Playable-Texts

Syllabus for Playable Texts & Technology

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DIG 6436: Playable Texts & Technology

Contents

Course Description

Electronic Literature by an Electronic Artist

“Electronic Literature by an Electronic Artist” generated by Anne Sullivan using Disco Diffusion

In this seminar, we will explore contemporary forms of “playable” texts and technology, which broadly encompasses many genres of electronic literature, hypertexts, games, literary fiction and poetry created using the affordances of the computer and networked media. Working from the prehistory of Oulipian constrained writing through to early hypertext experiments of Shelley Jackson to contemporary interactive fiction and games such as Kentucky Route Zero and Disco Elysium, we will develop an understanding of both the history and current trends in born-digital literary experimentation and practice. Through the lens of these digital texts, we will explore the potential for reimagining the “book” through new interfaces, interactions, and technologies. While we will engage in literary readings of code and design choices in interactive and procedural work, no knowledge of code is necessary. Genres under examination include:

While students are welcome to purchase the individual books, all course texts will be available for free through e-library reserves at UCF or as open access texts. Assignments include weekly discussions; close readings; code and design critique; and an iterative conference-length research paper. Venues recommended for the paper include graduate-student friendly journals such as Hyperrhiz, Game Studies, or Electronic Book Review. Alternatively, students are encouraged to consider preparing submissions to relevant conferences (CFPs will be posted throughout the course).

Each week, plan on following following instructions in online modules regarding readings and online exercises. Each module will be divided into three sections:

Course Objectives

Materials and Texts

Our primary books are available through the library course reserves or as open access books:

Supplementary recommended readings are included in each module to guide work towards the final research paper, while providing additional entry points into each form and genre under examination. We will typically look at one to two primary texts a week alongside supplemental secondary readings, though this may vary depending on the length of primary texts.

Evaluation and Grading

Points Assignment Summary Due Date
5 Activity Verification - Complete the brief survey posted on Webcourses as soon as possible to confirm your enrollment in the course. As this is required by the university, please attend to it as soon as possible at the start of classes. Friday, August 25th
45 Discussions - Ten weekly discussions will consist of sharing preliminary readings and arguments, as well as progress towards the final paper. Students are encouraged to use screenshots from the works under discussion. There will be no required discussions on weeks with large project deadlines: each discussion is worth 5 points, and the lowest discussion grade will be dropped, allowing for one missed week. Weekly
10 Traversal - Using the methodology of the Pathfinders project, record a short (generally 4-5 minute) traversal critiquing a selected playable text. The selected work will ideally be one of the pieces the student has chosen to analyze for their research paper. Sunday, September 24th
10 Literature Review - Following the selection of a playable text or texts for the final project, students will develop a literature review to become familiar with the discussion of the work and its genre. Plan to gather at least five additional scholarly sources, and two blogs or reviews, to complete a literature review for the final analysis paper. Students are encouraged to use Zotero to manage their works cited efficiently. Sunday, October 29th
20 Paper or Webtext Draft - An approximately 4,000 word draft of a final paper or webtext analyzing a playable text or set of texts, chosen in consulation with the professor, and building from the annotation and literature review. Students should follow the formatting guidelines of their chosen venue, including citation requirements. Sunday, November 20th
10 Final Revision Memo - Provide a plan for a substantial article or webtext revision, responsive to the feedback recieved on the draft submission. This memo should be professionally structured and addressed to the editor of your target journal. Friday, December 8th

Students can access their grades and feedback at any time using the Grade Book function of Webcourses. All assignments will be submitted through Webcourses. Plan on checking the site at least twice a week for updates and assignment information. Grades are calculated out of 100 following a standard letter scale.

Late work is accepted without penalty through one week after the assignment deadline. If circumstances require extension beyond that deadline, please reach out to the instructor immediately. As assignments throughout the course are designed to build on the previous exercise, assignments must be completed in sequence.

There is no extra credit work available in this class, but one discussion grade will be forgiven to allow for a missed week of participation. Grades will be available through Webcourses and updated weekly.

Asynchronous Course Structure

This course uses an asynchronous format, and relies upon students to complete all readings, engage with both pre-recorded and external videos, and join in on course discussions. All assignments are due on Sunday night at the close of their listed module, but will be accepted with no penalty through the Sunday after the deadline. Once an assignment closes, late work will not be accepted unless an additional extension has already been approved by the instructor: please reach out early if circumstances will require additional time!

Weekly Schedule

Week One: Defining Electronic Literature (Opens Monday, August 21)

Week Two: Page to Screen (Opens Monday, August 28)

Week Three: Contexts (Opens Monday, September 4)

Week Four: Computational Practice (Opens Monday, September 11)

Week Five: Futures Past (Opens Monday, September 18)

Week Six: Rules (Opens Monday, September 25)

Week Seven: Ludicity (Opens Monday, October 2)

Week Eight: Antiludicity (Opens Monday, October 9)

Week Nine: Poetics (Opens Monday, October 16)

Week Ten: Auteurs (Opens Monday, October 23)

Week Eleven: (re)generation (Opens Monday, October 30)

Week Twelve: Players - Gamers (Opens Monday, November 6)

Week Thirteen: Imagining Gamers Future (Opens Monday, November 13)

Week Fourteen: Environmental Play (Opens Monday, November 21)

Week Fifteen: Play in the Anthropocene (Opens Monday, November 26)

Finals Week: Revision Memo (Submit by Friday, December 8th)

All work (including extensions granted throughout the semester) is due by the close of classes on Friday, December 8th. Any work submitted after that time must be part of an approved incomplete. Note that incompletes will not be approved with more than two missing assignments, and must be completed within six months of the close fo the semester.

