN 0262101106.
MURRAY, Janet Horowitz. Hamlet on the holodeck : the future of narrative in cyberspace. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press, 1998. xii, 324. ISBN 0262631873.
SICART, Miguel. The ethics of computer games. London: MIT Press, 2009. 264 s. ISBN 9780262012652.
TEKINBAŞ, Katie Salen a Eric ZIMMERMAN. Rules of play : game design fundamentals. London: MIT, 2004. xv, 672. ISBN 0262240459.
Recommended reading
Classification of course in study plans
- Programme VUB Bachelor's
branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-D , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-VT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 2 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 3 year of study, summer semester, elective
branch VU-IDT , 4 year of study, summer semester, elective - Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
- Programme BIT Bachelor's 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
- Programme IT-BC-3 Bachelor's
branch BIT , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective
- Programme DES_B Bachelor's 3 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional
Type of course unit
Lecture
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
2. Games as an object of study. Cultural studies and critical analysis of games.
3. Videogames industry and its kontext in view of cultural studies. Videogames ingustry as post-industrial cultural form.
4. Videogames journalism I. Ideal review (homework assignment).
5. Videogames journalism II.
6. Transtextuality and fandom.
7. Fans as a postmodern subculture - and its development in time.
8. Ideology in games.
9. Gamers and status quo vs. subversion in games.
10. Gender representation, gender stereotypes and sexuality in games.
11. Identity and multiculturalism. Identity representation in games.
12. Diegesis and metagames