Computer Games and the Social Imaginary

Beschreibung

In this compelling book, Graeme Kirkpatrick argues that computergames have fundamentally altered the relation of self and societyin the digital age. Tracing the origins of gaming to the revival of play in the1960s counter culture, Computer Games and the SocialImaginary describes how the energies of that movementtransformed computer technology from something ugly andmachine-like into a world of colour and 'fun'. In theprocess, play with computers became computer gaming - a newcultural practice with its own values. From the late 1980s gaming became a resource for people to drawupon as they faced the challenges of life in a new, globalizingdigital economy. Gamer identity furnishes a revivified capitalismwith compliant and 'streamlined' workers, but at timesgaming culture also challenges the corporations that control gameproduction. Analysing topics such as the links between technology and power,the formation of gaming culture and the subjective impact of playwith computer games, this insightful text will be of great interestto students and scholars of digital media, games studies and theinformation society.

Autor*in

Graeme Kirkpatrick

Themen in »Computer Games and the Social Imaginary«

Communication & Media Studies Computerspiel Cultural Studies Digital Culture & the Information Age Digitale Kultur im Informationszeitalter Kommunikation u. Medienforschung Kulturwissenschaften Media Studies Medienforschung

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"It is well researched, well argued, and one of the finest books todate on the subject of digital games." New Media and Society "The classic studies of games argue that play mirrors social life.But what kind of story must theory tell when society begins toresemble a game? This is the argument of Graeme Kirkpatrick'sbrilliant new book, Computer Games and the Social Imaginary.Drawing on recent social theory and an original analysis of thesocial role of aesthetics, Kirkpatrick makes a major contributionto our understanding of both games and society." Andrew Feenberg, Simon Fraser University "A rich and ambitious attempt to situate computer games relative tothe transformation of capitalism over the last four decades.Kirkpatrick's thesis - which effortlessly combines sophisticatedreadings of the history of microcomputing and games with social andcultural theory - is nuanced, fresh and powerful. When I finished,I wanted to begin all over again." Melanie Swalwell, Flinders University "Kirkpatrick's discussion of the social significance ofcomputer games is very thought provoking, and provides a valuableinclusion to the field of media and game studies." Christian Dewar, University of South Australia
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