Video games and the cultures surrounding them have become pervasive forces that not only reflect but shape contemporary culture. From games as seemingly simple as Minecraft and Pokemon Go, to complex open-world narratives like the Grand Theft Auto series and The Last of Us, every videogame says something about gender and sexuality. This course will use a feminist lens to explore multiple ways to approach video games as cultural texts that, upon analysis, reveal something about important aspects of our lived experiences. We will treat video games as primary texts upon which to perform analysis through play, discussion, and design, and consider the cultures that spring up around individual games and "gaming" as a whole. Readings will include prominent games studies scholars like Bonnie Ruberg, Lisa Nakamura, T.L. Taylor, Anita Sarkeesian, Kishonna Gray, and others.
4-5 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Video games and the cultures surrounding them have become pervasive forces that not only reflect but shape contemporary culture. From games as seemingly simple as Minecraft and Pokemon Go, to complex open-world narratives like the Grand Theft Auto series and The Last of Us, every videogame says something about gender and sexuality. This course will use a feminist lens to explore multiple ways to approach video games as cultural texts that, upon analysis, reveal something about important aspects of our lived experiences. We will treat video games as primary texts upon which to perform analysis through play, discussion, and design, and consider the cultures that spring up around individual games and "gaming" as a whole. Readings will include prominent games studies scholars like Bonnie Ruberg, Lisa Nakamura, T.L. Taylor, Anita Sarkeesian, Kishonna Gray, and others.