Description
This course examines video games and game studies from a philosophical perspective. What is a video game? Do video games necessarily involve both gameplay and fiction? Are video games art? Are they a distinct artistic medium, or are they just “interactive cinema”? Are VR or augmented reality games different art kinds from traditional video games? Is there an art of agency in games? Can a game play through be an artistic performance? Do players identify with characters in a game? Do video games elicit real emotions or merely simulated ones? Are virtual worlds real? Can video games be moral or immoral? Can the way one plays a game be immoral? What is ethical game design? Can video games serve as philosophical thought experiments? Can video games do philosophy?
Books
There are no books to buy for this class. All readings will be made available in Canvas. For games, we would like to thank the generous support of Bennett Foddy, Crows Crows Crows, and others. Several games may need to be purchased--see announcements.
Learning Objectives
In this course students will learn how to:
- Read actively and annotate a philosophical text
- Reconstruct and evaluate philosophical arguments
- Define and apply philosophical concepts relevant to the course materials (such as artwork, art kinds and media, video game, ludology, ludonarrative dissonance, etc.)
- Employ textual evidence to argue for a philosophical reading of a text or video game
- Evaluate moral and aesthetic features of video games and game design
- Analyze and interpret the philosophical significance of video games
- Communicate philosophical ideas and arguments in dialogue and written forms
- Formulate and prioritize objectives for classroom discussion
- Contribute to collaborative discussion with peers in order to analyze and evaluate philosophical texts and arguments
- Facilitate and lead discussion in order to accomplish specific objectives