Homo Ludens – Past and Present of Game and Play

Thomas Brandstetter
Institut für Kunstwissenschaften, Kunstpädagogik und Kunstvermittlung, Kulturwissenschaften
2026W, Konversatorium (KO), 8.0 ECTS, 2.0 SemStd., LV-Nr. S05423

Beschreibung

This term, we’re going to pluck up the courage to face monsters. Games are full of them, from children's games to boardgames, role-playing games and video games.

Monsters in games not only serve as vehicles to create action, drama and suspense, but they also convey meaning, bringing the world outside of the game into it and vice versa.

We will discuss a series of questions, among them: What mechanisms are used to gamify monsters? What purpose do they serve in a game? Are they a mask for something or someone else? What happens when we become monsters ourselves? And are there monsters truly worth slaying?

We will also have two play sessions.

Prüfungsmodalitäten

To get a certificate, regular attendance (70%) and active participation is required (this also applies to the play sessions). Participants will also regularly be asked to hand in assignements.

Please note that this class has a strict "no AI" policy. I will not accept assignments created with the help of generative AI.

Schlagwörter

game studies, game design, cultural studies, monsters

Termine

Mo., 12. Oktober 2026, 13:00–15:30 Seminarraum 32
Mo., 19. Oktober 2026, 13:00–15:30 Seminarraum 32
Mo., 09. November 2026, 13:00–15:30 Seminarraum 32
Mo., 16. November 2026, 13:00–15:30 Seminarraum 32
Mi., 25. November 2026, 18:00–21:00 Experimental Game Cultures Studio
Mo., 30. November 2026, 13:00–15:30 Seminarraum 32
Mo., 14. Dezember 2026, 13:00–15:30 Seminarraum 33
Mo., 11. Jänner 2027, 13:00–15:30 Seminarraum 8

LV-Anmeldung

Von 31. August 2026, 09:00 bis 12. Oktober 2026, 12:59
Per Online Anmeldung

Experimental Game Cultures (Master): Geschichte und Theorie der Spiele: Geschichte und Theorie der Spiele 536/2021UMA-002.01

Mitbelegung: nicht möglich

Besuch einzelner Lehrveranstaltungen: nicht möglich