This course will examine the relationship between video games media and contemporary society. It will focus on the analysis of video games as interactive media texts, audiences and players of games, the relationship between games, culture, and society, and the video games industry as a major part of the cultural and creative industries. It will take a critical perspective on video games media and the techno-social phenomena and structures within and around games and their contexts. This course will explore topics primarily around video games such as the political economy of the video games industry, game fan cultures, intersections of class, race, gender, and sexuality, games history and media archeology, relationships and interactions between video games and other communications media, key academic and transferrable skills, and to encourage students to critically explore their own everyday practices and experiences.
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