Schedule

How to read this schedule:

Class:    [these are things we will do in the class session of the day]
Study:   [these are  things you need to study before the class session of the day]
Due:      [these are things that are due in class or via email that day]

Week 1

• Mon, 1/13
  • Slides: Introduction: “Don’t Play Videogames”
  • Class: Introductions, Exercise 0: Expectations and Goals
    
    
• Wed, 1/15
  
  • Slides: “Aesthetic Form of Instrumental Reason”
  • Class: Seminar discussion; Standard Manuscript / Google Docs / Game Review assignment
  • Study:  Frank Lantz, “Hearts & Minds” / Bennett Foddy’s QWOP + Tak’s Tempres
  • Due: Exercise 0: Expectations and Goals

Week 2

• Mon, 1/20
  
  • Class: NO CLASS: MLK Jr. Day
  • Study: Rosenwasser, Writing Analytically (excerpts)
    
    
• Wed, 1/22
  • Slides: “Aesthetic Form of Rationalization”
  • Class: Seminar discussion; Exercise 1: Review Analysis
  • Study: Paolo Pedercini, “Videogames and the Spirit of Capitalism” / Mateas & Stern’s Facade

Week 3

• Mon, 1/27
  
  • Slides: Videogame Reviews as Genre
  • Class: Rhetorical Situation & Genres; Peer Review
  • Study: [selected game reviews]
  • Due: Exercise 1: Review Analysis
    
    
• Wed, 1/29
  • Slides: Workshopping Game Reviews
  • Class: Paragraphing & Structure & Game Review Anatomies
  • Study: [selected game reviews]

Week 4

• Mon, 2/3
  
  • Slides: Rethinking “Gameplay” as an Experience
  • Class: Seminar discussion; Peer Review
  • Study: Salen & Zimmerman, “Interactivity”
  • Due: Game Review (draft)
    
    
• Wed, 2/5
  • Class: Seminar discussion
  • Study: Jonathan Blow, “Videogames and the Human Condition”
  • Play: Number None’s BRAID

Week 5

• Mon, 2/10
  
  • Class: Intertextuality & Integrating Quotations
  • Study: Ian Bogost, “Art”
  • Play: Number None’s BRAID
    
    
• Wed, 2/12
  • Class: The Idea of Criticism; Exercise 2: Critical Approach Commentary
  • Browse: Miguel Sicart, “Ludic Hermeneutic Circle”
  • Play: Number None’s BRAID

Week 6

• Mon, 2/17
  
  • Class: NO CLASS: President’s Day
  • Due: Game Review (revised)
    
    
• Tue, 2/18 – Wed, 2/19
  • CONFERENCE #1  (Sign-Up List)
  • Due: Exercise 2: Critical Approach Commentary

Week 7

• Mon, 2/24
  
  • Due:  Credo Instruct Exercise [Meet @ Library]; Game Criticism assignment
  • Study: Graff & Birkenstein, They Say, I Say (excerpts)
    
    
• Wed, 2/26
  • Class: Discourse, Reasoning with Sources
  • Study: Graff & Birkenstein, They Say, I Say (excerpts)
    
    
• Thu, 2/27
  • Optional Event: “Oujepo @CCA: Spring Videogame Social,” 7pm in Cornish Commons

Week 8

• Mon, 3/2
  
  • Class: Criticism Idea Workshop; seminar discussion; Media Analysis
  • Study: Merritt K, “I’m a Transsexual Witch Poet Gamecrafter And You Can Too”
  • Play: Tacoma
    
    
• Wed, 3/4
  • Class: Seminar discussion
  • Play: Tacoma
  •  
• Fri, 3/6
  • Due: Game Criticism (draft)

SPRING BREAK (3/9 – 3/13)

Week 9

— TRANSITION TO REMOTE LEARNING —

• Wed, 3/18
  • Virtual Meeting Test (optional, but encouraged)

Week 10

• Mon, 3/23
  
  • Class: Virtual Class (Google Meet link): Exercise 3: Game Analysis
  • Study: Paolo Pedercini, “The Great Art Upgrade”
    
    
• Wed, 3/25
  • Class: Virtual Drop-In (Google Meet link): Game Criticism troubleshooting

Week 11

• Mon, 3/30
  
  • Class: Virtual Class (Google Meet link)
  • Study: Brian Schrank, “Videogames as Avant-garde Art
  • Due: Exercise 3: Game Analysis
    
    
• Wed, 4/1
  • Class: Virtual Drop-In (Google Meet link): Game Criticism troubleshooting
    
    
• Fri, 4/3
  • Due: Peer Review

Week 12

• Mon, 4/6
  
  • Class: Virtual Class (Google Meet link): Multimedia Essay assignment 
  • Study: Jane McGonigal, “Gaming Can Make a Better World” + Eric Zimmerman, “Manifesto for the Ludic Century”
  • Due: Game Criticism (revised)
    
    
• Wed, 4/8
  • Class: Virtual Drop-In (Google Meet link): Multimedia Essay work-shopping / Microsoft SWAY

Week 13

• Mon, 4/13
  
  • Class: Virtual Class (Google Meet link)
  • Study: Paolo Pedercini, “Indiepocalypse”
    
    
• Wed, 4/15
  • Class: Virtual Drop-In (Google Meet link): Multimedia Essay example + troubleshooting
    
    
• Friday, 4/17
  • Due: Multimedia Essay (draft)

Week 14

• Mon, 4/20
  
  • Class: No Class
    
    
• Wed, 4/22
  • Class: Virtual Drop-In (Google Meet link)

Week 15

• Mon, 4/27
  
  • Class: Virtual Drop-In (Google Meet link)
    
    
• Wed, 4/29
  • Due: Course Evaluations

ALL PROJECTS REQUIRING FEEDBACK DUE Saturday, 5/1, 11:59pm

• Due: Multimedia Essay (revised)
•