Gameplay in Teaching and Research

Call for Participants: The 47th German Studies Association (GSA) Conference in Montréal, Canada, from October 5-8, 2023

Seminar Format and Membership: Seminars meet October 6, 7, and 8 during one of the scheduled morning sessions to "foster extended discussion, rigorous intellectual exchange, and intensified networking" (GSA).  Seminar participants will come from all ranks and include graduate students.

Conveners:
Jeremy Best, Iowa State University, bestja@iastate.edu

Alex Hogue, Coastal Carolina University, ahogue@coastal.edu
Evan Torner, University of Cincinnati, evan.torner@uc.edu

Abstract: Games are of increasing interest in teaching and research, but chances to play reflectively are few. As both praxis and analysis, gameplay provides opportunities for textual engagement, collaboration, and community. Play is how we learn, and collective, playful narration appoints all participants as co-authors of their own experiences. It opens up discussion about temporality, experiential learning, language, and the playful nature of narrative itself. Non-digital games deserve our undivided attention at the GSA. This first-ever gameplay seminar follows 5 years of Game Studies panels at the GSA and the Game Studies workshop model from University of Heidelberg in 2015 and elsewhere since. It will open a conversation about how particularly non-digital games can help achieve teaching and research goals in German Studies, since complicated German historical and cultural topics now appear in game products such as Rosenstrasse (2022), Black Orchestra (2016), Secret Hitler (2016), and Shadow Carnival (2017).

Format: Participants will present a short, 5-minute analysis of a game of choice, play non-digital games together, and reconvene to converse. Day 1 will involve analyzing games of interest. Day 2 will divide participants into groups to play relevant non-digital games such as Black Orchestra and Shadow Carnival. Day 3 reflects on that gameplay. Application Information: Applications for participation should be submitted via the GSA website by Friday, March 3; membership in the GSA for 2023 is required to apply.  Please do not hesitate to contact either or both conveners with questions.