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.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Random News

Revive, ye sleeping blog! Revive!

From one of the links on the page (because I'm too lazy to summarize myself):

"The project will culminate in a series of activities in virtual worlds tailored to bring together Muslims and non-Muslims. It will also produce a range of audio, video, and transcript products, along with a policy recommendation paper which will include a list of specific recommendations for the U.S. government on how to use virtual worlds to promote international understanding. The paper will be distributed through government briefings."


Understanding Islam Through Virtual Worlds

Also, there's this article from GamaSutra, which even gives a name-check to You Have to Burn the Rope:

How can a game be subversive?

Posted by Soraya at 5:58 PM

1 comment:

Jason The Lee said...

Ack! I could've used some of this in my paper about Portal! Oh well...

May 16, 2008 at 9:06 PM

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