Universität Wien
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180191 SE Thi Nguyen (2024S)

Games: Agency as Art

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung
Moodle

An/Abmeldung

Hinweis: Ihr Anmeldezeitpunkt innerhalb der Frist hat keine Auswirkungen auf die Platzvergabe (kein "first come, first served").

Details

max. 25 Teilnehmer*innen
Sprache: Englisch

Lehrende

Termine (iCal) - nächster Termin ist mit N markiert

  • Montag 11.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 18.03. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 08.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 15.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Seminarraum 3A NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 22.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 29.04. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 06.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 13.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 27.05. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 03.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 10.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 17.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock
  • Montag 24.06. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 3F NIG 3.Stock

Information

Ziele, Inhalte und Methode der Lehrveranstaltung

Can games be art?

Art is exceptionally diverse. Classical examples such as sculpture, painting, music, dance, theater and film share little in common but are united by the fact that they can be sources of aesthetic value. Even within these categories, the kind of aesthetic value they provide varies. Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and Yoko Ono's "Cut Piece" are both examples of theater, but their aesthetic character could not be more different.

Games are often described in aesthetic terms. Football is often referred to as "The Beautiful Game", Chess moves or games are often described as beautiful and video games are often lauded for their fantastic beauty. Is this merely loose talk or should it be taken literally? If games can be a source of aesthetic value, does that make them art?

If games are art, what parts of them are art and how are they artistic?
A video game might have beautiful scenery, a chess set might have well sculpted pieces and certain football players might be beautiful people, but this is different from saying that the play itself is beautiful. What parts of games have aesthetic value and why?

In this course we will attempt to answer these (and other) questions by reading C. Thi Nguyen's recent book "Games: Agency as Art".
In this book, Nguyen argues that games can be art, and that games can have a unique type of aesthetic value, namely that of the exploration of agency. The book discuss the role of games (both physical and digital) in relation to agency, art, ethics and society.

Art der Leistungskontrolle und erlaubte Hilfsmittel

The assessment has two parts: class tasks & the final essay.

During the semester we will have two in-class tasks. These are assessed on a merit/pass/fail basis.
If you complete all of these tasks and submit a reasonable attempt at the final essay you will get at least a 3.
Higher grades (2 and 1) are awarded on the basis of the final essay, compensated for merits in the tasks.
The exact essay length is to be determined but is currently planned for ~2500 words.

The essay can be on any topic covered in the course.
Subject to agreement, you are welcome to write on other adjacent topics not discussed in the course.
If you wish to write a BA thesis as part of this course, feel free to contact me for further discussion.

Mindestanforderungen und Beurteilungsmaßstab

(1) Completion of all in-class tasks, or suitable replacement tasks in the event of illness or reasonable absence.
(2) Completion of the final essay.

Prüfungsstoff

The tasks might include but are not limited to:
(1) Analyze and explain the aesthetic value of a game of your choice.
(2) Design a game you take to have aesthetic value. Explain its value.
(3) Analysis of an unseen text.
(4) In-class presentations.

Tasks may be set as individual or group projects

The essay will be on a topic of your choice from the course or, subject to approval, an adjacent topic.

Literatur

Nguyen. (2020). Games: Agency As Art (1st ed.). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780190052089.001.0001

Additional reading in connection to a final essay topic is recommended.
Literature can be found in the Nguyen book or in consultation with myself.

Zuordnung im Vorlesungsverzeichnis

Letzte Änderung: Do 16.05.2024 13:06