This course will examine contemporary trends in theorizing digital media with particular attention given to software and the video game as new media texts. The semester will be divided into two units. The first unit will address theories of code and software. We will discuss the concept of “software studies” in relation to traditional media studies, and investigate how code and software can be examined as aesthetic and political texts. Through an examination of code and semiotics, software and ideology, and critiques of particular software programs, we will lay a theoretical foundation for the investigation of our second unit: video games. Following the rise of the “serious game movement” we will investigate the emergence of political games, persuasive games, simulation games, newsgames, art games, etc., in relation to the theoretical Concepts we developed while analyzing Software and code.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Final Paper Proposal

I plan on writing on Rez as well as its relation to games such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution. I will write on the fascination with association of sound and image as well as the interactivity with the soundtrack. Guitar Hero, moreso than the other two games mentioned, can serve as a promotional vehicle for newer artists, allowing them to be measured, played over and over again next to classic songs. My paper will detail the effectiveness of rehearsed playback yielding familiarity, yielding affinity with regards to the music featured in the game. While Rez allows the user to create music on a more abstract and visually stunning way, both Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution pound their songs into your head by making them a fun challenge to overcome.

Posted by Paul M at 11:36 AM

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