Linking digital games with literary theory

High-profile academics in digital games studies and literary theory from all over the world were recently in Malta for a three-day workshop on interdisciplinarity in these areas.

The workshop was hosted by the University’s Department of English in collaboration with the IT University of Copenhagen, and held at the Aula Magna of the University’s Valletta campus.

Pioneers in this young yet dynamic area of studies, including Espen Aarseth, David Myers, Laurent Milesi, Stuart Moulthrop, Cynthia Haynes and Gordon Calleja, gave lectures during the workshop.

These were interspersed with discussions on the value of story, player agency, the symbolism of setting and the social and cultural impact of digital gaming.

The workshop’s main aim was to discuss interdisciplinary developments in digital games studies and reconsider the value of theoretical study in the humanities through its application to an emergent art form.

Ivan Callus, head of the Department of English, pledged the department’s contribution to foster closer links between the two areas.

An international conference series on digital games and literary theory is being set up as a result of the workshop. The launch conference in this pioneering series will take place at the University in Autumn 2013.