[rohrpost] REMINDER: DIGAREC Lectures with Frans Mäyrä (Tampere, Finland) February 4, 2010 in Potsdam

[Sebastian Möring | Digarec]

***DIGAREC Lectures 2009/2010***

Frans Mäyrä

“The Dual Structure: Experiencing Digital Games in the Intersection of
Gameplay and Media”

04.02.2010, 18-20h

Location:
University of Potsdam
Am Neuen Palais 10
House 8, Room 60/61
14469 Potsdam

The language will be English and the entry is free.

Any changes of the programme or locations etc. will be published first on
http://www.digarec.org. This lecture is funded by Medienboard Berlin
Brandenburg. Following lectures:
http://www.digarec.de/2009/09/23/digarec-lectures-ws-0910/. 

***ABSTRACT***
The fundamental character of games has been the source of considerable
theoretical discussion in the field of emerging field of game studies during
the last decade. The lecture will focus the idea that games can most
fruitfully be approached in dialectical manner: as particular hybrid
phenomena that exists both as certain type of digital media, and as acts or
performances within and around them. The philosophical issue of the ‘being’
of games becomes thus re-proposed as a question of methodology into their
meaning, use, and cultural significance: if games are what we do with them,
think about them, and speak about them, how should we approach them in
scholarly practice? Drawing from examples of some recent research projects,
the lecture will illustrate the challenges and benefits of doing
interdisciplinary and multi-methodological study into games cultures. Are
there ways to consolidate the requirements of fundamental research with that
of applied, design oriented and collaborative research practice typical of
today’s industry and innovation oriented research world?

***BIO***
Professor Frans Mäyrä (b. 1966), PhD
University of Tampere, Finland

Frans Mäyrä has studied the relationship of culture and technology from the
early nineties. He has specialised in the cultural analysis of technology,
particularly on the ambiguous, conflicting and heterogeneous elements in
this relationship, and has published on topics that range from information
technologies, science fiction and fantasy to the demonic tradition, the
concept of identity and role-playing games. He is currently teaching,
researching and heading numerous research projects in the study and
development of games, interactive media and digital culture. He has also
served as the founding President of Digital Games Research Association,
DiGRA. Publications include: Koneihminen (Man-Machine; ed., 1997), Demonic
Texts and Textual Demons (1999), Johdatus digitaaliseen kulttuuriin
(Introduction to Digital Culture; ed., 1999), CGDC Conference Proceedings
(ed., 2002), Lapsuus mediamaailmassa (Childhood in the World of Media, ed.
2005), The Metamorphosis of Home (ed. 2005), An Introduction to Game Studies
(2008), and a large number of articles and conference papers.

Contact Frans Mäyrä:
Department of Information Studies and Interactive Media (INFIM)
FIN-33014 University of Tampere
Finland
e-mail: frans.mayra at uta.fi
web: http://www.uta.fi/~frans.mayra/
blog: http://www.unet.fi/fransblog
Tel. +358 50 336 7650

This Message on www.digarec.org:
http://www.digarec.de/2010/01/25/digarec-lecture-february-4-2010-with-frans-
mayra/

Contact DIGAREC:
DIGAREC
Universität Potsdam
Am Neuen Palais 10
D-14469 Potsdam

Tel: +49 (0) 331 977 1461
Mail: info at digarec.org
Web: www.digarec.org 

***DIGAREC Lectures 2009/2010***
With Mark J.P. Wolf, Espen Aarseth, Katie Salen, Frans Mäyrä, Lev Manovich.
Further Information http://www.digarec.org/category/lectures.