General Policies

Academic Integrity

The Center for Academic Integrity (CAI) defines academic integrity as a commitment, even in the face of adversity, to five fundamental values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. From these values flow principles of behavior that enable academic communities to translate ideals into action.

UCF Creed: Integrity, scholarship, community, creativity, and excellence are the core values that guide our conduct, performance, and decisions.

  1. Integrity: I will practice and defend academic and personal honesty.
  2. Scholarship: I will cherish and honor learning as a fundamental purpose of my membership in the UCF community.
  3. Community: I will promote an open and supportive campus environment by respecting the rights and contributions of every individual.
  4. Creativity: I will use my talents to enrich the human experience.
  5. Excellence: I will strive toward the highest standards of performance in any endeavor I undertake.

Students should familiarize themselves with UCF’s Rules of Conduct. According to Section 1, “Academic Misconduct,” students are prohibited from engaging in

  1. Unauthorized assistance: Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information or study aids in any academic exercise unless specifically authorized by the instructor of record. The unauthorized possession of examination or course-related material also constitutes cheating.
  2. Communication to another through written, visual, electronic, or oral means: The presentation of material which has not been studied or learned, but rather was obtained through someone else’s efforts and used as part of an examination, course assignment, or project.
  3. Commercial Use of Academic Material: Selling of course material to another person, student, and/or uploading course material to a third-party vendor without authorization or without the express written permission of the university and the instructor. Course materials include but are not limited to class notes, Instructor’s PowerPoints, course syllabi, tests, quizzes, labs, instruction sheets, homework, study guides, handouts, etc.
  4. Falsifying or misrepresenting the student’s own academic work.
  5. Plagiarism: Using or appropriating another’s work without any indication of the source, thereby attempting to convey the impression that such work is the student’s own.
  6. Multiple Submissions: Submitting the same academic work for credit more than once without the express written permission of the instructor.
  7. Helping another violate academic behavior standards.
  8. Soliciting assistance with academic coursework and/or degree requirements.

Responses to Academic Dishonesty, Plagiarism, or Cheating

Students should also familiarize themselves with the procedures for academic misconduct in UCF’s student handbook, The Golden Rule. UCF faculty members have a responsibility for students’ education and the value of a UCF degree, and so seek to prevent unethical behavior and respond to academic misconduct when necessary. Penalties for violating rules, policies, and instructions within this course can range from a zero on the exercise to an “F” letter grade in the course. In addition, an Academic Misconduct report could be filed with the Office of Student Conduct, which could lead to disciplinary warning, disciplinary probation, or deferred suspension or separation from the University through suspension, dismissal, or expulsion with the addition of a “Z” designation on one’s transcript.

Course Accessibility Statement

This course is built with universal design for learning principles in mind: if you encounter challenges with any of the course materials, assignments, platforms, or requirements, please reach out for assistance, and know that additional support is always available regardles of documentation. If changes in course modality occur and you require additional accomodations, please reach out as soon as possible.

Additionally, the University of Central Florida is committed to providing access and inclusion for all persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities who need access to course content due to course design limitations should contact the professor as soon as possible. Students should also connect with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) (Ferrell Commons 185, sas@ucf.edu, phone 407-823-2371). For students connected with SAS, a Course Accessibility Letter may be created and sent to professors, which informs faculty of potential course access and accommodations that might be necessary and reasonable. Determining reasonable access and accommodations requires consideration of the course design, course learning objectives and the individual academic and course barriers experienced by the student. Further conversation with SAS, faculty and the student may be warranted to ensure an accessible course experience.

Campus Safety Statement

Emergencies on campus are rare, but if one should arise during class, everyone needs to work together. Students should be aware of their surroundings and familiar with some basic safety and security concepts.

Deployed Active Duty Military Students

Students who are deployed active duty military and/or National Guard personnel and require accommodation should contact their instructors as soon as possible after the semester begins and/or after they receive notification of deployment to make related arrangements.

Authorized Events and Religious Observances

Students who represent the university in an authorized event or activity (for example, student-athletes) and who are unable to meet a course deadline due to a conflict with that event must provide the instructor with documentation in advance to arrange a make-up. No penalty will be applied.

Students must notify their instructor in advance if they intend to miss class for a religious observance. For more information, see the UCF policy. No penalty will be applied.

Title IX Policy

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual misconduct, sexual violence, sexual harassment, and retaliation. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find resources available to support the victim, including confidential resources and information concerning reporting options at Let’s be Clear and SDES.