Narratives of Investigation, Games of Investigation

Undergraduate / Graduate

From Agatha Christie and Marie Rodell to Victor Shklovsky, Roger Caillois, and David Bordwell, popular authors and media critics alike have long posited the mystery story as a "game" or "puzzle," interactive exercises in guessing that are bound by certain rules and expectations of "fair play." Taking the implications of these authors' and critics' metaphors seriously, this class examines the mystery or detective story from the perspective of game design. Case studies will be drawn from literary examples going back to the birth of the detective story in the mid-19th century, through films, analog games and puzzles, and digital games, with an eye toward historical continuities. Course assignments will be a mix of analytical writing and creative projects.