gender in video game culture

1. Watch the following links below: (ONE page)

Little, Stirling. “Excuse me princess – gender in video game culture.” TEDxUNC Talks. Youtube. March 9, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPYcASQL_IA

Sarkeesian, Anita. “Damsel in Distress: Part 1 – Tropes vs Women in Video Games.” Feminist Frequency. YouTube. March 7, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6p5AZp7r_Q&list=PLn4ob_5_ttEaA_vc8F3fjzE62esf9yP61

Sarkeesian, Anita. “Damsel in Distress: Part 2 – Tropes vs Women in Video Games.” Feminist Frequency. YouTube. May 28, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toa_vH6xGqs&list=PLn4ob_5_ttEaA_vc8F3fjzE62esf9yP61&index=2

Sarkeesian, Anita. “Damsel in Distress: Part 3 – Tropes vs Women in Video Games.” Feminist Frequency. YouTube. Aug 01, 2013. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjImnqH_KwM&index=3&list=PLn4ob_5_ttEaA_vc8F3fjzE62esf9yP61

Have  you ever thought about representations of women in video games?  If so,  what are some of your thoughts are they similar to or different than  Anita Sarkeesian’s videos?

2.

(The file is at the bottom)

Students will submit a series of reflections on the course material for grading.  These reflections may take any form, but must include: 1) reference to the course material or one theoretical concept for the week and 2) relation to one’s personal life and/or a  popular culture example.  Reflections may take the form of: a written  paper, a video or vlog post, a song, podcast, zine, or any other form of  creative work.  In the case of visual artistic submissions, a short  paragraph may accompany the work to demonstrate the connections to the  course material and personal life and/or popular culture.

Students  may submit up to 7 reflection journal entries for grading.  Reflection  journals will be assessed using the ICE rubric attached.  The top 5  grades will be used in calculating the students grade for the 25% of the  reflection journals’ component.  Students may collaborate with up to  four people in up to 2 reflection journal entries.  Students who choose  to collaborate on reflection journal entries will receive the exact same  grade as their collaborators.

Reflection  journal entries should be no more than 3 pages in length if they are  written, or 5 minutes in length if they are produced in another form, if  you have questions about length with respect to another art form,  please contact the instructor.  Reflection journal entries should be  handed in prior to the start of the class.  Electronic submissions  through blackboard are preferred, however, if the reflection is a  physical form, it should be handed in right at the beginning of the  class.  Each reflection journal entry should use the theory and concepts  for the class that is about to commence.

3.

Choose one of them:

A. Feminisms, the Waves & Critiques.

B. Oppression, Intersectionality & White Privilege.

C. Hegemony & Popular Culture.

D. Popular Culture & Technology.

Students will submit an abstract or introduction for their research paper.  The research paper can be on any topic and engage with any material providing it satisfies the following conditions:

It uses at least one theoretical concept from the course

It engages at least one example of popular culture

It argues a specific position

It uses secondary sources to support that position and analysis

Abstracts and research papers will be assessed using the ICE rubric attached.  The abstract phase should be no more than 3 pages long (double spaced) and include a preliminary bibliography with a minimum of 5 academic sources (please note Wikipedia is not a valid academic source).